What's missing in downtown Tucson?

I had an opportunity to speak to the remaining faithful at First Baptist Church (FBC). You may have seen the venerable old building on the corner of 5th street and 6th avenue. Next door to the magnificent marble columned structure lies the remnants of the old education wing that was sold recently to a developer building lofts. In the early nineties FBC sold the Beal Center on the University of Arizona. The 8,000 square foot building was sold to shore up declining membership (and consequential diminished giving) to keep FBC alive. Gathered on the Sunday morning were 10 people that have refused to let the church die. One lady, who kept adjusting her hearing aid so she could hear me, had been a member of the church since 1958. One of the “newcomers” had been attending since 1964. He was a rancher that left his old church because they had departed from the teaching of the Bible. He told me even though he had been attending FBC since 1964 he wasn’t a member. “I was baptized once as an infant and received Christ as my savior as a teen, so I wasn’t about to do it again”, (referring to baptism)!

The tale of FBC is relevant not just for its’ historical implications but is also illustrative of the current state of demise in downtown Tucson. FBC stood like an eagle over the decadent downtown and the socially liberal University of Arizona since the late 1800’s. Many people forget that the Wild West was truly very wild. Tucson was known for gambling and prostitution. In fact one of our sheriff’s ran the bordello, and nearly anything could be had for a price. Tucson was the antithesis of a “haven” for the cattlemen, copper miners and cotton growers for their weekend wild romps. The eagle of FBC proclaimed liberty for the captives and Gods’ grace and mercy for sinners.

One of the first president’s of the U of A was the pastor of First Baptist Church. In the 1940’s over 3,000 people were members of FBC when our city was nipping at the heals of 50,000! Dr. Beal (namesake of the Beal Center on the U of A campus) pastored FBC for 50 years. He was legendary for his pursuit of sinners for salvation. He would venture into bars on Saturday nights and bring to church drunks and derelicts on Sunday morning complete with a black eye for his troubles. He would preach the Gospel on the U of A campus and win students bent on destruction to life everlasting.

So what happened at FBC? The decay process resembles what happened to downtown Tucson. Just like our downtown never seemed to recover from the Pioneer Hotel fire and the move of Seinfeld’s and Jacome’s to the suburbs. FBC never recovered from the retirement of Dr. Beal and the 11 churches that they launched with their members in the suburbs. When churches flee downtown for the more prosperous suburbs it doesn’t just leave a vacancy it leaves blight. Every seamy big city downtown in America is characterized by the absence of churches. The darkness is very dark in the absence of light. As we look at rebuilding our downtown let us not lose site of a critical component to a vital, vibrant downtown; churches. Otherwise we will have shiny structures, the lights will be on, but nobody will be home.