Religious Leaders to Unveil Covenant for a New America
Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback to Attend Anti-Poverty Conference
Friday, June 23, 2006
WHAT: Nearly 600 clergy and lay leaders will gather in Washington, DC on June 26-28 to unveil the Covenant for a New America, a faith-based policy strategy for overcoming poverty. (Read the Covenant document here: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.c4na&item=C4NA_main)
WHO: This three-day mobilization will convene Democrats and Republicans alike. Low-income families are too often stuck between liberal and conservative arguments; our country needs a new alliance that makes overcoming poverty a nonpartisan cause. Confirmed speakers include: Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback.
Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and author of the bestseller God’s Politics, will be joined by hundreds of grassroots and faith-based anti-poverty church leaders, lay leaders, social service providers, and activists young and old.
WHEN: Monday, June 26 – Wednesday, June 28. Media Highlights include:
Opening Day: (Monday, June 26) Address by Rev. Tony Campolo (1 PM) and “The Role of the Church in Overcoming Poverty� -- a panel moderated by Jim Wallis, with John Carr (U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Conference) and other religious leaders (4 PM).
Jim Wallis Holds a Conversation with Gov. Howard Dean on the “Democratic Party and the Faith Voter.� (Tuesday, June 27, 8:30 – 9:30 AM) Gov. Dean and Mark Melman were invited to discuss: “How do Democrats and Republicans Plan to Overcome Poverty.� Gov. Dean accepted the invitation; Mark Melman of the Republican Party declined.
March and Covenant Launch: (Tuesday, June 27, 11 AM – 1 PM) Nearly 700 people of faith will march from the National City Christian Church to the U.S. Capitol (Upper Senate Park) for a rally to launch the Covenant. Rev. Jim Wallis will be joined by Sen. Sam Brownback and a prominent Congressional Democrat. Religious leaders from over 30 diverse institutions have endorsed the Covenant for a New America.
A Dialogue with Congress: (Tuesday, June 27, 5:00 -7:00PM) Sens. Clinton, Lincoln, Brownback and Santorum will address conference attendees. (HART Senate Office Building, Room 902).
Sen. Obama’s Keynote Address on Faith and Politics: (Wednesday, June 28, 9 AM) Sen. Obama will deliver his first-ever major address on the intersection of politics and his faith at the Amos and Joseph Award Ceremony. This award is given to honor public leaders who are using their position of influence to speak out against poverty.
WHERE: National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW at 14th and Massachusetts,
Washington, D.C. (Conference Headquarters)
MEDIA NOTE: Members of the media should pre-arrange for press credentials for the entire conference. Please send a request to media@sojo.net or call the media office at 202/745-4625. The entire schedule of the conference can be found here: http://www.calltorenewal.com/events/pentecost06/schedule.html.
The Covenant document can be found here: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.c4na&item=C4NA_main. A list of institutions, leaders and denominations endorsing the Covenant is available here: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.C4NA&item=C4NA_endorsers.
Sojourners is a Christian ministry whose mission is to proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice. 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.
