FOREWORD
No American city has been more deserving of the term “melting pot” than Chicago. For 150 years immigrants have poured in by the thousands, giving the city and its surrounding area the rich ethnic character it has today. The opportunities offered by the resurgence of the city following the disastrous fire of 1871 attracted large numbers of immigrants. It was the desire to minister to these newcomers that led a handful of Congregationalists to combine the resources of their congregations for this effort.
In the 100 years since its founding under the name of the Chicago City Missionary Society, the Community Renewal Society has remained faithful to the dedication of its founders by responding to the needs of impoverished communities in Chicago. However, this response no longer expresses itself through the Sunday schools and settlement houses of the early years but, in keeping with the increased complexity of city life, takes the form of innovative approaches to deeply rooted urban problems.
Today the Society describes itself as a voluntary, not-for-profit urban mission agency, integrally related to the United Church of Christ. Its many-faceted programs are motivated by the Christian imperative. Its commitment is to apply healing powers to urban suffering. Its dedication is to “renewing the metropolis through faith in action.” The Society has developed its distinguished, nationally acclaimed record through helping people to help themselves. Working with the Community Renewal Society, local residents identify community problems, mobilize local leadership, and design corrective and preventive programs of action. The Community Renewal Society continues its involvement in these church and community-based programs until they become self-supporting. When a program gives signs of being able to stand on its own with the guidance and support of local leaders, the Society gradually withdraws. This complex catalytic approach to ministry is carried out by a staff of twenty five experienced, highly trained professionals directed by a sixty-member volunteer Board of Directors recruited from across metropolitan Chicago.
This year the Society celebrates its 100th anniversary. Publication of this book helps to commemorate that important occasion. It also helps to remind us that the problems of urban life and the need to address them continue. The building of humane communities in large cities is unending work.
Needless to say, this book makes no pretense to being a comprehensive history of the Society’s first 100 years. Rather, it focuses on some of the most effective leaders, the critical periods, and the creative programming of the Society’s first century.
Many people deserve thanks for research and interpretation. David Lee Smith carried out the original research and writing of this book as a graduate student at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Smith’s work, supported by a grant from the Community Renewal Society, was guided by Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund, Assistant Professor of Church History and Director of Studies, and Dr. Shelby Rooks, Seminary President. Fannia Weingartner and Roberta Casey are responsible for extensive revision and editing of the manuscript. Sally Myers searched out the illustrations. Janice Feldstein compiled the index. Karen Kohn designed the book.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Martin E. Marty, Professor of History of Modern Christianity, The Divinity School, University of Chicago, for contributing a substantive introduction which ably places the Society’s history in the broad vision of Congregationalism.
And, of course, many members of the Society’s staff have made invaluable contributions to this project, especially David Meade, Gretchen Breier, and Shirley Van Clay.
Finally, we express our appreciation to Harris Trust and Savings Bank for the grant which has made possible this publication.
Walter E. Ziegenhals
Associate Executive Director