In a continuing effort to end world hunger, Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director of Women of the ELCA, endorsed a faith statement (below) on behalf of the organization. The statement pledges to end world hunger by 2030.
The statement was endorsed by about 100 of the nation’s faith leaders during an Interfaith Religious Leaders Summit Sept. 21, 2015, in Washington D.C.
“Bread for the World organizers are using the attention given Pope Francis’ visit to highlight interfaith efforts and commitments to end hunger by 2030,” Post Bushkofsky said. “With my participation on behalf of Women of the ELCA comes a sign-on to a faith statement.”
In 2011, at its Eighth Triennial Convention, Women of the ELCA voting members passed a memorial to end hunger. Actions included providing prayer support and offerings to ELCA World Hunger, including links to ELCA World Hunger and Bread for the World on synodical websites, serving as a synodical hunger leader and following hunger social networks.
“Our organization has long worked to end world hunger,” Post Bushkofsky said. “Our most recent public action came at the Eighth Triennial Convention, although every week the women of our organization are giving to ELCA World Hunger and working in myriad ways in their own communities to end hunger.”
In 2014, gifts to ELCA World Hunger through Women of the ELCA totaled more than $300,000, she said.
You, too, can take Bread for the World’s pledge to end hunger.
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Interfaith Religious Leaders’ Pledge to End Hunger by 2030A wide array of the nation’s faith leaders have come together on the eve of Pope Francis’ arrival in the United States to commit ourselves to encourage our communities to work for the end of hunger by 2030 and, toward that end, for a shift in U.S. national priorities. We are deeply pleased to welcome Pope Francis to the United States. The Pope has repeatedly urged people around the world to address the problems that contribute to the persistence of hunger and poverty. He has called us all to pray and work to end hunger. We trust that he will summon our nation to end the hunger in our midst and support global efforts to overcome hunger. U.S. faith communities are deeply engaged with many sisters and brothers who struggle with hunger and poverty, and we have become increasingly active in urging our nation’s elected leaders to do their part – defending low-income people in the national budget debate, for example. Our experience of God’s mercy and compassion for all people moves us to engage in God’s work of overcoming hunger and human misery, and our sacred traditions include visions of the world transformed. We are convinced that God has anointed this a special time for action. The world as a whole has been making unprecedented progress against hunger, poverty, and disease, so we know that it is possible to make further progress against – perhaps even end – hunger and extreme poverty. The nations of the world are gathering this week at the United Nations to commit themselves to global development goals that focuses on ending poverty and hunger by 2030. Around the world and within our own country, we see movements of change and popular organizations organizing to address poverty and injustice. Pope Francis will be speaking to the United Nations, to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, and to the people of this nation. He has consistently proclaimed the love of God for all people, including people who struggle with hunger and poverty. We gather in light of these important events to reflect from our own perspectives about hunger and poverty and to publicly commit ourselves – as leaders from across the religious spectrum – to help end hunger by 2030. Ending hunger will require action by all sectors of society and by all the nations of the world. Yet a shift in U.S. national priorities seems crucial to ending hunger in our country and internationally. People of goodwill can disagree about policy strategies. But ending hunger by 2030 seems unlikely unless we can achieve a shift in U.S. national priorities by 2017, so that our government helps to put our nation and the world on track toward ending hunger. This special time in our nation could open many hearts to God and to God’s loving purposes for the world. That is why the leaders of many of this nation’s diverse faith communities have gathered in the nation’s capital today. We pray that our collective witness will help to make this a turning point in the history of our nation and the world. |
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Photo by Kris, used with permission