The souls of the city find sanctuary in Allentown’s 140 houses of worship, but Mayor Ed Pawlowski and a broad coalition of clergy say the community of faith can offer something else: a united front against gangs, guns, drugs, despair and untold other problems afflicting the urban core.

Faith leaders have always been involved in such efforts, but in sometimes fragmentary fashion unaided by city government, Pawlowski said at a news conference Wednesday in announcing the formation of Allentown’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.

While individual congregations serve as forces of good in their own neighborhoods, ‘‘the goal of this new office is to link them together,’‘ said Pawlowski, painting the office as a clearinghouse where ministers, rabbis, priests and imams can share resources and ideas, and learn how to pursue federal and state grants for social programs. ‘‘We want the city to be there, not as a hindrance but a resource.’‘

The mayor, a former pastor and social worker, began reaching out to religious leaders more than a year ago, inspired by similar programs in Philadelphia and elsewhere. He said he made a special effort to involve Latino clergy, because 37 of the city’s houses of worship are Latino.
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