From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
New Jersey Governor Whitman Discusses Welfare Reform
From
PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org
Date
17 Sep 1997 13:00:36
12-September-1997
97350
New Jersey Governor Whitman Discusses Welfare Reform
With New Brunswick Presbytery
by Helen Ash Kull
New Brunswick Presbytery
FRENCHTOWN, N.J.--New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman addressed the
Presbytery of New Brunswick Sept. 9, stressing the importance of government
working together with local religious, business and civic groups to try to
solve the problems that confront society.
"I believe that it is by reaching out to the existing groups that form
the leadership within communities that we will actually be able to meet the
challenges of the future," Whitman told the 200 assembled presbyters at
Frenchtown Presbyterian Church. "I look forward to addressing a body such
as presbytery as to how we [the government] can tap into the resources of
our religious community, and the caring, involved people in those
communities."
Far from encouraging a separation of church and state, the governor,
who is a Presbyterian, remarked on how significant it is for all public
servants who serve the people "to be grounded in the principles of the
Bible and the teachings of Christ."
The governor was invited to address the September presbytery meeting as
part of its yearlong discernment process, "Being Stewards of God's Gifts: A
Discernment Process of the Presbytery of New Brunswick on Ministries in
Economic Life." The program seeks to discover more about what God would
have the church do about problems facing the people in their communities
and state. The governor's Democratic opponent in this fall's election,
state senator James McGreevy, has accepted an invitation to address the
October meeting of the presbytery.
Responding to a question regarding how the government, the religious
and business communities and the poor may become partners in ending
poverty, the governor cited her administration's creative approach to urban
aid in the formation of the Urban Coordinating Council.
Members of the council work with existing leadership groups in selected
communities to focus on the local needs and then employ pooled sources of
urban redevelopment funds to make the necessary changes. The public and
private partnerships thus created help to maintain and sustain the
improvement to the community, beyond any one government program or
administration. Whitman cited several such governmental initiatives in
which local involvement was key to making a difference in the lives of the
needy.
The presbytery embarked on its discernment process in response to
shifting economic conditions in New Jersey that will directly affect how
the church ministers to those in need. Changes in welfare laws now give
greater autonomy to state governments, and the funding of several federal
programs is being decreased. Additionally, the streamlining of
corporations by downsizing and forced early retirement has resulted in many
people being out of work.
Fully aware that the Bible includes a great deal of wisdom about
economic life and that the ways in which communities share their economic
resources is important to God, the Social Witness Committee of the
presbytery devised the process to address these issues.
The Rev. Richard Weis, professor of Old Testament at New Brunswick
Seminary and a member of the committee, prepared five one-hour Bible study
sessions on faith and economic life for use by congregations. Participants
in the studies wrestled with issues regarding faith, justice and
stewardship in light of current economic conditions and developed from
their discussions questions regarding economic practices and policies.
The committee then distilled the resulting 80 questions down to five,
which were addressed by Whitman and which will also be addressed by Senator
McGreevy in October. Videotapes of the two public servants' responses will
be made available to all 43 congregations in the presbytery for further
study and reflection.
At a related prepresbytery event, the Rev. Jim Watkins of the
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program staff led a conversation based on insights
from his experience as senior aide to a U.S. congressman and his own run
for public office. The discussion focused on methods of effective
communication with public officials, appropriate ways to follow up on
conversations with public officials and ways in which our faith calls
people to responsible citizenship.
(The Presbyterian News Service is indebted to the Rev. Joyce Emery of the
New Brunswick Presbytery staff for arranging for coverage of this event.)
------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
phone 502-569-5504 fax 502-569-8073
E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org Web page: http://www.pcusa.org
mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>
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