October 14, 2008

While the global economic crisis continues to unnerve the nation and world, leaders from the National Council of Churches have issued a letter to the U.S. presidential candidates, urging them to speak on behalf of persons living in poverty who are most impacted by economic instability.

"As we consider bailouts and recovery plans, we now need to hear your voices demanding that the plight of America's poorest citizens, and the needs of people living in poverty around the world, will be addressed," the religious leaders said in their Oct. 13, 2008 letter.

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama have repeatedly expressed their concern for the middle class – the proverbial "main street." Yet, in their letter, U.S. religious leaders assert an even greater requirement to address the needs of the poor when the majority of households are feeling the impact of the economic downturn.

The reality of the economic crisis, the letter said, is that as Americans grapple with financial uncertainty, "generosity decreases to food banks and other programs aimed at emergency assistance. The impact of our crisis is not just on Wall Street or Main Street; it is also in the alleys of our urban tenements and housing projects, the lanes of rural America, and the forgotten cities and villages of the impoverished southern hemisphere."

The letter was signed by the National Council of Churches President, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, and the General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon. Fourteen Heads of NCC member communions, including UCC general minister and president, the Rev. John H. Thomas, added their name to the letter on October 13, and more are expected to follow.

"Today it is not enough simply to address the misdeeds of those who bear significant responsibility for this crisis, or to respond to the problems and anxieties of the middle class, as important as they may be," the letter says. "Our Christian faith calls us to give particular attention to our most vulnerable neighbors, to children, and to people living in extreme poverty."

During the remaining days of the presidential campaign, as either John McCain or Barack Obama prepares for a transition to the White House, the religious leaders wrote: "We pledge to you our commitment to making poverty a moral priority for our nation. We trust you will embrace that commitment with us."

The complete letter can be found at http://www.ucc.org/news/pdf/20081014-NCCC-letter-to-candidates.pdf.

National Council of Churches USA