Immigration Events Ecumenical Poverty Initiative condemns the escalating, state-sponsored hostility towards asylum seekers in United States. The recent Thanksgiving trifecta is terrifying. First, the Presidential authorization of the military’s use of “lethal force”, if necessary, against persons seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border. Next, ICE agents’ forceful detainment of a man who emerged from nearly […]
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Enters Payday Litigation
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) enters the courts to advance its predatory lending advocacy. Founded in 1991, CBF recently “….requested to join litigation to defend…” the most recent payday lending rule that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued in October 2017. The litigation request responds to two payday lending associations suit against the CFPB. […]
Ecumenical Poverty Initiative Joins Local and National Organizations to Oppose Tax Cuts, “Round 2”
Ecumenical Poverty Initiative and a diverse coalition of state and national organizations join Americans for Tax Fairness opposing the most recent tax cut proposal. The proposed cuts equal $2.8 trillion dollars over the next ten years. We oppose these cuts because they reward wealthy persons and large corporations at the expense of low income and […]
EPI Endorses the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
Ecumenical Poverty Initiative is proud to announce that we have endorsed the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. In state capitols and Washington, D.C., policies that promote systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, and ecological devastation are threatening our democracy and decaying our national morality. We refuse to be silent in the face […]
EPI and Other Christian Groups Release Statement on President-Elect Trump’s Policy Agenda and Nominees
The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative joined the National Council of Churches USA, Conference of National Black Churches and Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference in urging President-Elect Donald Trump to, “to take seriously his responsibility to bring our nation together and to heed the oath he will take to preserve, protect and defend America.” According to the statement, […]
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 […]
ENOUGH: Virtual Mass Meetings for Faith and Community Leaders
People of Faith Say ENOUGH! The Time is Now! Faith and community leaders are gathering weekly for virtual mass meetings to build a movement that breaks down barriers to economic and racial justice. The “We Say ENOUGH” campaign is calling for a moral response to the deepening disparities and injustice poor and disenfranchised people are experiencing in […]
Stop Predatory Lending: Tell Your Story
Ecumenical Poverty Initiative is joining with the Faith for Just Lending coalition and others in the faith community to stand up for the most economically vulnerable and to stop predatory payday lenders. So many people who needed help during an emergency or to cover the costs of unexpected expenses, have found themselves spiraling into deeper […]
EPI Co-Sponsors Senate Hearing on CFPB’s Proposed Payday Lending Rule
The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative was a co-sponsor of a briefing for Senate staff on small-dollar loans, including payday, auto title, deposit advance products, and installment loans. Rev. Sekinah Hamlin, EPI’s director, was one of the speakers at the briefing, which was held on Monday, June 13 in the Dirksen Senate Building. EPI is urging […]
EPI Calls on CFPB to Strengthen Payday Lending Rule
Washington, D.C., June 14, 2016—The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative (EPI) has applauded the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) release of a rule that would govern payday lending and curtail predatory practices that have resulted in a vicious cycle of debt for low-income borrowers. In a briefing for Senate staffers yesterday about the proposed rule, EPI […]
