New Jersey Faith Leaders:
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is mobilizing religious leaders and faith communities across the country to be part of this critical season of action. According to a recent study, poverty is now the fourth leading cause of death in our country. We need you to be part of mobilizing our communities in New Jersey to fight the interlocking systemic evils of poverty, racism, ecological devastation, militarism, and the warped moral narrative of Christian Nationalism. Together we are taking back the mic! Raising our voices! And registering our votes as demands!
Our Asks
Join us in kicking off our 40 weeks of action by committing to one or more of our asks, all of which are happening simultaneously with PPC state campaigns across the country:
- Stand with us at the press conference inTrenton on February 20th, where we will build momentum for our rally on March 2nd.
- Mobilize your faith community to join our New Jersey State House rally on March 2nd at noon, where we will speak out about the devastating effects of poverty. We ask that faith communities create a meaningful goal for the amount of people they intend to mobilize and work towards that goal.
- Prayerfully consider deepening your relationship with the Poor People’s Campaign by emailing [email protected] or Pastor Rupert Hall ([email protected]). Those interested in deepening their relationship with the PPC will be invited to a New Jersey PPC Faith Leaders meeting TBD via zoom from where they will learn about additional ways to be involved.
- Commit your faith community to mobilizing, organizing, registering and educating poor and low-income voters in your community. Nationally, the Poor People’s Campaign is committed to mobilizing 15 million poor and low-income voters to the polls in the 2024 General Election.
Every faith tradition tells us that the health and vitality of a society is judged on how it cares for people impacted by systems of poverty and treats the most vulnerable of us. In Isaiah Chapter 1 we read about a society that is “sick and faint of heart, from the sole of its foot to the head …” (Is 1:5-6) And it is collapsing! (Is1:7) The way back to health says the prophet: “make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.” (Is1:16)
We need your voice! There are over 140 million poor and low-income people in our country; over 3 million in the state of New Jersey — one paycheck or health crisis away from disaster. Eight hundred of us die each day in the US due to poverty. We will not be silent anymore!
FYI: The National Theomusicology and Cultural Arts Team will be holding a training on Sunday January 28th at 5pm ET for all movement artists including state song leaders/chanters and visual art supporters to prepare us for this season of action and ensure that we are moving one band, one sound. Click here to learn more and register for the training and share with those who might be interested in participating.
If you believe these are the moral issues of our time – that politicians in statehouses, Congress and the Presidency must address – join us.
If you believe in the political power of 140 million poor and low-income people to mobilize, organize, raise our voices and our votes on these issues, join us.
If you believe that moral and religious leaders must address and challenge systemic poverty, systemic racism, ecological devastation and the denial of health care, militarism and a war economy, and unite against religious nationalism and white supremacy, join us.
If you believe that we can build a massive, muti-racial, interfaith, multi-generational voting bloc of millions of people, led by the poor, on these issues, join us.
If you believe we are agents of history and change, join us.
If you believe this is the time for us to take action to save the soul of this democracy, and commit to ongoing action, join us.
Forward Together! Not One Step Back!
In Unity & Gratitude
Rachel Dawn Davis
