Episcopalians join the Poor People’s Campaign rally, march on Washington

From ENS-

Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led a Poor People’s Campaign. As part of that campaign, during an April 1968 trip to Memphis, Tennessee, in support of African-American sanitation workers striking for higher wages, King was shot dead. Today, a new Poor People’s Campaign is under way and Episcopalians are getting involved.

“Today you are the founding members of the 21st century’s ‘Poor People’s Campaign:  A National Call for Moral Revival.’ We gather today for a call to action. We gather here declaring it’s time for a moral uprising all across America,” said the Rev. William Barber on June 23. He co-chairs the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, along with the Rev. Liz Theoharis.

“This is not the commemoration of what happened 50 years ago, this the reenactment and the re-inauguration. Because you do not commemorate prophets and prophetic movements. You go in the blood where they fell and reach down and pick up the baton and carry it the next mile of the way. For three years we’ve been laying a foundation from the bottom up, not the top down.”

More here-

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/06/25/episcopalians-join-the-poor-peoples-campaign-rally-march-on-washington/

Rod Dreher’s Race Problem

From New Republic-

Last week, Rod Dreher, one of the country’s leading conservative intellectuals, offered a defense of Donald Trump’s notorious “shithole” comments, in which the president bemoaned the fact that immigrants from “shithole” countries in Africa and elsewhere were coming to the United States. “The whole thing is more morally challenging than I initially thought,” Dreher wrote from his longtime perch at The American Conservative. What followed was a slip of the mask, a valuable insight into the uglier ideas that undergird Dreher’s great project of preserving Western civilization.

“Let’s think about Section 8 housing,” he wrote, referring to public housing for low-income Americans, many of them minorities. “If word got out that the government was planning to build a housing project for the poor in your neighborhood, how would you feel about it? Be honest with yourself. Nobody would consider this good news. You wouldn’t consider it good news because you don’t want the destructive culture of the poor imported into your neighborhood. Drive over to the poor part of town, and see what a shithole it is. Do you want the people who turned their neighborhood a shithole to bring the shithole to your street?”

More here-

https://newrepublic.com/article/146758/rod-drehers-race-problem

A new Poor People’s Campaign wants to change how society defines morality

From The Washington Post-

Fifty years ago this week, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference announced the Poor People’s Campaign. Calling for a cross-racial coalition of Americans living in poverty to demand better living conditions, King described the need for the campaign in terms that feel particularly timely in the Trump era. “All of us can feel the presence of a kind of social insanity which could lead us to national ruin,” King declared.

Half a century later, as Republican leaders ram through a ruinous tax bill that will exacerbate economic inequality, a coalition of faith and social justice organizations is bringing King’s vision into the 21st century. Led by Rev. William J. Barber II and Rev. Liz Theoharis, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is planning 40 days of coordinated action in the spring of 2018 at statehouses across the country. Like its predecessor, the modern Poor People’s Campaign is focused on what King described as the “triple evils” of racism, poverty and militarism — with the addition of ecological devastation, a global crisis that disproportionately affects people living in poverty.


More here-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-new-poor-peoples-campaign-wants-to-change-how-society-defines-morality/2017/12/05/d4524b68-d90d-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html?utm_term=.f9a4b7e975b2

First World Day of the Poor message released

From Vatican Radio-

This Sunday, November 19th marks the first World Day of the Poor, which Pope Francis called for at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation on Tuesday announced a number of special events that are taking place throughout the week to highlight this annual initiative.

On Sunday morning in St Peter’s Basilica, some four thousand poor and needy people, accompanied by volunteers from Italy, France, Spain, Brussels, Luxembourg and Poland will take part in a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.

Following the Eucharist, 1.500 of the visitors will be invited to lunch in the adjacent Paul VI Hall, while the other 2.500 guests will be taken to lunch in some of the Catholic colleges, seminaries and charitable organisations in the vicinity of the Vatican.

More here-

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/14/vatican_announces_initaitives_for_first_world_day_of_poor/1348913

and here-

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/06/13/first_world_day_of_the_poor_message_released/1318626

SLUM PRIESTS NEEDED FOR A NEW OXFORD MOVEMENT

From The Living Church-

Ed Watson’s recent post here at Covenant asked, What is preventing a new Oxford Movement in the Episcopal Church today? Watson was responding to a 2012 post by Fr. Robert Hendrickson. Zachary Guiliano then followed up, mentioning a potential missing element: an emphasis on Scripture and personal holiness. However, in the wake of the November election, it seems a question worth revisiting for a fourth time. I am very conscious that I speak as a committed layperson within the Episcopal Church, and therefore not in a position to practice directly what I preach. I believe, however, that what I discuss below should be a necessary part of the conversation.

