By JENNY DERRINGER

derringer@crescent-news.com

"I refuse to lead a dying church" was a sentiment expressed Monday evening by Rev. Paul Nixon, a pastor at EpicenterDC, in Washington, D.C. Instead, in his job as a congregational developer for more than 20 years, he helps infuse a little vitality into church members by drawing out their gifts and pairing them with community members who have a need.

Defiance College's Schomburg Auditorium was the site of a special Schauffler Symposium Monday evening titled "Issues of Poverty and Faith in the Beltway: A Model for Your Backyard," led by Nixon. His church project serves families living in urban neighborhoods of high density housing in Washington, D.C.

The United Methodist pastor is also the author of Fling Open the Doors, Healing Spiritual Amnesia and I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church and coaches church leaders in their outreach efforts in the community.

"I hope to leverage people with gifts to work in the local community," said Nixon, "and find ways to be faith communities together."

Nixon described Washington as the fastest changing city in the U.S., with demographics routinely affecting the city's churches.

"Every community is a changing community and churches are reeling to keep up with those changes," he stressed. "Many churches are two changes behind."

Among the churches that are dealing the most with changes in Washington are the African-American and Anglo churches, particularly because of where they are located. Neighborhoods get bought out and renovated, causing many lower income residents to relocate, he noted. In the late 1980s, there was an effort to rebuild the center of the city, with blocks reclaimed for "civilization."

"So affordable housing disappeared and low income folks were eked out of their homes," explained Nixon. "Poor neighborhoods continue to be squeezed out of the city."

As congregational developer with EpicenterDC, Nixon draws upon the strengths of the members in its three faith-linked communities. His church has three locations around the city, each striving to serve the different needs of each community.

One located in the suburbs reaches out to the deaf community, while EpicenterDC serves a mixed race population with a common educational level. Another in Roselyn, Va., caters to a younger, more transient crowd. Their congregation has different social service projects designed to meet the needs of the "street people." These programs include offering mentoring services to non-violent offenders in the community, housing assistance, parenting skills and feeding the hungry.

"Many members learn there is much joy in giving to others," said Nixon, "rather than building a career."

He describes the effort as not reinventing social service but rather "piggybacking" onto other agencies' efforts.

"As a congregational developer," he noted, "I develop congregations that are socially responsible and have a passion for the city. We develop faith communities.

"Everyone has a set of spiritual needs," he added, "We help them discover a world beyond their aspirations and get them connected with others so they have a richer life and more awareness. We are all partners."