Habitat for Humanity All-Clergy build

by

Cydne Watterson

It’s the only one of its kind in the country, I’m told. A Habitat house built by clergy from 13 faith traditions. Shoulder to shoulder Jew, Catholic, Unitarian, Muslim and Mormon. This setting aside of differences fascinates me.
“It’s what Jesus did,” explains Reverend Nicole Massie, “Sometimes Jesus walked with his 12, but then he healed and blessed and taught the gentile, the Jew, the the woman taken in adultery even. He did both and so can we.”

Nicole, a Pastor of University Park Baptist Church, is just one volunteer at Mecklenburg Ministries, a group spearheaded by Dr. Maria Hanlin to foster interfaith cooperation and relationships in Charlotte, NC. Pastor Massie’s job this spring: recruit houses of faith and the $65,000 it takes to build a Habitat home.

As hammers beginning ringing in the background, and a table saw grinds close by, I can’t resist asking Massie, “Are there some who just can’t fathom working side by side with another faith?”

“Sure,” she confides, adjusting her bright yellow hard hat. “But this is about the greater good.”

The greater good in this instance isn’t hard to find. His name is Tri Buon Krong the new home owner. He and his wife Hraih Nie have two children, 1 and 4. This is their first home. Tri stands with hard hat and folded arms -- grinning ear to ear as clergymen trained to move entire congregations go beyond their comfort zone to build his house.

No one asks Tri his faith persuasion. They just serve him.

“Ryan Dennison from Habitat momentarily interrupts the pounding, “Line up the boards exactly,” he instructs. This is his house,” he says, motioning to Tri --still grinning-- “and Tri wants it good.”

I stand back and watch Reverend Bob Breed, outreach Pastor from Myer’s Park Presbyterian Church, whose offices stretch the length of an entire building.

Reverend Breed leans down to work with the man from my Church who’se been like a father to me. One holds the board as another puts a nail underneath it to level the wood so the joists are flush before they decide it’s time to hammer.

I interrupt them, “This is President Cheney,” I tell Reverend Breed. “He resides over 10 congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

The men shake hands. There are no questions about the Book of Mormon we honor as scripture in addition to the Bible. Neither man mentions specific doctrine we might disagree on.

Instead, Bob explains that his congregation has purchased 40 tracts of land in the neighborhood – empty houses once used as crack houses. “We’re in the process of tearing them down.” he says.

When I offer the possibility of a paint crew, or a group from our congregation to do yard work on occasion. “Absolutely” he says. “Have your youth come join us for a weekend of service.”

I walk away, leaving the two men – twin towers of strength in their individual faiths. Both on one knee now hammering, shoulder to shoulder, along with Baptist, Jew, and other houses of faith I know nothing about. One pastor counts and they hoist in unison a wall panel they’ve just constructed. Before my eyes, the walls raise -- framing a house that will become the scared home of another human being.