The Petersburg Project is a 40-year district and conference initiative to plant a new faith community in Petersburg, Virginia. Petersburg is not a good candidate for a “traditional” church plant. However, God is calling us to begin something new in Petersburg which is rooted in listening to the people of Petersburg, understanding their needs and strengths, and planting a faith community which will be unique to the city.
The Petersburg Discernment team composed of clergy and laity including residents of Petersburg spent the past year listening to residents, nonprofits and grassroots leaders to learn the history and current state of Petersburg and to discern where and how God is calling the United Methodist Church to be present in the city. Jeremiah 6:16 guided us as we met weekly to discuss “We Make the Road by Walking,” by Bill McLaren and to make practical application to our work in Petersburg.
We began our discovery through the lens of Faith-Based Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) with a goal of working with a congregation already in relationship with residents in a specific ward in Petersburg. Our investigation taught us that most churches are destination churches, and the majority of church members neither live in the city nor does the church know neighbors near their congregations. ABCD was not the best model for our work in Petersburg.
The discernment team let go of our original focus and reimagined using storytelling as a way to listen to the strengths, needs and dreams of residents. Team members set up a storytelling station in front of Washington Street UMC. We interacted with residents and offered them a cool bottle of water. Although residents talked with us, the team confirmed building trust happens over time, and trust is required to form relationships. Both the Petersburg YMCA and the Petersburg Library agreed to host our listening posts inside their facilities when it is safe.
What is the story of Petersburg? Residents feel a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness in terms of housing, economic and job security, and education due, in part, to the history of systems controlled by inequality. On the other hand, we have talked with residents who remember when Petersburg’s school system prepared students for success in school and life, when residents had access to stable and well-paying jobs and were proud of their city. Many residents live in hope for the future of Petersburg.
Members of the Petersburg Project are now collaborating with the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, City and Schools Partnership, Communities in Schools, the Virginia Health Department, and the Southside Trauma Informed Care Network to begin a Neighborhood Resilience Project.
Is there a need for a reimagined faith community in Petersburg? There are 80+ congregations in the city with a population of 32,000, a 20% unemployment rate, and one of the highest eviction rates in the country, pre-COVID. The discernment team discussed the idea of H.O.P.E, a House of Prayer for Everyone similar to Parkview Mission in Lynchburg, Virginia which combines a faith community and access to health care, mental health services, child care and other resources in the same building.
Project Petersburg is committed to see all the people, discover the gifts of all the people, and promote healing, wholeness and hope for everyone.
Audrey Smith, Director
Petersburg Project
James River District