Religious Leaders Commit to Overcoming Poverty

For Immediate Release<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Contact:

Jack Pannell, (202) 745-4614

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Elise Elzinga, (202) 745-4625

Religious Leaders Commit to Overcoming Poverty

Nearly 600 faith and lay leaders from across America expected

to attend annual Christian mobilization sponsored by Sojourners and Call to Renewal

Washington, D.C. – June 21, 2006 – More than two dozen national religion leaders will gather here next week to make an historic commitment to overcoming poverty.

 Building a Covenant for a New America is a three-day Christian mobilization sponsored by Sojourners and Call to Renewal and  begins on Monday, June 26,  at National City Christian Church.

 Local and national clergy, church activists and leaders of  faith-based organizations will convene to focus national attention on the rising poverty rate in America. Republican and Democratic political figures, such as Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), will address the conference.

On Tuesday, June 27, national religious leaders will help launch the From Poverty to Opportunity: A Covenant for a New America, a common sense approach to overcoming poverty that transcends the liberal-conservative divide. The religious leaders are committed to placing poverty on the national agenda and changing the moral priorities of our country. The covenant can be found at Sojourners: A Covenant for a New America or www.covenantforanewamerica.org.  After a 700-person march through downtown Washington and rally on Capitol Hill, conference attendees will discuss the covenant with their members of congress.

Some of the institutions endorsing the covenant include: Bread for the World, Christian Community Development Association, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Habitat for Humanity, Presbyterian Church (USA), and World Vision.

WHERE:      

Conference Headquarters: National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW at 14th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C.

WHO:

Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and author of the best-seller God’s Politics, with  Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Sam Brownback, Sen. Rick Santorum, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Gov. Howard Dean, Marian Wright Edelman, and Rev. Tony Campolo (list incomplete).

HOW:

To cover the events, please contact the media office at (202) 745-4614 or at media@sojo.net.

Media Highlights:       

Tuesday June 27

Overcoming Poverty March To U.S. Capitol, 11 a.m.

(March begins at National City Christian Church)

A Covenant for a New America Launch and Rally with speakers from national religious denominations and organizations, 12 p.m..

At Upper Senate Park, U.S. Capitol.

Wednesday, June 28

Amos and Joseph Award Ceremony, 9 a.m.: Marian Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund, and Sen. Barack Obama, who will give a major keynote address on faith and politics. These awards are given to honor leaders who are using their position of influence to speak out against poverty.

Location: National City Christian Church

9–10:30 a.m.  (Camera and audio set-up by 8:30 a.m.)

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Sojourners’ mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. Visit www.sojo.net. Call to Renewal is a national network of churches, faith-based organizations, and individuals working to overcome poverty in America. Visit www.calltorenewal.org.