Mission
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.
Churches have been powerful voices for generations on a range of defining social justice issues, most importantly the need to address poverty. Central to any Christian message is the call to care for the “least of these”–to love and care for our neighbors. With more people both in the United States and globally living on the economic margins, people of faith are drawing more deeply upon that rich tradition of social justice engagement to speak out on the need to address the range of poverty issues, and create community practices and national policies that lift people from a life of poverty.
The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative began as a ministry of the National Council of Churches USA and in July 2013 moved under the sponsorship of the Disciples Center for Public Witness. The Initiative continues to bring together national religious denominations as well as state ecumenical agencies and other religious organizations in the ministry to address poverty.
The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative is staffed by Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune who directs the program. Rev. Sekinah Hamlin is the senior adviser. The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative Working Group is co-convened by Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston of the Disciples Center for Public Witness and Dr. Eli Burke of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.
Help us continue this great ministry by contributing to the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative.
Partners
- The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Christian Council of Delaware
- Community of Christ
- The Episcopal Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Interfaith Arkansas
- NETWORK
- Ohio Council of Churches
- Pennsylvania Council of Churches
- Presbyterian Church USA
- Rhode Island State Council of Churches
- United Church of Christ
- Virginia Council of Churches
- West Virginia Council of Churches
Staff
- Rev. Ebony Grisom, Director (egrisom@faithendpoverty.org)
- Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Senior Adviser (lcopelandtune@faithendpoverty.org)
Contact
Ecumenical Poverty Initiative
c/o National City Christian Church
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-534-9813
