Case Studies
African-American Ministers Conference Scrutinizes Katrina Response from Unique Perspective
With communities continuing to suffer long after the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina receded, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference established the Katrina National Justice Commission to evaluate the local, state and federal response to the disaster from the perspective of the African-American church community. Continue Reading
Budget as a Moral Document: Unified Message Impacts Congressional Debate
United around a powerful message -- the federal budget is a moral document, and the proposed budget was not indicative of our nation’s values and priorities -- the faith community was able to convince members of Congress to restore some desperately needed funding. Though the approved budget still contained many cuts to programs for those in need, the notion of budgets as moral documents has permeated the faith community and subsequently the public debate. Continue Reading
Community Organizing and National Denominations
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) launched a denomination-wide effort to unite Congregation Based Community Organizing (CBCO) with the work of their Bishops and synods. Through this collaboration, the ELCA hopes to improve its effectiveness in bringing about real change both at the community and national level. Community grassroots organizers often lack the organization and resources of national denominational structures, but at the same time they have the local energy and responsiveness that can be elusive for national structures. By connecting the people to the resources and organization, the ELCA hopes to produce a powerful force that can act as a real agent of social change. Continue Reading
CrossWalk America: 2,500 Miles on Foot to Promote Christian Compassion
Beginning April 16, 2006, (Easter Sunday) the CrossWalk America team left Phoenix, Arizona on their not so- pedestrian 2,500-mile journey to Washington, DC. This long summer walk—they finish Labor Day weekend—aims to inspire, organize, and expand the emerging progressive Christian movement. Continue Reading
Evangelical Environmental Network Succeeds with "Creation Care" Message
“The fact that evangelicals care about the environment isn't news anymore,‿ heralds The New Republic. Leading this change of opinion—in February of 2006—eighty-six prominent evangelical Christian leaders called on Congress to regulate carbon-dioxide emissions, finding in their faith a call to care for all of God’s creation. Continue Reading
Faith Inspires Minimum Wage Increase in Arkansas
In 2005, Arkansan faith leaders joined with many groups including the state’s branches of the NAACP and AFL-CIO to initiate the “Give Arkansas a Raise Now!‿ campaign, chaired by Rev. Steve Copley, pastor of First United Methodist Church in North Little Rock. On April 10, 2006, Gov. Mike Huckabee signed a bill increasing the minimum wage to $6.25, making Arkansas the first low-income state with a state-mandated wage higher than the federally-mandated wage. Continue Reading
Faith Leaders Work with Civil Rights Advocates to Secure Reauthorization of Voting Rights Act
Faith leaders from around the country came together to work for the reauthorization of legislation ensuring equal and just voting rights for all Americans. These leaders joined the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, a coalition of over two hundred civil rights, faith-based, and community organizations, to advocate for swift passage of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. The reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) guaranteed that certain temporary provisions set to expire in 2007 would be renewed for another twenty-five years. Continue Reading
Immigration Debate: Unified Religious Community Exercises Influence
Congress recently passed two immigrations bills, containing strikingly different provisions, in the midst of a contentious national debate -- influenced heavily by the pro-immigrant message and mobilization efforts of religious leaders. Continue Reading
Interfaith Coalition Wins Health Care Reform in Massachusetts
The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) joined with a coalition of doctors, hospitals, patients, labor unions, and community organizations to launch a successful statewide initiative in 2005 to push for a more inclusive Massachusetts health care system. Continue Reading
We Believe Ohio: Reclaiming Religious Values
We Believe Ohio started when senior minister, the Rev. Timothy Ahrens in Columbus, Ohio, emailed a simple question to his colleagues: “Is what you are seeing in the public square reflective of the Christian faith you have known and lived? Across Central Ohio, the answer came back “No! Continue Reading
