Christianity and Poverty Presentation for Interfaith Week November 2011 Greg Smith.

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Christianity and Poverty Presentation for Interfaith Week November 2011 Greg Smith

Transcript of Christianity and Poverty Presentation for Interfaith Week November 2011 Greg Smith.

Page 1: Christianity and Poverty Presentation for Interfaith Week November 2011 Greg Smith.

Christianity and Poverty

Presentation for Interfaith Week

November 2011

Greg Smith

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Who we are?

A loose network of individual Christians, churches and social action projects and organisations in Preston and South Ribble

Drawn from Catholic, Anglican, Free Church and Evangelical traditions

Working together to tackle poverty, develop social action, speak our for and with the poor in our community and co-ordinate the work of churches.

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Supported by

Church Urban Fund

Methodist Action

Hundreds of volunteers from the churches in the area

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Why are we Christians concerned about poverty?

The Bible tells us

God made all people equal

God does not respect persons (according to their wealth or status.. But according to their heart faithfulness)

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The Bible (Old Testament) tells us

God commanded his people to care for the poor.. Especially the widows, the orphans, the immigrants

God acts to free the oppressed.. (slaves in Egypt) and cares for the destitute

God commands a forgiveness of debts, restoration of lost land, freedom of slaves every seven / fifty years in Sabbath and jubilee

God gets angry when the rich oppress the poor… Elijah.. Isaiah… Amos

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The Bible (New Testament) tells us

Jesus the messiah was born poor.. And lived among the poor and marginalised

Jesus told us to care for the needy .. Matt 25… a new age is coming when the tables will be turned.. Magnificat.. Lazarus and dives..

He repeatedly warned the rich… the rich fool.. The Pharisees.. Zaccheus the tax collector who when converted paid back fourfold..

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In the Bible (New Testament) the first church

Shared all things in common

Looked after the widows and orphans, collected funds for relief in famines

Always remembered the poor and had the ideal of equality

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The church has a long tradition of serving and empowering the poor.. (as well as a counter tradition of being captured by the rich and powerful)

•The abbeys

•The Friars… (St. Francis)

•The Anabaptists - The levelllers

•The Methodists .. John Wesley… Trade Unions.. Primitive Methodists

•The Salvation Army

•Wilberforce, Shaftesbury

•Liberation Theology.. South Africa.. Christian Aid .. Tear Fund

•Dalits..

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1985… Faith in the City… Urban Priority Areas.

Thatcher government called it naïve Marxism

Church Urban Fund…

Church Action of Poverty..

Frontier Youth Trust

Housing Justice

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POVERTY

IN PRESTON

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And where the Christians are thin on the ground

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What we are doing

Homeless drop ins:

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Homeless Forum…

giving homeless

people a voice

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Listening skills

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FOOD BANK

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UNEMPLOYMENT …

Work Clubs.

Helping people

Prepare for

Employability

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REDEEMING OUR COMMUNITIES.

ROC Conversations

'ROC Conversations' are part of our strategy for working within a city or region. They are evening events which bring together members of the local community, including representatives from the church,  police and fires services, local councillors. We have found it helpful to base the localities on existing police divisions or by neighbourhood.

The evenings give plenty of opportunity for discussion based on themes such as 'What do we hope our community will look like in 5 years' time? 'What resources do we, at this table, have to offer our community's needs?' and 'What could be done through working together?'

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Money Lenders Campaign

USURY…. Bible quote

Exodus 22:25“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.

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PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS OR NONE ARE INVITED TO JOIN US IN :