Kerux: a portfolio of Calvin Theological Seminary - Volume 43.4 - 3 Jan 2009

Christian Leaders Urge Obama to Consider the Poor

An ecumenical conference on social justice

by Sean Baker

This past week, Christian Churches Together (CCT), arguably the most diverse ecumenical organization ever to meet in the United States, went to Capitol Hill and urged the Obama Transition Team and over 30 U.S. Senators to prioritize the poor and the vulnerable in their governing, for Christ’s Sake.

About 120 pastors, denominational leaders and Christian political activists met in Baltimore to put flesh on a Christian Statement on Poverty released two years earlier at their last meeting. The 2007 Statement posits, "The gospel and our ethical principles place our service of the poor and vulnerable and our work for justice at the center of Christian life and witness."

That such a strong statement could arise by consensus from such a diverse group is nearly unprecedented. Among the many denominations were leaders from the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Mennonite Church, the Korean Presbyterian Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the American Baptist Churches, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Christian Reformed Church. With all denominations accounted for, nearly 101 Million Americans were represented at CCT.

While the 2007 Statement spoke clearly, it never ventured far into details. The 2009 meeting’s intention was to see how much more specifically the group could speak so that the church leaders could deliver a message with one voice to the federal government, their churches and the general public. Without differentiating among the three audiences, the process of discerning specifics proved tenuous. The group agreed that any attempt to address poverty in the US would require tactful public policy. Such public policy would have to include strengthening families, strengthening communities, making work work and improving education.

For a whole day, policy experts led small groups and big groups of diverse church leaders. In the groups, participants shared and honed ideas about how the church and how the state can prevent and respond to economic injustice in their communities and in this country. By the evening session, the group had collected a long list of proposals, some as specific as changes to tax code, some as generic as "we affirm the central importance of healthy families to strong communities." Though the group never formally adopted specific positions much beyond their 2007 statement, the leaders left for the Capitol on the next day equipped with the fruits of prayerful and stimulating debate, ready to urge the federal government and Christians of all kinds to address poverty and injustice.

Whatever one’s political persuasion or feelings about the church’s right to speak specifically to the federal government, the diverse meeting stands out as an extraordinary witness to the unity of the church. Worshipping, eating and meeting together at tables with Anglican Bishops, Baptist Preachers and Christian Reformed Ecumenical Officers offers a window into the unity which Christ prays for in John 17. Though the group couldn’t speak in policy-level detail with one voice on very much, it could engage in meaningful discussion and debate. In just one afternoon the debate yielded surprising levels of consensus. What’s more, pastors from denominations which share an often regrettable history, swapped stories of ministry failures and successes in their local congregations. Students from Catholic, Coptic and Christian Reformed seminaries shared their stories of calling and their hopes for the church and kingdom.

This experience caused me to pause and reflect on our church, the Christian Reformed Church’s modus operandi in ecumenism and its relation to the state. It is too often based in fear and ignorance. I have encountered well-meaning Reformed Christians who do not associate with a Disciples of Christ Church down the road because they think they can’t trust a cult founded by some radical heretic out in Utah. I have heard well-intentioned Reformed Christians wonder about the Coptic Church’s relationship with the Muslim Prophet Mohammed.

Personally, I do not have much confidence that a national ecumenical gathering can direct government to work much better than it works now. I do not trust a seminary-trained preacher to speak authoritatively on matters related to the Federal Tax Code. However, inasmuch as a national ecumenical conference can model for local churches and Christians the possibility of church unity in action, I am exceedingly grateful for organizations like CCT. It is true that the national heads of the ABC, the ECC, the RCA and the RCC may not be able to give President Obama much in the way of substantive policy advice. Yet their unity in concern for the poor and systems of injustice carries its own weight. Though the President and Congress may not see the significance, I hope local congregations who are too threatened or afraid to speak and minister across denominations will stand in wonder at such a bold ecumenical display as took place this past week in Washington. They can then stand in the ranks of communities who have already acted on Jesus’ words in John 17. With fear and ignorance abated, communities from Bellflower to Baltimore and from Cadillac to Kalamazoo are coordinating ecumenical efforts already yielding fruit in dismantling unjust systems and providing meaningful relief with those around them.