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. […]
EPI Joins Circle of Protection in Opposing Proposed Federal Budget
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 […]
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 […]
Copeland-Tune Named Director of Ecumenical Poverty Initiative
Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune has been named director of the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative (EPI), an anti-poverty ministry led by an active partnership of ecumenical leaders from diverse denominational, geographical, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, which adds a prophetic voice and collective action to the fight to end poverty. Dr. Copeland-Tune, who has been serving as the […]
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.
Models of Anti- Poverty Ministry – Presentation and Recommended Reading
In the first of the NCC Poverty Initiative’s Pastors Ending Poverty webinar series, Tronn Moller of the Faith and Community Development Institute shared some models of anti-poverty ministry for congregations to consider when planning how to confront poverty as a Christian community. Download his presentation here, and watch the video here. He also recommended the […]
Models of Anti-Poverty Webinar – March 13th 4:30pm EST/1:30pm PST
I’m excited to announce a great learning opportunity coming up next week: a webinar called “Models of Anti-Poverty Ministry.” Sometimes, churches have a hard time explaining how or why the ministries they do in the name of Matthew 25 took the shape they did. Having tools to clearly name and evaluate “the why and how” […]
Faithful Alternatives to Sequestration – A Message to Congress
This message was sent to Congress today on behalf of the Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs. It is with great concern over the effects of the sequester that I write to you today. These budget cuts will harm real people; they are not an academic exercise and this is no laboratory for testing […]
In 2013, Resolve to Strengthen Your Anti-Poverty Ministry.
In 2013, the National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative would like to support you in enhancing your anti-poverty ministry. We are launching a new program called Pastors Ending Poverty to challenge and support lay and ordained pastors like you in achieving any goals you set for yourself between February and June of 2013. The goals […]
