Speaking Truth to Power - Social Justice

Part of Christian Stewardship is understanding the Church’s role (and our own) in guiding the choices of our leaders to be consistent with what Jesus calls us to be as disciples.

You will find the statements of the General Assemblies on social issues at this link.

They are rooted in a deep theological concern for faithfulness to God's will for the world. The Presbyterian Church, U.S. in adopting the "The Theological Basis for Christian Social Action" vigorously redefined the influential doctrine of the "spirituality of the Church" to acknowledge the duty of the church to act on behalf of God's will in temporal affairs. In the United Presbyterian Church, the adoption of the Confession of 1967, along with other historic confessions of the Reformed tradition, marked a reawakening to the breadth and depth of Reformed theology and its relevance for contemporary affairs.

The goal of The Washington Office: The Voice of Presbyterian Public Policy is to help us understand proposed legislation and how it affects how we live together in God's world and how to bring the heart of the gospel to the heart of the nation's capital.

PCUSA Washington Office

 

 

Find your elected officials. Stay informed.

Who is My Neighbor?

Love of God and love of neighbor are so intertwined that part of what it means to love God is to love the neighbor. If one has any doubts about this primary obligation to care for and show concern for the other, simply open the gospels and look at the scriptural accounts of Jesus' own ministry, which was replete both with his own acts of love and compassion for the other and with his teachings to his followers to go and do likewise.

Over the years, leading Presbyterians have written perspectives concerning the church and politics. These powerful articles have been used as resources and inspiration by Presbyterian advocates to support their beliefs that the religious-based political work is crucial and necessary.

Use these Biblically-based essays for discussion in study groups, mission or justice committees, or for individual reflection.

Witness in Washington Weekly

A weekly email update of legislation before Congress and the related Presbyterian policy. Presented in a brief format with links to more information. These updates are sent only when Congress is in session.

Recent issues of Witness in Washington Weekly are available for download and printing.

To join in these actions, speak to Sandy Champion or Elder Alison Bennett.

 

Predatory lending

"He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor." - Proverbs 28:8

Predatory lending is not new. During biblical times, abusive lending practices were addressed by instituting strict standards, including banning the charge of interest to the poor (Exodus 22:25). Likewise, in the story of Zaccheaus (Luke 19:8-9), Jesus commended him for promising to repay the excessive fees he had exacted from the oppressed.

Today, in modern times, predatory lending practices exploit low- to moderate-income people by charging as much as upward of 780 percent on a one-week payday loan. This is both a legal issue and a moral issue. Therefore, all persons of faith are called to express their values in conversations about the predatory lending problem in Virginia. Maryland caps interest at 36%. The Center for Responsible Lending reports that 99 percent of payday borrowers are "chronic users" and that the average amount paid back on a $325 loan is $800!

http://www.faithfulpledge.org/

http://www.pcusa.org/oga/publications/usury.pdf