On February 16, 2000, on the East Steps of the U.S. Capitol, church leaders across the political spectrum released a list of moral imperatives by which to judge local and national political candidates. They called for a partnership with political, business, and nonprofit leaders to overcome poverty. The Covenant to Overcome Poverty and the campaign represent an unprecedented partnership of these church leaders to put the poor on the national agenda and to make elected officials accountable for finding political solutions.

The Covenant was released at the Capitol Hill rally by the church leaders listed below, surrounded by hundreds of grassroots organizers. The Covenant and the campaign will be used as tools by the millions of Americans these leaders represent. Church leaders will also announce what they, in their own denominations and in their own congregations, will do to end poverty.

“Overcoming poverty is a nonpartisan issue and a bipartisan cause,” said the Rev. Jim Wallis, Convener of Call to Renewal, the new federation of diverse churches and faith-based organizations working to overcome poverty and related issues in the U.S. This event culminated 5 years of organizing by Call to Renewal. The covenant-signing rally followed a 3-day summit attended by grassroots workers and advocates from this emerging network.

Appearing at the Capitol were: the Rev. Jim Wallis (Convener, Call to Renewal), the Rev. Rich Cizik (National Association of Evangelicals), Mark Publow (World Vision), the Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar (National Council of Churches), the Rev. Wallace Charles Smith (Progressive National Baptist Convention), Peter Borgdorff (Christian Reformed Church), the Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson (Re-formed Church in America), the Rev. Glen Palmberg (Evangelical Covenant Church), Rev. Eugene Rivers (National Ten-Point Leadership Foundation)...and others!

Excerpts from the Call to Renewal Campaign to Overcome Poverty
(Reproduced by permission of The Call to Renewal.)

“We are Christians from diverse theological and political backgrounds who have come together around the biblical imperative to overcome poverty. Our faith calls us to care for the widow and orphan, to welcome the stranger, and to act in justice and compassion for those Jesus called “the least of these who are members of my family.” (Exod. 22: 21-24; Deut. 24:19-21; Isa. 1:16-17; 58:6-9; Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 4:18-19; James 1:27)

“In the strongest economy in the wealthiest nation in history, too many people are being left out and left behind. An alarming number of children: One in every five children in America is growing up in poverty. For children of color, it is one in three. While the stock market soars, the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. This poverty in the midst of plenty is a moral wrong that we refuse to accept any longer. Prosperity must be shared.” (Isa. 58:6-9)

“We acknowledge that the causes of poverty are complex. They include economic inequity, lack of opportunity, and institutional racism, as well as irresponsible personal choices and the breakdown of families and communities.

The solutions to overcome poverty are equally complex. Yet, we can overcome poverty—but only if we act together, and only if all sectors of society do what they do best. Our vision of a good social order is one where each sector makes its unique contribution to the common good.”

Election years are special opportunities for disciples to do justice. Jesus’ teachings mandate disciples to get to know candidates and issues. Scripture admonishes disciples to judge them by the standard of God’s justice (Deut. 16:18-20; Isa. 61:1-2; Amos 5:24; Micah 6:8; Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 6:20-26; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:13-15, 6:1-10; James 2:1-13; 1 John 3:11-24). Will the party platform and policies of the candidates assure that all people, especially the poor, children, single mothers, resident aliens, and others who are weak and vulnerable are heard and will have what they need to live? Justice and compassion are the criteria we must use to judge and decide for or against candidates for public office.

Call to Renewal is one way to help persons in covenant discipleship groups to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [their] God” (Micah 6:8). To learn more about how to get involved in the Call to Renewal Campaign to Overcome Poverty, go to www.calltorenewal.com, or pick up a copy of Sojourners magazine at your local library or newsstand www.sojourners.com. You may also consider incorporating the Call to Renewal Covenant to Overcome Poverty into the life of your congregation.

Call to Renewal was attended by the Rev. Steve Manskar, Director of Accountable Discipleship at the General Board of Discipleship and an elder in the Minnesota Annual Conference.