GRCC Faith in Action Network Celebrates 100 Years

BY LOWELL ROSE

The Greater Rochester Community of Churches Faith in Action Network is celebrating 100 years of bringing together Rochesterians from different faith traditions.

The celebration Sunday mixed music and art for the interfaith organization.

The organization has a reach of 200 churches, with a broader connection with Roman Catholic and Episcopal dioceses.

“We’re protestant and catholic, and we do a lot of social justice work. We also do interfaith work,” said Debbie Grohman, administrative coordinator for the Greater Rochester Community of Churches Faith in Action Network.

Reverend Lawrence Hargrave said the organization is important especially with the division among people and groups.

“So when you have a group of people who can gather together and celebrate what unites us, as oppose to what divides us, it makes it even better,” said Hargrave, a retired pastor and current member of Genesee Baptist Church.

“Not only has the Greater Rochester Community of Churches been a group of Christian Churches, but they have allied themselves with the Muslim community and Islam and with the Jewish community,” Peter Mitchell, a member of organization added.

One of the highlights of Sunday’s service was art on display from The Children’s Agenda.

“We are partnering with the Children’s Agenda because this is their interfaith weekend that’s rooted in the children’s Shabbot, so they have some ways to advocate for children’s wellbeing,” said Grohman.

In addition to the artwork, The Telos Trio premiered a piece created by Cary Ratcliff called “Fresh Wind for our Sails.”

“That fresh wind is going to blow us together collectively to some new ventures for the health and vibrancy of this community,” Grohman said.

The organization hopes the centennial anniversary will energize people to think of new ways to collaborate to make a more “beloved community.”