Poverty                          Economic Justice Updates   Human Needs Updates

The Council envisions life in a Commonwealth characterized by justice and shalom that would be drastically different for most Pennsylvanians. All would have everything they need—living wage jobs, and adequate health care, housing, food, and education. No one would be discriminated against because of the color or his or her skin, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or economic status. All who are unable to work or care for themselves for reasons of health, disability, or economic climate—whether permanent or temporary—would receive adequate care and support.

Poverty and human needs have always
been of concern to the Council, and are
expected to remain a top priority for the
foreseeable future. Efforts focus on
changing policies at both the state and
federal levels, but also on changing
attitudes—reframing the way individuals, congregations, government, business, organizations and others view and speak about poverty.

To that end, the Council’s Commission on Public Witness has developed A Statement Concerning Poverty, along with a companion, to provide a foundation for how we speak about poverty. The companion is a temporary document—the Commission is shaping the companion into a study guide for congregations, following the outline of the Statement. It is expected to be completed by late winter/early spring of 2010.

To learn about actions you can take related to poverty and human needs, visit our Take Action page and check out the information below.

A Statement Concerning Poverty

 

As Christian leaders in the wealthiest society on earth, we are
called by God to urge our churches and nation to strengthen
and expand efforts to address the scandal of widespread
poverty in the United States and around the world. The Gospel and our ethical principles place our service to the poor and vulnerable and our work for justice at the center of Christian life and witness.

Introduction to A Statement Concerning Poverty

 

                      This fitting statement, borrowed from Christian Churches Together, speaks to the                       Council’s position—that we, as a community of faith, have a unique responsibility to                       bear witness to the Gospel, seeking to discern what God wants, and to act as God’s                       agents in the world to overcome poverty in God’s world.

                      The Statement raises and discusses a number of questions: Who is my neighbor?                          What is poverty? Who lives in poverty? How does poverty affect us? What does permitting preventable poverty to exist say about us? What does God call us to do? A companion provides some additional food for thought.

The conclusion:

As Christians, we acknowledge the scourge of poverty that damages our society and that is counter to what we believe about responsibility for our neighbors. We believe that it is our duty to speak truth to power and to act to overcome poverty wherever it exists. It is our intention to do so at every opportunity, and we will seek to work with all who desire to do the same. We understand that overcoming poverty will require greater commitment by individuals and institutions at every level, along with better choices by individuals and better policies within our society.

We encourage you to read the Statement and join us in discussion/dialogue that we hope will change how we think about and address poverty in the future. You can use the new Study Guide, God’s Kingdom is for Everyone, to guide your discussion. Please help us by providing feedback on your experience of using the guide.

TAKE THE FOOD STAMP CHALLENGE!

Resources on Poverty

 

The Bible contains some 2,000 verses on poverty. To ignore those leaves “a Bible full of holes.”

Jim Wallis, Christian Churches Together Gathering, January 2009

 

Resources on Poverty contains a sampling of resources to help congregations that wish to engage in discussion/study concerning poverty. While lengthy, it is by no means a complete guide to all resources. We invite you to submit other resources that you have found to be helpful in your congregations to s.strauss@pachurches.org. Many other links to sites that provide information on poverty and related issues are available here. 

God’s
Kingdom
is for

Everyone:

Discussing Poverty in a Christian Framework

Download this new 4-session study guide for congregations

SafeLink Wireless—Free Cell Phones for Low Income Pennsylvanians