Housing Justice and Congregational Futures

February 1st, 8:30-2:00pm
St Michael’s Parish (611 Stark St, Wausau)

The way we gather is in a season of transition. Many faith communities have large buildings that were used in an era when congregations were larger and had busier schedules with events happening throughout the week. Some believe they may conclude ministry in that place in the next 5-10 years. It is time for us to re-examine our buildings and ask how they can continue to serve our communities.

One widespread community need across Wisconsin is safe, affordable housing.

We have begun to imagine what it would look like if faith communities used our assets such as buildings, people, and faith that calls us to love our neighbor to advocate for housing justice in our cities?

Faith communities in north central Wisconsin are invited to join together to share, listen, and dream about how they could have an impact on their communities through housing justice.

Featuring:

Rev. Mark Elsdon lives and works at the intersection of money and meaning as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, author, and speaker. Mark is the author of, “We Aren’t Broke,” about the use of faith-based property and investments for social enterprise and impact investing. He is cofounder of RootedGood, which supports catalytic and innovative church leaders working on property development, money and mission alignment, and social enterprise; executive director at Pres House and Pres House Apartments on the University of Wisconsin’s Madison campus; and past president of the board of directors for Working Capital for Community Needs, an impact investing fund that provides microfinance funding to the working poor in Latin America. Mark’s new book, “Gone for Good?” about the coming wave of church property transitions, comes out in fall 2023.

Mark has a BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and lives in Madison, Wisconsin with his spouse and two daughters. Mark is an avid cyclist and considers it a good year when he rides more miles on his bike than he drives in his car.

Dr. Susan Wolfgram is a life-long community advocate. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, having received her MSSW from UW-Madison and worked for Mayo Health Systems as a psychotherapist for many years. After she received her PhD from the University of MN, she taught in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stout until she left in 2016 as Professor Emeritus.

Susan co-chairs the JONAH Affordable Housing Task Force and is Chair of the Community Haven House Advisory Committee (Eau Claire’s local day shelter for those experiencing homelessness), President of the Board of Directors of Community Haven House, Inc. (not yet incorporated non-profit supporting a comprehensive Day Resource Center for those experiencing homelessness), Co- Director of the Eau Claire Tenant-Landlord Resource Center, and sits on the City of Eau Claire’s Plan Commission.

Schedule

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Sponsored by: Wisconsin Council of Churches, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, NAOMI, WISDOM, and WISCAP