Title: Lutherans Challenged to Fill the Gap of Welfare Reform
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 20, 1997
LUTHERANS CHALLENGED TO FILL THE GAP OF WELFARE REFORM
97-CA-45-DB
PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) There are 34 million women and children living
in poverty in the United States today. The fifth biennial Churchwide
Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America meeting here Aug.
14-20 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, was challenged to "end the
systemic roots of poverty" by Tina Dabney, project director for the Women
and Children Living in Poverty program of the ELCA.
In 1993 the ELCA adopted a call to action titled "Women and Children
Living in Poverty: A Plan to Listen and Act." That has been a framework
for the church's activities. In this new era of welfare reform, stronger
action is needed, Dabney said. She appealed to voting members to work to
create a stable future for women and children living in poverty. "We must
be diligent in standing in the gap caused by welfare reform."
Dabney reminded the 1,040 assembly members that each of them
represents 34,000 people in their geographic area living in poverty. She
challenged members to "go beyond the call to action" and return to their
communities as advocates for justice in areas of health care, education,
racism, hunger, homelessness and unemployment.
Several women who are receiving assistance from the ELCA anti-poverty
program brought a message by video. One woman declared, "God gave me a
job. God gave me a future. God gave me a life!"
Further floor discussion emphasized the strong impact of anti-poverty
work when it is done through ecumenical coalitions.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
