{"id":1371,"date":"2024-01-05T10:22:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T10:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jpit.uk\/?p=21796"},"modified":"2024-01-05T10:22:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T10:22:03","slug":"church-leaders-issue-joint-call-for-action-on-poverty-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=1371","title":{"rendered":"Church leaders issue joint call for action on poverty in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senior leaders from churches and charities have called on politicians to take urgent action on rising poverty in the UK and around the world. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

In a joint statement released today (Friday, January 5), senior Christian leaders \u2013 including the
General Secretary of Churches Together in England, leaders of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and directors of development agencies Christian Aid, CAFOD and Tearfund \u2013 have said \u2018the human cost of failing to take action now is too big and too damaging to ignore\u2019. <\/p>\n

The statement goes on to say poverty is \u2018a consequence of political choices and priorities\u2019, and with a General Election on the horizon, \u2018this year must mark the beginning of the end for poverty\u2019. <\/p>\n

Signatories are calling on political leaders to set out clear plans to eradicate extreme poverty and
halve overall poverty by 2030, in the UK and globally.<\/p>\n

Patrick Watt, CEO of Christian Aid, is among the signatories. He said: \u201cFor millions of people this new year has been marked by poverty and desperation. Regardless of the causes of poverty, and whether it\u2019s hitting people internationally or in the UK, the effects are strikingly similar. Partners and churches describe its crushing effect on people\u2019s dignity and life chances, and its damage to the social fabric. The choices we make collectively about how to tackle poverty, both domestically and internationally, matter. As we approach a General Election, we\u2019re hearing far too little from political parties about their ambition to end poverty, and build the common good. We must not let another year slip by while poverty rises. That\u2019s why we\u2019re coming together at this moment, to call for urgent action to address the causes of poverty, here and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement is a clear demonstration of solidarity between agencies and churches working to tackle poverty globally and in the UK. <\/p>\n

Revd Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference, said: \u201cPoverty around the world may look different in its material and social consequences. But what remains the same is the indignity, fear and isolation it causes for individuals, families and communities, wherever they are. As Christians, our commitment to tackle poverty alongside our global neighbours or within our local communities here in the UK is not in competition \u2013 we\u2019re not prepared to pit one against the other in a game of political or economic tactics. Our political leaders must not be either. We need to see more ambition, commitment and practical action to tackle poverty wherever it exists as we approach the next General Election.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the statement, the churches and charities also signal their intention to work together throughout 2024 to mobilise church members to \u2018put poverty on the agenda through practical action, prophetic words and courageous campaigning.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary of Churches Together in England, said: \u201cWe want to see action
on poverty now, and political leaders need to know our ambition for change. I encourage church
communities to come together and share with election candidates why tackling poverty should be a
priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

Act on Poverty <\/h3>\n

As part of this, Christian Aid, the Trussell Trust, Church Action on Poverty and the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches have released \u2018Act on Poverty\u2019 \u2013 a six-week resource for church groups to explore the impacts of poverty around the world and in the UK and take action ahead of the General Election. Designed for use during Lent or later in 2024, the resource brings campaigners from the UK and global contexts into dialogue about the differences and similarities between their visions for an end to poverty where they are. <\/p>\n

Find out more about this resource and sign up here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Stef Benstead, who contributed to the Act on Poverty resource, said: \u201cWe know that it is
politically possible to end poverty in any society. God told his people that if they followed the laws he
gave them for running their country, there would be no poor people among them. That was a time
without major technological advancement, yet it was still held to be possible for everyone to have a
stable home and sufficient means to access food, clothing, other essentials, and social participation.
According to the prophets, poverty occurred because there was injustice and a failure by the leaders
of the country to enact policies that guaranteed a minimum living standard for everyone. Christians
across the UK and the world should have the confidence to call on our leaders, in the name of God,
to act now to end poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s End Poverty <\/h3>\n

Charities and groups focusing on rising poverty in the UK are supporting the new Let\u2019s End Poverty movement, aimed at bringing together a diverse movement of people calling on political leaders to end poverty in the UK for good.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s End Poverty is a movement of individuals and organisations calling on political leaders to end poverty in the UK. Organisations currently supporting include: The Methodist Church in Britain, Baptist Union of Great Britain, United Reformed Church, Church Action on Poverty, Christians Against Poverty, The Trussell Trust, the Child Poverty Action Group, Caritas Social Action Network, and the Poverty Truth Network. <\/p>\n

Find out more about Let\u2019s End Poverty here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Full statement <\/strong><\/h2>\n

We believe that poverty is a scandal, the root causes of which have been neglected by our political leaders in the UK Parliament for too long. As this new year begins, the cost of living scandal is clearly not over for the poorest people in the UK. Around the world, poverty holds too many individuals and communities back from fulfilling their potential.<\/p>\n

But we know that poverty is not inevitable \u2013 it\u2019s a consequence of political choices and priorities. With a General Election on the horizon, we call on our political leaders to make tackling poverty a priority. In line with our existing commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this should include setting out clear plans to eradicate extreme poverty and reduce overall poverty by at least half, in both the UK and globally by 2030.<\/p>\n

Whilst our work to tackle poverty in the UK and around the world takes different forms, we are united in our belief that the human cost of failing to take action now is too big and too damaging to ignore. This year must mark the beginning of the end for poverty.<\/p>\n

Inspired by our faith, we believe in a future where everyone has an equal share in the world\u2019s resources. Where everyone has enough to eat. Where all of us are able to wake up in the morning with hope, opportunities and options for living a fulfilling life.<\/p>\n

This year, our Churches and Christian charities are committed to putting poverty on the agenda through practical action, prophetic words and courageous campaigning. Our elected politicians need to take responsibility too. Now is the time for action. <\/p>\n

Signed by: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Christine Allen, Executive Director of CAFOD <\/em><\/p>\n

Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of Salford <\/em><\/p>\n

Niall Cooper, Director of Church Action on Poverty <\/em><\/p>\n

Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain<\/em> <\/p>\n

Nigel Harris, CEO of Tearfund <\/em><\/p>\n

Revd Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church <\/em><\/p>\n

Emma Jackson, Public Life and Social Justice Group Convener, The Church of Scotland <\/em><\/p>\n

Revd Gill Newton and Kerry Scarlett, President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference <\/em><\/p>\n

Kate Nightingale, Deputy CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society <\/em><\/p>\n

Commissioners Jenine and Maul Main, Territorial Leaders, The Salvation Army UK and Ireland <\/em><\/p>\n

Stewart McCulloch, Chief Executive of Christians Against Poverty UK <\/em><\/p>\n

Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain <\/em><\/p>\n

Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary, Churches Together in England <\/em><\/p>\n

Right Revd Mary Stallard, Bishop of Llandaff <\/em><\/p>\n

Most Revd Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church <\/em><\/p>\n

Patrick Watt, CEO, Christian Aid <\/em><\/p>\n

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Senior leaders from churches and charities have called on politicians to take urgent action on rising poverty in the UK and around the world. In a joint statement released today (Friday, January 5), senior Christian leaders \u2013 including theGeneral Secretary … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-urc-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t