As a historian, reading both Watson’s and Hendrickson’s posts, I was struck by the extent that their framing, and therefore their definition, of the Oxford Movement was purely theological and liturgical. A revival of the Oxford Movement, by this definition, would consist in asserting the claims of the Church against individualistic trends within society and culture, a renewed adoration of the Eucharist and devotion to the Virgin Mary, and a more sacramental piety.

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/covenant/2016/11/29/slum-priests-needed-for-a-new-oxford-movement/

Christians are more than twice as likely to blame a person’s poverty on lack of effort

From The Washington Post-

Which is generally more often to blame if a person is poor: lack of effort on their own part, or difficult circumstances beyond their control?

The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation asked 1,686 American adults to answer that question — and found that religion is a significant predictor of how Americans perceive poverty.

Christians, especially white evangelical Christians, are much more likely than non-Christians to view poverty as the result of individual failings.

“There’s a strong Christian impulse to understand poverty as deeply rooted in morality — often, as the Bible makes clear, in unwillingness to work, in bad financial decisions or in broken family structures,” said Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. “The Christian worldview is saying that all poverty is due to sin, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the sin of the person in poverty. In the Garden of Eden, there would have been no poverty. In a fallen world, there is poverty.”

More here-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/03/christians-are-more-than-twice-as-likely-to-blame-a-persons-poverty-on-lack-of-effort/?utm_term=.5f7878f567d1

Bishop: Church 'abandons' the poor because clergy won't leave middle-class areas with trendy coffee shops

From The Telegraph-

The Church is "abandoning" the poor because middle-class clergy are unwilling to move away from "trendy coffee shops", a bishop has said.

The Rt Revd Philip North launched a stinging critique of Church of England priests who are too wedded to wealthy areas to minister to the poor.

In a speech made at the Christian conference New Wine, the Bishop of Burnley said: "I am astonished at the number of people Jesus is calling to plant new churches as long as they are in Zones 1 and 2 of the London transport system."

He added: "If you feel called to plant, we need you on the outer estates, we need you in our northern towns, we need you in areas where a majority of people come from other world faiths, we need you in those areas where the trendy coffee shops and artisanal bakers are hard to find. 

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/03/bishop-church-abandons-poor-clergy-wont-leave-middle-class-areas/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_fb_tmg

'To God, no one is invisible': Anglican Alliance joins anti-poverty drive

From Anglican News-

The Anglican Alliance has joined more than 30 leaders from world religions and global faith-based organisations in a commitment to collective action to end extreme poverty by 2030.

The leaders have signed a declaration, Ending Extreme Poverty: A Moral and Spiritual Imperative, that sets out a vision for action: that humanity has both the responsibility and the capability to lift the last billion people out of extreme poverty in our generation.

This is a goal shared by the World Bank Group, which has convened a dialogue process with faith groups under the leadership of World Bank President Jim Kim.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2015/04/to-god,-no-one-is-invisible-anglican-alliance-joins-anti-poverty-drive.aspx

Presbyterians scrap ad campaign deemed offensive to minorities

From RNS-

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is scrapping an ad campaign for the needy after it was blasted for being culturally and socially insensitive.

The One Great Hour of Sharing campaign originally included an image of an Asian girl with the words “Needs help with her drinking problem” and, in smaller lettering: “She can’t find water.” Another image featured a man with the words “Needs help getting high,” followed in smaller lettering with: “Above the flood waters.”

Linda Valentine, executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, said a redesign has begun and the new campaign should appear in February.

“We made a great misstep,” she said. “We acknowledged that the materials not only perpetuated offensive racial stereotypes but were insensitive to struggles with addiction that are real struggles and many of our churches and many of our ministries are working with those very people.”

More here-

http://www.religionnews.com/2015/01/21/presbyterians-scrap-ad-campaign-deemed-offensive-minorities/

What the Church must do to help the poor

From The Catholic Herald-

Poverty and inequality are in the news once more. It is not just the Anglican Archbishops who are bringing the subject up, but it is also the Pope, in his preaching in the Philippines, as one can read here.

