Faith groups mobilize to cut poverty in half

["Philip Jenks" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

>People of faith aim to cut U.S. poverty
>in half by the end of the next decade

See: www.ncccusa.org/news/101005povertymobilization.html

Washington, October 5, 2010 - Religious, civic, and community-service 
organ izations nationwide are mobilizing to reduce poverty by 50 
percent over the  next ten years, beginning today with a national 
teleconference to discuss  the role of faith-based organizations in 
fighting poverty.

Through the "Fighting Poverty with Faith" mobilization, faith-based 
organiz ations this month are calling attention to the causes of 
poverty, highlight ing strategies to reduce it, and aggressively 
seeking new economic opportun ities for the nation's most vulnerable.

Today's teleconference at 3 p.m. EDT will feature Joshua DuBois, 
executive  director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and 
Neighborhood Partners hips, and Martha Coven of the White House 
Domestic Policy Council.

The call-in number is 888-690-8774.  To access the conference call, 
tell  the operator that you are looking for the "Fighting Poverty 
with Faith" cal l.

The mobilization, now in its third year, is convened by the Jewish 
Council  for Public Affairs (JCPA), Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) 
and the National  Council of Churches (NCC).
  
As the mobilization continues, faith communities are hosting 
candidate foru ms, letter offerings, prayer vigils, group fasting 
days, and town hall meet ings to raise public and political will to 
protect human needs programs and  stimulate job creation.  

Forty four national faith-based organizations have signed the 2010 
October  mobilization statement:

"Every day, faith organizations serve individuals and families in 
need with in our communities. But our efforts to sustain our brothers 
and sisters liv ing in poverty must be complemented with a serious 
plan of action from our  elected officials. By speaking out 
collectively during this month, we will. .. expand the national 
conversation on the need to protect the needy among  us and create 
economic opportunity for all." 

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National 
Council of  Churches, said, "Thousands of verses in the scriptures of 
many faiths, inc luding Christianity, Judaism and Islam, express 
God's concern for the poor  and God's wrath at the injustices that 
cause poverty to exist.

"There is little indication that our political leaders-regardless of 
politi cal party--are taking the need to address poverty with 
fervor," Kinnamon sa id.

More information on this year's "Fighting Poverty with Faith" 
mobilization,  including a full list of endorsing organizations and 
events taking place a cross the country, can be found at 
www.fightingpovertywithfaith.com                         

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of 
Christ  in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical 
cooperation among Chri stians in the United States. The NCC's 36 
member faith groups -- from a wid e spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, 
Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African  American and Living Peace 
churches -- include 45 million persons in more t han 100,000 local 
congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 
646-853-4212 ( cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org