Eradicating Systemic Poverty: Resources and Connections

Acknowledging that all gifts are from God and meant to be shared, we commit to offering our financial support, building space, time, and other resources to ensure equitable access and address historical injustices.

Worship

• Theological Resources for Systemic Poverty from the Book of Confessions, Book of Order, Book of Common Worship, and the Glory to God hymnal into community worship.
• Use denominational resources to explore root causes of poverty, hunger and homelessness on Self-Development of People Sunday (March) or on Hunger and Homelessness Sunday (November) or another time throughout the year.
• Draw ideas from the Poverty and Liturgy issue of “Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts” 54.3 (2020).

Worship Action Suggestions

• Collaborate with Other Congregations: Start building relationships with other congregations and community partners to explore potential shared worship services focused on eradicating poverty and fostering well-being.
• Use Videos in Worship: Integrate short videos that explore the complexity of poverty into sermons, prayers, or mission moments. Consider using resources like the Poor People’s Campaign’s “Pain and Poverty in America,” Matthew 25 videos, and videos from One Great Hour of Sharing programs, including Self-Development of People, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance vimeo.com/pdacares. Also, check out the World Mission video playlist and this recent video about work in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Acts of Dedication: Include specific acts of dedication related to poverty eradication during set times, such as on 5th Sundays or communion Sundays.
• Affirmations of Faith: Consider using affirmations of what we believe about poverty eradication as part of your liturgical components.
• Advocacy in Worship: Incorporate advocacy into worship, such as participating in Bread for the World’s “offering of letters.”
• Collect Donations: Organize collections for items needed by local non-profits, such as food, diapers, school supplies, or winter clothing.
• Ongoing Support: After featuring a local movement or organization during a minute for mission, continue to raise awareness and support for that group.

Learn

• Hunger Action Congregation Program: Engage your church in six areas of church life to address hunger and its root causes using the Hunger Action Congregation program.
• Study and Devotional Guide: Explore the globally recognized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Study and Devotional Guide created by the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
• Companion Guide to the Commitment to Peacemaking: Support your congregation in addressing systemic poverty by using the poverty section of the Companion Guide to the Commitment to Peacemaking. This resource includes study guides, worship resources, advocacy links, and suggestions for hymns and Confessions.
• Educational Resources for Children: Engage children in learning about poverty and hunger through interactive activities like “Not a Game-Hunger” and by involving youth in the Souper Bowl of Caring. Adapt Hunger Program resources to suit your context.

Learn Action Suggestions:

• Invite Local Partners: Host local partner organizations to speak about poverty’s root causes during Sunday School or other events. Consider expanding your circle of partners to include unexpected groups like the health department. Clarify compensation for speakers and determine which relationships might develop into long-term partnerships.
• Simulation Activities: Use interactive learning models, like the racial wealth gap simulation from Bread for the World or the PC(USA) Africa game. Follow up with “next steps” for participants to take action.
• Hunger Meal Simulations: Organize Hunger meal simulations to raise awareness and discuss hunger issues. For guidance, email php@pcusa.org.
• Traditional Learning Resources: Refer to PMA Resources on Poverty for study guides, curriculums, and books.
• Delegation Visits: Participate in travel delegations to other communities to build understanding and relationships. Upcoming trips include visits to Hong Kong, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and native lands in the American Southwest with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.
• Campaigns and Rallies: Find and participate in state or national Poor People’s Campaigns or rallies.
• Partner Visits: Use the map on the One Great Hour of Sharing page to locate partners for potential visits.

Relate

• Intergenerational Mission Toolkit: Utilize the Intergenerational Mission Toolkit to develop relationships and partnerships in mission within your community and abroad.
• International Partnership Resources: Learn how to relate effectively to partners by exploring the “Called as Partners: Serving Together in God’s Mission International Partnership Manual” and other mission toolkits.
• Guiding Principles: Use Core Principles and Assessment Questions to guide and evaluate your relational mission efforts.
• Pray and Connect with Mt 25 Partners: Engage with Mt 25 domestic and global partners working to eradicate systemic poverty:
  • Domestic Partners: Poor People’s Campaign, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Jubilee USA.
  • Global Partners: Pacific Conference of Churches, CEDEPCA, Middle East Council of Churches, RELUFA (Cameroon), PRODEK(Congo).

