Ecumenical Poverty Initiative

  • Home
  • News
  • About
  • Resources
  • Pastors Ending Poverty
  • Join the Movement
    • Join the Movement
    • Campaigns
    • Events
You are here: Home / Child Poverty / A Hope-Filled Prayer for the Poor on the Eve of Election Day 2016

November 7, 2016 By Ebony Grisom Leave a Comment

A Hope-Filled Prayer for the Poor on the Eve of Election Day 2016

Offered by Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, EPI Director

Gracious and Merciful God, Our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer,

On this eve of Election Day in the United States, we lift up those living in poverty before You for whom the outcome of this election will make a real difference. So often those living in poverty are treated as “them” and not us. So often the circumstance of their living conditions seems to dictate the path of their lives with others forgetting that they are Your children, made in Your image and likeness and fearfully and wonderfully made. We are grateful, O Lord, that You see us for who we are purposed to be.man-holding-poverty-sign

We pray that those who are elected during this election cycle will seek to lead our country with hope and concern for the most vulnerable. We pray for leaders who will serve our nation with a vision of a promising future for all who live within America’s borders and not just a select few. 

We pray that those who are elected will be caring, compassionate and ever mindful of how their policies will affect the most vulnerable among us.children-with-school-supplies

We pray that those who are elected during this election cycle will not legislate out of stereotypes or caricatures of the poor created by those who only wish to exploit them, but instead will be committed to enact policies with justice and righteousness at the forefront of their minds and evident by their actions.

children-runningWe pray that all eligible voters across the economic spectrum will exercise their right to vote and cast their ballots for candidates who are committed to ending poverty and injustice when the cameras are off, social media is down and behind closed doors.  

We pray that people in communities throughout this nation – urban, suburban, rural, wealthy and economically disadvantaged – will be able to vote without obstacles, fear tactics, bullying or any other form of voter disenfranchisement or intimidation getting in the way of the democratic process.

child_poverty_in_usaWe pray that candidates will be elected who will no longer blame poor people for being poor without acknowledging the systems and policies that are in place that keep people living in impoverished conditions – under-resourced schools, unfair and unjust wages, economic exploitation by those who use poverty to steal from the poor, institutional racism and implicit bias and an unjust criminal justice system that ruins the lives of families and communities ruthlessly and unnecessarily.please-help-sign-children

We pray for elected officials who will care about childhood hunger and nutrition, a living wage and wage theft, the intersection of racial and economic disparities, criminal justice reform, maintaining safety net programs and creating more job training programs and opportunities, an education system that fully educates all children regardless of zip code, affordable housing for all and continuing to make sure there is quality, accessible and affordable health care for everyone.

We pray for elected officials who will have courage to speak up and fight for those living in poverty and who are not afraid to stand up for justice and righteousness and against policies that hurt those most in need.

We pray that candidates will be elected who have a vision of hope and not despair, who will fight for all people and not against the most vulnerable and who are dedicated to using their position to close and not widen economic, racial and social chasms that keep us from fulfilling the promise of this nation.

children-at-schoolAnd, we pray for candidates to be elected who will once and for all end the scandal of poverty in our nation.

Hear our prayer, O Lord, according to your lovingkindness, tender mercies and abundant grace.

In the Name of the One who came to remove all barriers and to establish justice and righteousness on earth as it is in heaven, we pray.

Amen.

#JustVote #Vote2EndPoverty

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Child Poverty, Economics, Election, Empowerment, Fair Wages, Featured, Fighting Poverty with Faith, Inequality, Poverty, Pray the Vote, Public Education, Religious leaders, Wage theft, Women and Families Tagged With: Donald Trump, Election Day 2016, Get out the Vote, Hillary Clinton, Poor People, Poverty, Vote

The goal of the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative is to empower and mobilize the faith community to speak and act to end the scandal of poverty in the United States.

Join the Movement

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Involved

We'll send you occasional updates and opportunities for action. We won't share your address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Join Now

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Featured Article

EPI Joins Circle of Protection in Opposing Proposed Federal Budget

EPI Joins Circle of Protection in Opposing Proposed Federal Budget

August 22, 2017 by Ebony Grisom

Washington, D.C., June 21, 2017–Christian leaders from across the theological and political spectrum, including Ecumenical Poverty Initiative Director Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, today expressed opposition to federal budget cuts that would harm people living in hunger and poverty.  Their statement represents the first broad-based, ecumenical response to the ongoing budget debates since the inauguration of President […]

Read more articles

About Us

faithfulbudgetworksogodcanuseme-2

The goal of the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative is to empower and mobilize the faith community to speak and act to end the scandal of poverty in the United States.

Read More

Recent Articles

  • EPI Endorses the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
  • EPI Joins Circle of Protection in Opposing Proposed Federal Budget
  • EPI Opposes American Health Care Act
  • EPI and Other Christian Groups Release Statement on President-Elect Trump’s Policy Agenda and Nominees
  • Post-Election Statement

Search

Topics

1 Kings Affordable Care Act Ahab Anti-Poverty Ministry bonhoeffer Brazil budget Capitol workers cash Christ the King United Church of Christ Circle of Protection discipleship Donald Trump economics Farm Bill Federal Budget framing grace health income Inequality introduction Jezebel lectionary Leviticus Low-wage workers Luke Media minimum wage Naboth news newspaper Pastor Payday lending Poverty Predatory lending property questions safety net SNAP St. Louis swine Traci Blackmon visualizations wage-productivity gap

Copyright © 2018 Ecumenical Poverty Initiative

c/o National City Christian Church • 5 Thomas Circle, NW • Washington, DC 20005 • 202-232-0323 ext. 108

Website by Tomatillo Design

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.