Who are the People in Your Neighborhood? How Knowing Your Neighbors Will Strengthen Your Sermons

“In my work, I frequently meet clergy who don’t know their neighborhood colleagues, or only know the people in their own faith traditions, or only know those in  their own ideological bubbles. They don’t know the leaders of local food pantries, transitional housing shelters, and other social services except in a transactional way: the clergy are valued for the donation they can organize or what sound bite they can give.

What if clergy took the time to build relationships in the community and in the congregation? What happens when we take the time to get to know the people in our neighborhoods?