News

Empowering people to work toward justice

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Rev. Joseph Ellwanger hopes his recent talks at St. Bernard Church in Green Bay stir up conversation.

Not because it's uncommon for a Lutheran pastor to address a Catholic congregation, but in response to his call for justice.

Rev. Ellwanger, who retired in 2001 following 34 years as pastor of Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, spoke at Masses on behalf of JOSHUA (Justice Organization Sharing Hope and United for Action), a congregation-based group in Green Bay formed to empower people to act together for justice. JOSHUA is affiliated with the state group WISDOM.

"Working for justice is a way in which we really can act out our faith," said Rev. Ellwanger. "We need to move beyond the quiet and passive ways we so often follow. We accept things without asking questions about the injustices and evils we see."

"JOSHUA is a tool that would enable individuals who want to do something and do it even more powerfully," he continued. "They are linked with brothers and sisters, not only in their congregation, but in many congregations."

St. Bernard, St. Willebrord, Holy Martyrs of Gorcum and St. Matthew are among the Green Bay Catholic parishes with active JOSHUA members. Other denominations represented include Baptist, United Church of Christ, Moravian, Lutheran, Church of God in Christ, the Salvation Army and non-denominational congregations. JOSHUA will be formally organized at a covenanting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on May 15 at Union Congregational Church, 716 S. Madison in Green Bay.

Fr. Dave Pleier, pastor at St. Bernard, said the parish's interest in JOSHUA is fueled by the good work of St. Bernard's 28-member social concerns committee.

"An individual and a committee can do a certain amount of good," said Rev. Ellwanger. "I don't want to diminish, by any means, the wonderful work they do, but linked together, they can do even more."

"It does take a certain amount of courage for a congregation, priest or pastor to invite someone like myself to come in and preach," he added. "JOSHUA couldn't happen without the support of the pastor. The congregation recognizes that support."

Prior to his service in Milwaukee, Rev. Ellwanger was a pastor in Birmingham, Ala., from 1958 to 1967 where he worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. His church was only a mile from the 16th Street Baptist Church, the site of the 1963 racially motivated bombing that killed four girls. Rev. Ellwanger did a reading at the funeral for three of the girls. One was the daughter of one of his parishioners. Dr. King preached at the funeral.

"It was a painful, painful service," said Rev. Ellwanger. "In a city with hundreds of Christians, the KKK dynamites a black church knowing they would never be arrested. People on the streets knew their names. How could this be? How could there be silence by good people reluctant to touch the culture of the time in the public square? They kept their silence. It's a reminder of the need to speak out. Something needed to be said. Something needed to be done."

Rev. Ellwanger said he is encouraged by the interest of Catholic parishes in JOSHUA.

"When Bp. (Robert) Morneau spoke about prison reform at St. Matthew Church (a JOSHUA sponsored discussion), that was a strong endorsement for the organization," he said.

Regional issues being addressed by JOSHUA members include immigration, education and Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP). At press time, Senate Bill 518, which would divert non-violent offenders with substance abuse issues into community-based treatment rather than jail or prison, was among the measures being discussed by the State Assembly. JOSHUA representatives lobbied in Madison in support of TIP legislation.

"It costs $26,000 a year to house an inmate in prison," said Rev. Ellwanger. "It costs approximately $15,000 a year for treatment in a residential care facility and $5,000 a year for outpatient care. Community-based treatment has proven to be more effective than jail. There need to be changes."

Rev. Ellwanger received a warm response from St. Bernard parishioners, including applause at the conclusion of his talk. He hopes to speak at other Catholic churches.

"I really welcome such opportunities, and, who knows, it could happen more often. I hope people recognize that some laws, groups, organizations or individuals don't act for the common good of all. Either we don't notice it, or we notice it and say there is nothing we can do. We ought to do something, and we can do something."

For more information about JOSHUA, contact Kristen Rogers at (920)362-1511 or e-mail joshua4justice@aol.com.