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The persistence of widespread poverty in our midst is morally unacceptable. Just as some of our religious forebears decided no longer to accept slavery or segregation, we decide no longer to accept poverty and its disproportionate impact on people of color. In the biblical tradition, we covenant together in a Call to Renewal. By entering this Covenant, we commit ourselves to:
Prioritize people who are poor–both in our personal, family, and vocational lives and in our congregational and organizational practices–through prayer and dedication of our time and resources.
Decide our financial choices in ways that promote economic opportunity and justice for those in poverty.
Evaluate public policies and political candidates by how they impact people who are poor.
Challenge racism, dismantle the structure of racial injustice and white privilege still present, and seek reconciliation among all groups in our society.
Nurture the bonds of family and community and protect the dignity of each person.
Organize across barriers of race, denomination, and social boundaries in common commitment and action to overcome poverty in our own communities, our nation, and our world.