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For a living wage |
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The Martin Luther King
you don't see [1-14-06] Witherspooner
Dwight Lawton calls our attention to the fact that as we remember and honor
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we hear much about his ringing calls for civil
rights, but little about what may be his most challenging calls, toward the
end of his life, for economic justice and for peace. And, he says, it
seems just as true today, "with most mass media, Congress and the White
House still accepting the perpetuation of poverty." |
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Faithful America urges: EVERYONE Deserves a Living Wage
[1-12-06]
This Sunday, had Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived, he would celebrate his
77th birthday. If he were here today he would no doubt be asking YOU - as a
person of faith and conscience - to stand with him in a cause for which he
was passionate - a living wage for all workers.
From his 1963 "I have a dream" speech to his final act of
supporting striking workers in Memphis, TN, King's call for a living wage
was more than an economic issue – it was and IS a matter of human rights.
Since King's death in 1968, the news has not been good.
For more than EIGHT YEARS the federal minimum wage of
$5.15 has not been increased. Since that time, inflation has eroded its
value by more than 15 percent. Consequently, to have the purchasing power it
had in 1968, the minimum wage would have to be $9.05 per hour today - an
increase of $3.90. Minimum wage employees working full time, year round earn
only $10,700 a year - $5,000 below the official poverty line for a family of
three. In contrast, in the eight years since Congress last raised the
minimum wage, your elected officials have raised their own salaries seven
times.
You and your faith community now have an opportunity to
right this injustice. We are asking you to engage your faith community in
the ongoing march for a just living wage. Our sister organization, "Let
Justice Roll" has launched its Living Wage Campaign. We need you help
organize a prayerful and meaningful event in your faith community that
enables you and those in your circle of concern to help move local, state,
and federal government officials toward a just, compassionate, and
appropriate living wage. Centered around this weekend's remembrance of
King's birthday, the folks at Let Justice Roll have provided everything you
need to make it happen! The Program is called:
LIVING WAGE DAYS
To learn more,
CLICK HERE and help all American workers obtain a LIVING WAGE!
There you can READ UP, SIGN UP, and STEP UP!
Notice that there are a variety of downloadable materials
for study and action. So many will benefit by your commitment to pass
legislation at every level to raise the minimum wage. Let's stand together -
people of every faith - in calling for a new day for America's workers. You
can help make happen, and it can begin right here, right now!
Blessings to you as ever,
Vince Isner and your
FaithfulAmerica.org Team
"Let justice roll down like waters and
righteousness like an overflowing stream."
Amos 5:24
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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