The causes of poverty in the Third World are undoubtedly complex, but all Third World countries share certain characteristics. One that stands out is failure to uphold the rule of law. The elites in places like the Philippines preserve their privileges, fortunes and capacity to generate wealth by bending the rules to suit themselves: the law is not neutral but is used as an instrument of oppression, to preserve the very unjust status quo.

More Here-


http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2015/01/19/what-the-church-must-do-to-help-the-poor/

Buffalo bishops say region’s economic progress should also benefit immigrants and the poor

From Buffalo-

The bishops of Buffalo’s Catholic and Episcopal dioceses have written a joint pastoral letter urging church members to help make sure immigrants, minorities and the poor, among others, share in the region’s economic progress.

While noting new development and revitalization in Buffalo, Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop R. William Franklin of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York said not everyone is benefitting.

More here-

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo-bishops-say-regions-economic-progress-should-also-benefit-immigrants-and-the-poor-20141210

Poverty and class: the latest themes to enter the US banned-books debate

From The Guardian-

Late last month, for the 32nd year in a row, Banned Books Week was marked across the US. Spearheaded by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom, the annual salute to the freedom to read has become a fixture. It aims to counterbalance perennial challenges to the content of books and efforts to get them banned, usually from schools and libraries.

The ALA collects information on which books are objected to and reports on prominent recurring themes that tend to generate moral or ideological indignation. Subjects such as religion, race, gender, sexuality and allegations of sexually explicit content or offensive language frequently top the list.

More here-

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/21/us-adds-poverty-to-dangerous-reading-lists

Episcopal Deacon Walking To End Poverty Across America

From Pittsburgh-

Lou Ness is an Episcopal deacon.

The 65-year-old grandmother has walked into Pittsburgh for a lofty mission.

“My purpose is to end poverty in America,” she says.

One step at a time. She started hiking from her church in Rockford, Illinois, on April 1. Her destination: Capitol Hill in Washington.

“I’ve been walking from rural town to rural town, from state to state, listening to people’s stories who live very marginally, at or below the poverty level,” Rev. Ness says.

There are stops along the way.

It’s a long journey for someone who admittedly doesn’t like walking. She has logged 596 miles since Rockford.

Her Pittsburgh destination is Trinity Church in Downtown Pittsburgh.

More here-

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/05/21/episcopal-deacon-walking-to-end-poverty-across-america/

Episcopal diocese on a mission

From Tennessee-

The local Episcopalian diocese declared a new mission for 2014: to stamp out poverty in Middle Tennessee.

The Episcopal Church in the United States has been known for issuing statements on social issues since the 1970s, and the local diocese continued that tradition during its recent convention at St. Paul’s Church in Murfreesboro.

The resolution to reduce poverty was approved Jan. 24 by the 182nd Diocesan Convention for the Diocese of Tennessee, which roughly covers Middle Tennessee. The resolution addresses problems faced by Tennesseans of all faiths, according to the priest at St. Paul’s.

“We’re all in this together,” said the Rev. James K. Polk Van Zandt “We’re all God’s children.”

The resolution called for the construction of a task force to assess and attack poverty in Tennessee, which rates 40th in the nation and is home to 1.1 million people living below the poverty line, according to the document passed by the convention.

More here-


http://www.dnj.com/article/20140206/LIFESTYLE/302060049/Episcopal-diocese-mission

'Open your eyes to capital's underclass'

From Australia-

St John's Care director Sue Jordan has scoffed at the idea Canberra is largely a comfortable and middle-class city as her organisation prepares to team up with youth homeless service YouthCARE Canberra.

''Come and spend a day with me - that would change your mind. Canberra is not middle-class,'' Mrs Jordan said.

Each weekday, St John's Care volunteers give out donated food to the needy in its ''supermarket without a register'' in the hall behind the church in Reid, at the coalface of the national capital's underclass.

''These are people who come in and say, 'I cannot feed my family','' Mrs Jordan said.

Read more:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/open-your-eyes-to-capitals-underclass-20130920-2u5md.html#ixzz2fRA51Wn9

The Revd Mark Stevenson named Episcopal Church Domestic Poverty Missioner

From Anglican News-

Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, has announced the appointment of the Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson as Domestic Poverty Missioner on the staff of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS).

