ABSTRACT
Each workday and most evenings at churches and synagogues around the United States the community gathers. People gather for meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. They gather for English as a Second Language classes, for support groups, tutoring for SAT tests, and for parenting or job search seminars. Parents bring their young children to preschools and elementary school programs. What is significant about these offerings is that in many cases the participants have no other association with the host congregation. They come because something is offered that meets their need in a setting they trust to be safe, and concerned. They come because there remains some awareness in our culture that faith groups have a commitment to build community, address the needs of individuals, and value and respect the dignity of each person.
