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 […]
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, […]
Presidential Candidates’ Statements on Addressing Hunger and Poverty
More than 100 Christian leaders with the Circle of Protection have released new statements by Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton explaining how they would work as president to address hunger and poverty both in the United States and around the world. The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative is a part of the Steering Committee for the […]
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 […]
A Gift for Low-Wage Capitol Workers
EPI Director Rev. Sekinah Hamlin and Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness Director Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson co-authored asking for justice for Capitol workers and an hourly wage of $15, fair working conditions and the right to engage in collective bargaining. Click here to read the op-ed.
There is no intellectual debate over SNAP (food stamps)
Between 2008 and 2012, SNAP participation rose from 26.3 million to 46.6 million. We are now being presented with two narratives to explain the sudden addition of 20.3 million people to the rolls of those receiving government assistance in putting food on the table. One narrative says there was a financial crisis that led to […]
The Farm Bill Was Voted Down in the U.S. House, What Happens Now?
This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 195-234 against the Farm Bill. The good news is that the 20 billion dollars of cuts to SNAP will not become law. Earlier today the House passed the Southerland amendment, which would have cut off the unemployed from SNAP, and also will not become a law as the […]
Mothers Fighting Poverty: Rev. Terry Kukuk of Mexico, Missouri
Leading up to Mother’s Day, the NCC Poverty Initiative is sharing a series of stories lifting up, celebrating, and praying for mothers who are fighting poverty and alleviating suffering in their communities. Prayer for Terry: God, thank you for expressing your love through Terry to the children and families who are hungry in her community. […]
Mothers Fighting Poverty: Rev. Kathleen Wilder, St. Louis, Missouri
Leading up to Mother’s Day, the NCC Poverty Initiative is sharing a series of stories lifting up, celebrating, and praying for mothers who are fighting poverty and alleviating suffering in their communities. Prayer for Kathleen: God, thank you for expressing your love through Kathleen to hungry and sojourning people of St. Louis. Thank you for […]
