First Congregational Church

The Hebrew scripture, as well as the New Testament makes it clear that we are called to care for the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, and to seek peace through social justice.  This includes advocating public policy that empowers the poor and promotes needed social change.

In 2000, the United States joined all countries in the world in committing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to improve life for the world's poorest people by 2015.  The first goal is to cut in half the number of people living on less than $1 a day by 2015.  If signed into law The Global Poverty Act (S 2433) would, for the first time, make it official U.S. policy to achieve this first MDG.

Currently, over 25 government agencies participate in development activities, often at cross purposes.  The Global Poverty Act would ensure the maximum benefit to those in greatest need by coordinating the efforts of each agency that administers aid.  The legislation would require a regular report to Congress on U.S. progress toward meeting the first MDG. (more…)

Mildred Loving was 68 years old when she passed away this week.  Mildred and her husband Richard married in 1958, but were later arrested for the "crime" of interracial marriage.  With the help of the ACLU and the NAACP, they took their case all the way to the Supreme Court.  In 2007, on the 40th anniversay of the landmark decision Loving vs. Virginia, Mildred Loving issued these words: (more…)