Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO)
The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) is an organization of faith and civic-based institutions working for social justice. Click on name to learn more. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact Tom Tufts.
Social Justice Ministry at St. James’s - 2008
St. James’s became a full member of GBIO in January of 2008 after ten years of participation as an ally, including highly successful actions on affordable housing, quality affordable health insurance, nursing home workers bill of rights and aging with dignity. The Social Justice Ministry differs from other outreach ministries at St. James’s in its focus on community organizing.
For those of you who have never heard of GBIO, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) is a broad-based organization that works to coalesce, train, and organize the communities of Greater Boston across all religious, racial, ethnic, class and neighborhood lines for the public good. For an extended mission statement, a history of accomplishments and present projects see www.gbio.org.
In 2008 St. James’s parishioners participated with members of other congregations in numerous actions, hearings, delegate assemblies, training, forums and strategy sessions, including a Connector Board hearing, March 20, on raising premiums for Commonwealth Care insurance, a very successful 300-person action with the state Executive Secretary of Elder Affairs at Temple Emanuel in Newton Center on April 8, a GBIO forum at St. James’s April 20 with Fran Early of GBIO and Trinity Church, and numerous strategy team meetings on elder affairs throughout the year.
On May 27, braving torrential rain and a fire that shut down the entire T system, 21 parishioners from St. James’s joined 1700 other GBIO members of 70 congregations and community organizations to gather at Boston University together with political, religious and civic leaders to celebrate 10 years of outstanding social justice accomplishments and to pledge to work together to accomplish even more in the next 10 years. Those who went were impressed by the powerful stories of those whose lives had been changed by affordable housing, affordable, quality health insurance, protection of the dignity and rights of nursing home workers, and debt relief programs. The Governor, the Mayor of Boston, the Speaker of the House and a civic leader spoke eloquently and passionately of their gratitude and support for what GBIO had done and continues to do.
In the fall under the leadership of Carolyn and Yvette with strong support from the Reverend Laurie Rofinot and other parishioners, St. James’s collected 500 signed cards from voters pledging to vote against elimination of the state income tax. GBIO as a whole collected 16,000 cards, the most of any group in the coalition opposing the measure in a “NO on One” campaign. The result of everyone’s effort was the sound defeat of the ballot initiative.
Currently at St. James’s, with support from GBIO, we are working on building awareness among parishioners of our own and each other’s concerns for social justice. We do this work through one-on-one conversations lasting 30 minutes to an hour, about our own experience and its effect on our lives and commitments. The relationships and understanding we develop through these conversations are essential to our identity as a broad-based, grass-roots organization. The creativity, success and effectiveness of all we do on whatever issues we address in 2009 depends on the strength and depth of these relationships and understanding. If you would like to be a part of these important conversations please contact the Reverend Laurie Rofinot or Tom Tufts.