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 […]
Major Ecumenical Bodies Raise Concerns About House Republicans Poverty Plan
Leaders of faith-based organizations are responding to the plan released by House Speaker Paul Ryan and the House Republican Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility Task Force with appreciation for the effort made to alleviate poverty but with deep concerns about the negative impacts some of the plan’s policy recommendations would have on the nation’s […]
Presidential Candidates Speak About Poverty
The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative has worked with leaders in the Circle of Protection to convince presidential candidates to record short videos explaining how their administrations would address poverty in the United States. Today, we’re pleased to release videos from the eight candidates who responded to our request. Currently, we’ve received videos from the following candidates: Hillary […]
Frequent Flyers Move the Hearts of Congress.
Many have already begun to experience the harsh impacts of the foolish Budget Sequester that set in motion indiscriminate slashes to government funding on Friday, March 1, 2013. Budget experts said it would be very difficult to reverse the sequester, and most did not have insight into how to help the 600,000 women and young […]
Please Sign Religious Leaders’ Pastoral Letter to President and Congress
On Friday, if Congress allows the Sequester to set in, children and families living in poverty will be among those most hurt. There is a need for people of faith, particularly clergy and religious leaders, to bring a moral and compassionate voice of reason to Washington. That’s why yesterday morning, more than 100 religious leaders […]
Ask Congress to Consider Matthew 6:21: Put Our Treasure Where Our Hearts Lie.
Click here to send a message letting your U.S. Senators and Representatives know you treasure God’s children and struggling families, and so should our Federal Budget. In the past two years’ budget and deficit struggles, we have repeated the wisdom of Matthew 6:21: “where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also.” If we treasure […]
Remarks by Rev. Michael Livingston at Circle of Protection press conference
Remarks by Rev. Michael Livingston at Circle of Protection press conference upon release of videos made by the presidential candidates explaining how they will form a circle of protection around the most vulnerable. September 12, 2012 – National Press Club By the end of July, over 1 billion dollars had been raised, and most of […]
Poverty and the Election: Listen in on What Some NCC Leaders are Saying
Kathryn M. Lohre, President, National Council of Churches Jesus worked and lived with people on the margins of society, and our call as a church is to continue that ministry. We are called as God’s church to build a kingdom of God where all are fed and community shares with each other. God’s church is […]