~~~ The webcast series “Poverty, God, Politics” highlights ways to effectively connect faith to the politics of poverty. It is clearly feasible to reduce hunger, poverty, and disease in the United States and worldwide; doing our part to make this happen is sacred work; and for serious change we need to get our government to do its part. The 20-minute videos that are being released in the last months of 2021 are coming from guest speakers to a class taught by Rev. Dr. David Beckmann at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The earlier videos come from guest speakers to a class he taught in Berkeley earlier in the year. Beckmann is a co-chair and the coordinator of the Circle of Protection, the leading religious voice on the momentous Build Back Better legislation that is moving through Congress this year. www.davidbeckmann.net

Rev. Walter Kim is president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). His parents were refugees who then immigrants to the United States. His family was assisted by Christians of different denominations, and he became an Evangelical during high school so he understands from personal experience the importance of lifting up Christ in both word and deed. He explains that the NAE was founded in 1942 as a “third way” between fundamentalist and progressive Christians, firmly grounded in Scriptures, but also fully engaged in the life and problems of society.  As an illustration of pastoral work to connect Evangelicals to social issues, Rev. Kim focuses on a passage from Exodus about the sabbath law. This prominent aspect of the Hebrew covenant with God protected poor people, servants, and immigrants - also donkeys, oxen, wild animals, and the land (ecological justice). Rev. Kim notes that the study of Bible passages like this moves Evangelicals to engage in social issues. To stay engaged, people also need human connections - with people in need and people with whom they disagree politically.  Since social change is difficult, people also need ongoing encouragement. “We tend to overestimate what we can get done in a year and underestimate what we can get done in ten years.” ~~~ The webcast series “Poverty, God, Politics” highlights ways to effectively connect faith to the politics of poverty. It is clearly feasible to reduce hunger, poverty, and disease in the United States and worldwide; doing our part to make this happen is sacred work; and for serious change we need to get our government to do its part. The 20-minute videos that are being released in the last months of 2021 are coming from guest speakers to a class taught by Rev. Dr. David Beckmann at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The earlier videos come from guest speakers to a class he taught in Berkeley earlier in the year. Beckmann is a co-chair and the coordinator of the Circle of Protection, the leading religious voice on the momentous Build Back Better legislation that is moving through Congress this year. www.davidbeckmann.net

Anwar Khan, president, and Jihad Saleh Williams, senior advisor for government affairs, explain the remarkable evolution of faith and justice work within Islamic Relief over the last 15 years. Islam provides a clear mandate for anti-poverty advocacy, including a verse from the Koran which calls on Muslims not only to feed the needy but to “urge the feeding of the needy.” Islamic Relief International is now a major collaborator in relief and development throughout the world. Islamic Relief USA has gone through an impressive learning process, developing a program of assistance and now capacity building in communities across the United States. Their advocacy program has moved from participation to leadership in coalitions. In-district meetings have trained Muslims to meet with public officials and given members of Congress opportunities to get to know their Muslims constituents - in a time when U.S. Muslims must still expect suspicion and threats of violence. Islamic Relief is now launching an effort to engage many more of their 300,000 donors in public-policy advocacy, drawing on the experience of Bread for the World among Christians and MAZON among Jews. ~~~ The webcast series “Poverty, God, Politics” highlights ways to effectively connect faith to the politics of poverty. It is clearly feasible to reduce hunger, poverty, and disease in the United States and worldwide; doing our part to make this happen is sacred work; and for serious change we need to get our government to do its part. The 20-minute videos that are being released in the last months of 2021 are coming from guest speakers to a class taught by Rev. Dr. David Beckmann at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The earlier videos come from guest speakers to a class he taught in Berkeley earlier in the year. Beckmann is a co-chair and the coordinator of the Circle of Protection, the leading religious voice on the momentous Build Back Better legislation that is moving through Congress this year. www.davidbeckmann.net