In Michigan, Grand Rapids Community Builder Fred Washington, a Methodist minister and former president of a Community Housing Development Agency, anticipated the challenge. "Getting faith-based groups together was a challenge for several reasons, said Washington. "Many congregations and organizations have never participated in community development conversations with a federal agency--many groups thought they were too small to play a role in community development at the level of HUD programs, and we as Community Builders had to win their confidence."

HUD’s Flint, Detroit and Grand Rapids field offices joined efforts and convened over 150 members of faith-based organizations throughout South and Central Michigan in Grand Rapids on June 3rd. The Michigan faith-based conference focused on how faith-based organizations and congregations can be more involved in federally-funded programs to address the economic and housing needs throughout the state. The teamwork that led to the conference also included the assistance of the following private sponsors: Michigan Housing Trust Fund, Michigan National Bank, Old Kent Bank, and Michigan State University.

"Many people said that outside of Detroit conferences, this was the first time that representatives from different congregations in Western Michigan had come together for a single event," said Washington. "Our outreach even included working with hymnal publishers and funeral homes to identify contacts for small congregations to ensure that they were invited to the table."

Keynote speakers from private organizations highlighted effective models for economic development through faith-based organizations and urged churches and other faith-based groups to play a more aggressive and creative role in housing and economic development in their respective communities. Workshops were held on a variety of topics that included economic development, purchasing HUD-owned properties, and accessing programs to provide care for the homeless, and victims of substance abuse.

"A door has been opened," said Grand Rapids Senior Community Builder Lou Berra. "Our next step as Community Builders is to lead all those to the table who choose to walk through that door."

Back east, the Delaware State Office sponsored a meeting for Community Builders in the Mid-Atlantic region in late June. A dozen Community Builders and staff from HUD’s Center for Community and Interfaith Partnerships spent the day working together to share faith-based outreach strategies and best practices while also identifying regional faith-based objectives.

"The importance of integrating congregations and non-profit organizations with federal, state and local government programs, as well as the private sector, is an important role for Community Builders," said Senior Community Builder Diane Lello of the Delaware State Office. "Since many of these organizations share resources across state lines, the Community Builders are planning a FY2000 Regional Faith-based Organization Business and Operating Plan and a Delmarva Penninsula Rural Conference."