Relate Action Suggestions:

• Study and Practice Community Development Models: Explore and practice models like community health evangelism and asset-based community development. Consider the one-hour course “Clergy Leadership in Faith-Rooted Organizing” from Faith in Action or the four-day training “Organizing for Justice: Essential Skills” from the Midwest Academy.
• Expand Outreach to New Partners: Collaborate with diverse partners such as health departments, public health schools, mental health agencies, and social justice leaders to address poverty from various perspectives.
• Listening to Neighbors: Use tools and resources from A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Mr. Rogers Day to consider how to listen to and relate to your neighbors.
• Join a Small Group on Poverty: Participate in a facilitated small group focused on ending poverty and learning about related issues and actions. Contact peacemaking@pcusa.org for information on upcoming Peacemaking Program cohorts.

Act

• Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO): Learn about CBCO, hear success stories, and find connections to CBCOs in your area to support your community efforts.

• Holy Discernment Toolkit: Use the Holy Discernment Toolkit from the Office of Public Witness to explore biblical foundations for public policy advocacy. Sign up for action alerts to stay engaged individually or with your congregation.

• Educate a Child Toolkit: Access practical tools and starting points for congregations to engage in education advocacy or ministry using the Educate a Child Toolkit. Available online or for download.

• Children’s Involvement: Engage children in action activities through resources provided by One Great Hour of Sharing.

Act Action Suggestions:

• Join Local Anti-Poverty Efforts: Identify and partner with trusted local organizations and leaders focused on anti-poverty initiatives. Participate in their campaigns, community meetings, and follow their lead.

• Engage in Community Organizing: Consider joining organizations like DART, Industrial Areas Foundation, or Faith in Action to participate in community organizing efforts.

• Support the Poor People’s Campaign: Join organizing efforts in your state through the Poor People’s Campaign, focusing on legislative priorities such as Guaranteed Minimum Wage, Voting Rights, and Immigration Reform.

• Advocate for Legislation: Support local, state, national, or global legislation aimed at ending poverty. Engage in advocacy that is informed by relationships with impacted communities, and align with Presbyterian policy connections.

• Adopt a Focused Campaign:

  • End Cash Bail: Support the Bail Project to help those unable to afford bail and read about Presbyterian involvement.
  • We Choose Welcome: Advocate for refugees with resources from the We Choose Welcome campaign. Download the action guide.
  • Support Affordable Housing: Engage in community organizing and funding efforts to support affordable housing. Learn more at CBCO’s affordable housing resources and watch a Matthew 25 video on housing.
  • Support Fair Food and Farmworkers: Stand with the Alliance for Fair Food and Coalition of Immokalee Workers, longstanding Presbyterian partners.
  • Help Abolish Medical Debt: Contribute to abolishing medical debt through RIP Medical Debt, where $1 can erase $100 in debt for qualified individuals.

Share

• Support Grantee Partners: Connect with and directly support organizations working to eradicate systemic poverty in their communities by exploring the One Great Hour of Sharing map to find a group to learn more about and support.

• Mission Responsibility Through Investment: Consider practicing Mission Responsibility Through Investment, ensuring your congregation’s investments align with social and sustainability screens.

• Volunteer Time and Space: Share your time and building space with local community organizations to support their missions.

• Consider Reparations: Reflect on what reparations might look like in your area and how your congregation can engage in restorative efforts.

Share Action Suggestions:

• Congregational Asset-Mapping: Host an asset-mapping session to identify the resources your congregation can share with the community. Use the Alban Institute worksheet for guidance.

• Community Asset-Mapping: Extend asset-mapping to the broader community to discover how your congregation can collaborate in co-development with cultural humility, as discussed in the book Freeing Congregational Mission by Farrell & Khyllep.

• Diversity, Equity, and Justice: Take the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to reflect on issues of diversity, equity, and justice in your relationships and plans.

• Community Volunteering: Volunteer in your community to address needs such as hunger, education, transportation, and employment. Consider offering your space to community organizations.

• Mission Discernment: If needed, use resources like Finding Your Mission Focus Mission Committee Toolkit to guide your mission efforts.

• Support Food Programs: Host or support a Summer Food Service Program, start a community garden, or host a CSA. Learn more in Food Sovereignty for All.

• Support Feeding Programs: Contribute to feeding programs like soup kitchens, food pantries, Meals on Wheels, or the Backpack Program. Find resources at End Hunger in America and Why Hunger.

• Share Community Resources: Distribute information about local food, housing, health, and emergency services by visiting 211.org or calling 211. Compile and share a resource list for your community.

• Support Restorative Efforts: Donate to organizations and movements working to end poverty and build communities of well-being, such as Restorative Actions, or contribute to PCUSA’s Special Offerings and World Mission initiatives.