ELCA NEWS SERVICE May 28, 2004 ELCA Presiding Bishop Signs Statement on Overcoming Poverty 04-112-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined more than 40 religious leaders in signing a "Unity Statement on Overcoming Poverty." The leaders agreed that in this presidential election year they will pray and work together for social policies that can help people get jobs, access to quality health care, housing and incomes to support their families. The statement became public following a May 24 "Service of Unity to Overcome Poverty" at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The church leaders represented Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical and Pentecostal churches. The service and unity statement were sponsored by Call to Renewal, Washington, D.C., a network of churches, faith-based organizations and individuals working to overcome poverty in the United States, according to a news release from the organization. "As Christian leaders in the United States, we recognize that we live in a time when political and social issues threaten to divide the church," the statement said. "Although there are issues on which we do not agree, we come together to affirm that justice for those in our society who live in poverty is, for all of us, a deeply held religious belief on which we are firmly united." Citing Isaiah 65:20-25 the religious leaders said, "We affirm God's vision of a good society offered to us by the prophet Isaiah. His words are as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago, and show us the way forward." In the United States people who work should not be poor, but today many are, the religious leaders said. They said they must work to ensure that all people able to work have jobs "where they do not labor in vain." They called for people living in poverty to have access to quality health care, decent housing and an income to support their families. "The future of our country depends upon strong and stable families that can successfully raise their children," the statement said. "We must also ensure that those who are unable to work are cared for by our society." In making a covenant to pray for policies that can achieve these goals, the leaders said they "will ensure that overcoming poverty becomes a bipartisan commitment and a nonpartisan cause, one that links religious values with economic justice, moral behavior with political commitment." The religious leaders pledged to "raise this conviction in the public dialogue" and will seek to hold political leaders "accountable to its achievement." They pledged that in their work together, they will "make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3) --- The full text of the Unity Statement on Overcoming Poverty is at http://www.calltorenewal.org on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news