I
belong to a club. It has no bi-laws and no regular meetings. In
fact it only has three members. We're the club of the LafayetteUrban Ministry Executive Directors – Ron Elly, myself and Joe
Micon. Over the years we have remained friends keeping in touch with
occasional meetings, emails and phone calls.
Last
week we lost one of our members. Ron Elly died. He had been
battling cancer for a long time, but at 76 years, cancer finally took
him from us.
I was invited by the family to share my thoughts at his funeral in
Lafayette, Indiana. In a whirlwind of a flight from Washington, DC,
I share this eulogy...
July
1, 2016
Thank
you for inviting me to be a part of celebrating the life of Ron
Elly...my colleague in ministry and friend. Our lives intertwined
through our work with the Lafayette Urban Ministry and our friendship
grew over the years. During my last extended stay in Lafayette, we
began having regular coffees together. No agenda – just a little
reminiscing, laughter and friendship.
On
Monday the phone rings. There's no premonition of the news it would
convey. I learn Rev. Ron Elly died.
A
wave of sadness slides thru my soul. “Oh no,” I mutter or
something like that. I knew he had been battling cancer, but still
the news hits me hard. Memories flood my consciousness. “Oh Ron,
you're a good one. You made such a big difference. We'll miss you.”
For
some reason, I find my thoughts returning to a bible verse from the
prophet Micah.
What does God require? Do justice. Love kindness. And walk humbly with God
I
first met Ron on the pages of the Green Book as I was
interviewing for a new job with LUM. For those who may not know, the
Green Book was a strategic report on the Lafayette Urban
Ministry prepared by Dr. Jim Davidson, a sociologist of religion
from Purdue University in collaboration with Ron Elly, Tom Hull, Don
Nead and a host of others from the staff and board of LUM.
Dr.
Davidson analyzed strengths and weaknesses and importantly saw great
opportunities for LUM. Oh
yes, It was called the green book not because of some deeper
metaphorical meaning, but simply because its cover was a bright
green.
I
learned about Rev. Ronald Elly on those pages...recruited by
Presbytery from Seminary in Louisville Kentucky to Hope Chapel – a
small Presbyterian congregation on the south side of Lafayette. Here
lived some of Lafayette's poorest families and most marginalized
people.
The
year was 1967. It was an activist time. Churches were beginning to
realize that they would have to see beyond their stained glassed
windows and get involved in their communities.
It was a time to
connect with the marginalized. It was a time to correct racial
injustices. The government was launching a War on Poverty. The
times they were a changing and social justice was in the air.
Ron
saw an opportunity at Hope Chapel. He felt that it was well
positioned for renewal as a Servant Church – loving neighbors and
doing justice in the world.
Unfortunately,
leaders at this congregation did not share his passion for a Servant
Church. They wanted to recapture a more traditional model for church
life - One that served their own members and not so much the
community. They balked at Rev Elly's ideas...Unfortunately.
Or
was it fortunately. God does work in mysterious ways. Sure there
were plenty of false starts, disappointments, conflicts and heart
aches. We can only imagine the anxiety that Ron and Ellen must have
felt as Hope Chapel back-tracked.
But
Ron had persistence. Amazingly he didn't loose hope. Something new
was beginning to happen in Lafayette, Indiana and Ron's ministry was at the
heart of it. I'm not sure he realized it at the time, but looking
back we see it clearly.
Ron
was brilliant in his ability to gather people together. He was
always out in the community. First through the NDP (Neighborhood
Development Project) he reached out to Presbyterians and then to
Methodists and quickly to a broader ecumenical circle. He had a
knack for identifying people with a social justice gene and then he
got them involved.
All
of us, where would we be if not for Rev Elly's ministry? We have
lots to be grateful for and so much to celebrate.
By
1971, the idea for a Lafayette Urban Ministry was taking shape. More
people got involved. Seven churches became charter members. And in
January of 1972, it became official when Dee Tritschler moved and
Les Gaylor seconded a motion to create the Lafayette Urban Ministry
and call Rev Ronald Elly as LUM's Pastor Director.
It
was exciting times. Work with youth as well as a transportation
program expanded. A Centralized Emergency Fund was created to help
with emergency needs. Work on racial justice took off through an
Integrated Hands Program. A Hispanic community festival was
organized thanks to LUM securing additional church funds.
Participation as well as budgets increased. More than 20
congregations were discovering new ways to do Church.
But
Ron was not to remain Pastor Director. He sensed a calling to a more
personal ministry of pastoral counseling. Soon hundreds of people
were able to sort out troubling issues because of Ron's guidance.
Imagine the renewal in their lives and the difference Ron's pastoral
counseling ministry made. Many recall his deep concern and wonderful
kindness to this day.
Still
Ron Elly is and always will be the birthing parent of the Lafayette
Urban Ministry.
Among
his many gifts, he gave us vision. He taught us that through
persistence, prayer and faith, many good things are possible. We
can see beyond stained glass windows or self-obsessive lives. Ron's
vision gave us hope and has already changed Lafayette.
It's
true...isn't it?
Because
of his vision, we catch glimpses of a servant church. Now churches,
secular organizations and all people of good will are regularly
engaged with the poor and embracing the marginalized.
They walk for hunger
They counsel at an immigration clinic.
They volunteer at the homeless
shelter.
They support the Food Finders Food
Bank and give away bags of groceries.
They write letter to legislators
pleading for a social safety net.
They work on community task forces.
They give to the Good Samaritan Fund.
And more...
It's
like we are echoing the words of the prophet Micah. Do
justice...Love kindness...Walk humbly with God.
Indeed,
Ron, we recognize what you have accomplished among us. You leave a
living legacy and we are most grateful. We thank God for all
blessings... And today, we, especially, thank God for you. Amen
