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Diverse group of religious leaders warns of poverty crisis, urges actionProduced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington. March 31, 1998 CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally, Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470 {191} NOTE: This story is accompanied by a sidebar, UMNS #192. by Woody Woodrick* CARBONDALE, Ill. (UMNS) -— A poverty crisis looms just over the horizon, and it must be addressed immediately, religious leaders decided at a gathering near here. A diverse group representing virtually all mainstream faiths gathered March 24-25 at Giant City State Park to prepare a statement on the moral challenge of poverty facing the religious community. The statement urges a cooperative effort among the public and private sectors and the faith community to "free all those who are trapped in poverty." The statement will be distributed among the various groups represented at the meeting. The gathering was sponsored by the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The institute’s director, former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois, led the roundtable discussion, which included about 20 groups and faiths. Participants came from diverse backgrounds, ranging from the Nation of Islam to Judaism, from the Southern Baptist denomination to the Unitarian-Universalist church. The event also drew leaders from the United Methodist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Christian Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Armenian Church, the Reformed Church in America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the American Baptist Church. White House and Illinois state officials also attended. Bishop Jack Meadors of the Mississippi Annual (regional) Conference was one of three United Methodists on the panel. He was joined by retired Bishop Leroy Hodapp of Evansville, Ind., and layman James M. Wall, editor of The Christian Century and a member of the United Methodist Church. Hodapp also served as an adviser before the meeting. Wall, who lives in Chicago, advised the panelists on how to spread the statement’s message through the media. "For that diverse group to agree on the necessity of a response to poverty was incredible," Meadors said. "We all affirmed our beliefs. We moved beyond personal beliefs to unite in this statement." The Rev. Herbert Martin, pastor of the Progressive Community Church in Chicago, agreed. "I think, given the diversity of the group, it is impressive that we have come up with a consensus statement that is a step into the 20th century. This document will greatly impact policy. "Congregations, temples and synagogues are strongly urged to commit their money and human resources," said Martin, a native of Mound Bayou, Miss. The statement points to statistics that indicate 21 percent of the nation’s population lives in poverty. It also urges congregations to look beyond the current economic climate and to begin preparing for less prosperous days. The need for preparation was emphasized at the meeting’s start by Bill Wilson, a professor at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University and an informal adviser to President Clinton. The participants also heard personal stories from two women involved in Illinois’ programs to help welfare recipients become self-sufficient. "We call upon our state and federal governments to re-examine what they are doing as servants of all Americans, and we call upon congregations of every religious persuasion to examine their actions and 'inactions,'" the leaders said in the document. "Working with the poor is an essential part of the religious life and is an effective way of conveying what our faith compels us to do. We gather as people of faith to call upon citizens of all religious traditions to join in a common commitment to set free all those who are trapped in poverty." Meadors, who chairs the Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty, and John Buehrens, president of the Unitarian-Universalist Association, made a point of emphasizing the needs of children in the statement. "I'm very pleased the document identified the crisis among children," Meadors said. The statement urges government to work with the private sector in meeting the needs of the unemployed, especially those who are difficult to employ. The document also calls for programs that emphasize training, mentoring, child care, transportation and medical care. Programs and job policies should be constructed to encourage families to live together, the religious leaders say. "It is important to recognize that we have moved from government social programs to partnerships," Meadors said. Congregations also have a role to play, especially in addressing emergency and long-term needs and providing "voices on behalf of the people who have no voice in the struggle for equal opportunity," according to the document. The statement includes questions that congregations should ask themselves regarding their efforts to help the poor. Among the questions:
The closest any of the participants came to arguing was when they worked on the statement's wording. Meadors said using the right words was vital. "It was important for the statement not to contribute to the problem by speaking down to people in poverty," he said. "It's important to recognize the poor have gifts to enrich the life of society. In the faith community, we need the poor to save our souls." The group tentatively plans to meet after the 1998 Congressional elections and evaluate the statement's impact. Said Meadors: "What I hope comes out of this is a commitment at every level -— federal, state, public, private and faith -— to be in ministry to speak to the powerful for the powerless." For general questions about The United Methodist Church, please call InfoServ at 1.800.251.8140. http://umns.umc.org/98/mar/191t.htm |
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