March 4, 2009

WASHINGTON – On April 26-29 a coalition of faith-based organizations, churches and global antipoverty groups will convene here at The Mobilization to End Poverty. Thousands of Christian and antipoverty leaders will engage in education, worship and activism at the event, most of which will be held at the Washington Convention Center.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will be speaking at the event.

The groups will call on President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress to make overcoming poverty a political priority and to develop a national plan that addresses this moral and spiritual crisis. Sojourners, a social justice organization, is hosting the event. Twenty-three churches, religious societies and groups support the event. The ELCA is a sponsor.

Other invited speakers and preachers include Obama; Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink, Oakland, Calif.; Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, Reformed Church in America, Grand Rapids, Mich.; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Alexia Kelly, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Washington; U.S. Rep. John Lewis, (D-Ga.); Brian McLaren, author; John Perkins, Christian Community Development Association, Chicago; Jeffery Sachs, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, New York; Tavis Smiley, "The Tavis Smiley Show," Hollywood, Calif.; Rich Stearns, World Vision, Federal Way, Wash.; Jim Wallis, Sojourners, Washington; Sharon Watkins, Disciples of Christ, Indianapolis, and many others.

"We are witnessing the devastating effects of financial insecurity as more people lose their jobs, their savings, their homes and their health care," said Adam Taylor, senior political director, Sojourners. "More and more from the middle class are falling into the ranks of 36 million Americans living below the poverty line and the billions worldwide who live in extreme poverty. The Mobilization to End Poverty will assemble a constituency to advocate for radical change and bold leadership from both the Church and our government."

Obama has committed to cutting domestic poverty by half in 10 years and achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, aimed at reducing extreme global poverty.

As part of the event hundreds of advocates will meet with their elected officials to ask for commitments and leadership on a national plan to reduce domestic and international poverty.

Information about the Mobilization to End Poverty, including registration information, is at http://www.sojo.net/mobilization/. on the Web.

ELCA News Service