Lutherans Challenged to Fill the Gap of Welfare Reform

     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 NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html