Genesis of Ann Arbor is a house of worship in Ann Arbor, Michigan, home to two congregations: an Episcopal church and a Reform Jewish synagogue. Genesis of Ann Arbor was formed in 1974 as an equal partnership of the St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church and Temple Beth Emeth, which continue as separate organizations.
| Genesis of Ann Arbor | |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation |
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| Location | |
| Location | 2309 Packard St, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States |
| Geographic coordinates | 42°15′17″N 83°43′27″W / 42.2547°N 83.7243°W |
Genesis of Ann Arbor was the first such partnership between Christian and Jewish congregations in the United States, and was covered in national media upon its founding as an example of contemporary interfaith dialogue. The two congregations hold equal stakes in Genesis of Ann Arbor, which owns and maintains the shared building and facilitates dialogue between the two congregations. St. Clare of Assisi and Temple Beth Emeth coordinate some programming, including an annual pulpit exchange between the two congregations' clergy, and a joint Thanksgiving service.
The Genesis of Ann Arbor grounds include a shared sanctuary, which is convertible for use by either congregation. The historic William Anderson House is located on the property of Genesis of Ann Arbor, and has housed the Back Door Food Pantry since 2007.
Background
editThe land on which it sits was donated by Inez Wisdom to the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan for the foundation of the St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church.[1] The original church building on the property was a chapel built by Wisdom in the garden of her home, which was operational as far back as 1948.[2] The Temple Beth Emeth congregation began renting the space from St. Clare's in 1970, but in 1974 they formed the nonprofit corporation Genesis of Ann Arbor to jointly own and manage the space.[3][4]
Though the name "Churchagogue" for the building dates back to at least 2005, the church and the shul remain separate entities with separate worship services. Rather, the purpose of sharing a property and buildings is to reduce operational costs, instead spending that money in the community. While not a unique relationship, this type of sharing of buildings between multiple religions remains rare.[5]
Current uses
editIn addition to hosting both a church and a synagogue, the nonprofit food bank Food Gatherers has hosted its Back Door Food Pantry there for several years. Members of the church and the synaogue both donate to and volunteer at the food pantry, as do other members of the community.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Dr. Wisdom Dies At Age 80". The Ann Arbor News. December 22, 1965.
- ^ "From Our Pictorial Archives 1948". The Ann Arbor News. December 16, 1973.
- ^ Paxton, Jack (1975). "Joint Congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan". NBC News.
- ^ "Jews, Christians worship together". The Daily Colonist. June 1, 1975. p. 12.
- ^ "My House Shall Be a House Of Prayer For All". Moment Magazine. December 2005.
- ^ Klimach, Linda (April 10, 2019). "Back Door Food Pantry Shopping 'Minute for Mission' March 2019". Saint Clare's Episcopal Church. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
External links
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See also
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