Churches Invited to Support 'Isaiah Platform' Effort

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 2, 2004) - Evangelical Covenant Church President Glenn Palmberg joined more than 40 other religious leaders May 23-25 at the Washington National Cathedral to sign the "Isaiah Platform" as part of Call to Renewal's annual conference "Pentecost 2004: Making Poverty a Religious and Electoral Issue."

The evening worship service brought together evangelical, Catholic, mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, black, Latino and Asian clergy as well as several heads of faith-based organizations to sign the pledge that formed the centerpiece of the three-day conference. Featured keynote speaker was journalist and social commentator Bill Moyers who spoke on religion in public life. (The accompanying shows Palmberg and Moyers).

"Call to Renewal is a wonderful cross-section of the church," Palmberg said. "Founded by an Evangelical, Jim Wallis, it includes many . . . churches all working together in a bipartisan way to advocate for the poor. It was gratifying to hear from politicians that our efforts have made a difference. They listened and cared about what the church has to say about the decisions they make that so affect the lives of the most needy."

"It was especially gratifying to me to have the Covenant church represented by a number of young people under the age of 35," Palmberg noted. They joined more than 90 young emerging leaders who also attended the conference. The Covenant contingent included representatives from Portland, Minneapolis and Chicago.

Other special guests included Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, who addressed attendees on behalf of President George Bush, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, who addressed attendees on behalf of presidential hopeful John Kerry. Awards were given to Rev. Dr. John Perkins of the Christian Community Development Association, Professor Susan Pace Hamill of the University of Alabama Law School, and Brad Martell of Call to Renewal.

Congregations and individuals have been invited by Call to Renewal to support the Isaiah Platform and join the bipartisan Christian effort to influence political decision-makers on behalf of the poor. An October 6-17 bus tour of 11 major cities will focus attention on the Isaiah Platform and attempt to heighten interest in upcoming elections on the part of people of faith. Cities to be visited on the tour include Minneapolis and St. Paul, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Call to Renewal is a national network of churches, faith-based organizations and individuals committed to overcoming poverty in America. Palmberg is a member of the board of directors. More information about Call to Renewal may be obtained by visiting www.calltorenewal.org/index.cfm. Those interested in learning more about the Isaiah Platform and ways in which it can be incorporated into local church planning can find information online at www.calltorenewal.org/events/index.cfm/action/pentecost_event/item/pentecost_2004_platform.html.

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