In this position, Stevenson will be responsible for work related to Anglican Mark of Mission 4, The transformation of unjust structures of society, which the 77th General Convention designated as a budget priority and structured with a focus on the alleviation of poverty in the United States.

In addition to the newly created work of Mission Mark 4, Stevenson will be responsible for several of the DFMS’s longstanding domestic-poverty engagements, including support for the Jubilee Ministry program and liaison with networks of Episcopalians working to address poverty in their communities.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2013/08/the-rev-mark-stevenson-named-episcopal-church-domestic-poverty-missioner.aspx

Mark Stevenson to Fight Poverty

From The Living Church-

The Living Church Foundation extends joyous congratulations to the Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson, a member of the foundation’s board.

Adapted from the Office of Public Affairs

The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church, has announced the appointment of the Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson as domestic poverty missioner on the staff of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS).

In this position, Stevenson will be responsible for work related to Anglican Mark of Mission 4 — transformation of unjust structures of society — which the 77th General Convention designated as a budget priority and structured with a focus on the alleviation of poverty in the United States. Stevenson will begin his new work September 16 and will be based in Dallas.

In addition to the newly created work of Mission Mark 4, Stevenson will be responsible for several of the church’s longstanding domestic-poverty engagements, including support for the Jubilee Ministry program and liaison with networks of Episcopalians working to address poverty in their communities.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/mark-stevenson-fight-poverty

North Carolinians stand up for the poor, vulnerable on Moral Mondays

From ENS-

It’s not every day a bishop receives a courtesy call from one of his priests letting him know he plans to get arrested.

Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry received just such a call from the Rev. Randall Keeney, vicar of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Greensboro, before Keeney’s May 6 arrest for civil disobedience during the second “Moral Monday” protest against actions of the state legislature in Raleigh. On July 29, the movement marked its 13th week with a march to the state capitol and an interfaith social-justice rally. The weekly rallies – although not the push for change – may now take a hiatus until lawmakers return from their summer break, participants say.

“We are in the middle of a movement that is only just beginning, and it’s a church movement,” said Curry. The North Carolina NAACP launched the rallies, led by the Rev. William Barber, its president and a United Church of Christ minister. The interfaith protests, which draw believers and nonbelievers alike, are “revival-like,” Curry said. “There’s singing and there’s praying and there’s preaching, and Jesus gets talked about a lot. … The Hebrew prophets are quoted regularly.”

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/07/30/north-carolinians-stand-up-for-the-poor-vulnerable-on-moral-mondays/v

Vatican-Anglican alliance on poverty

From The Tablet-

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is in talks with Pope Francis about a new initiative that would link the Anglican Communion with the Vatican in the fight against poverty.

It is understood that the plan, which emerged from meetings between Archbishop Welby and the Pope in June, will focus on how both Churches can work together to help those in poverty around the world.

They will also speak out together to challenge governments and international authorities.

The Holy See rarely issues joint statements so it will mark a new development in Catholic-Anglican relations if both Churches act together.

Archbishop Welby revealed he was working on a joint initiative with the Pope during the Church of England's General Synod, but would not be drawn on details.

At their meeting in June, both men talked about the need to build a fairer global economic system.

Find it here-

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/5492

Cycling for poverty on 2500km ride across the country

From Australia-

FIGHTING poverty with a pushbike sounds a bit far fetched, but that is exactly what a team of cyclists are doing.

The team, with an average age of 56, are from the Anglican

Their goal is to raise awareness on poverty in Australia and overseas and will be arriving in the Tweed today about 3.30pm as they head home to Sydney.

Smashing Cycles of Poverty cyclist Patrick Kennedy has pedalled 1600km over the last two weeks and said that motorists had given them an excellent reception so far.

"Motorists are waving, tooting their horns and getting right out of our way," he said.

They are being very gracious.

"We are now beginning the long trek back down the coast towards Sydney thinking about how we might win the next State of Origin series."

Anglican Aid CEO and team member David Mansfield said the group hoped to raise $1 million for the 1.3 billion people in the world who live on around $1 a day.

Aid Smashing Cycles of Poverty initiative and are riding the 2500km return trip from Sydney to Brisbane.

More here-

http://www.mydailynews.com.au/news/cycling-for-poverty-on-2500km-ride-across-the-coun/1827520/