The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns Statement “Give Now to Bring Relief to Suffering in Somalia”

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?  – Isaiah 58:6-7

 

The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church encourages all CME members and friends to pray and support the people of Somalia in their current crisis of hunger.  This unfolding humanitarian nightmare has taken the lives of tens of thousands of men, women and children over the last few months.  It is estimated that 640,000 children in this impoverished and politically volatile land are severely malnourished and more than 3.2 million people are in need of life-saving assistance.  Some officials at the United Nations have called this the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet.

 

The Commission is calling on individuals and local churches of all denominations to send immediate support to the humanitarian organization of choice, and to mark the first Sunday in September as “Save Somalia Sunday” to raise awareness and financial support.  Suggested organizations for donations are the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF.org), Red Cross (redcross.org), and Christian-based organizations such as World Vision (worldvision.org) and Church World Service (churchworldservice.org).

 

The Commission also asks each member and friend to join and support the “Circle of Protection” called for by outstanding Christian advocacy organizations such as Bread for the World and Sojourners to stand against budget cuts that would slash funding for the “least of these” both in America and abroad.  We call for the end of the gridlock that continues to threaten the US economic stability.  We applaud President Barack Obama for standing firm for the working class and middle class during the negotiations, even as we urge all parties leaders to cease and desist the postures threatening the safety net for America’s children and the poor.

 

As always, the Commission advocates for full participation in every election at every level, and asks every church to engage in voter education, registration and mobilization.  Please remember, as a church we should not endorse any candidate or political party during any set service or official gathering.  You may however encourage all members to vote, be aware of issues, and you can organize efforts to get people to the polls.  In light of changing regulations state to state, all members are encouraged to verify the places where you are scheduled to vote (polling places) and what identification is needed. 

 

Lastly, we celebrate the dedication of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King National Monument in Washington, DC on this the 48^th Anniversary of Rev. King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech on Saturday, August 28, 2011.  We remain inspired and involved in prophetic Christian leadership to the nation and world because of this incisive prophet-preacher-leader from the Black Church tradition.

 

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. and its College of Bishops, is a 140-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 1.2 million members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan/Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. For additional information about the CME Church, visit

www.c-m-e.org.

 

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Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., CEO

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.

Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr.,

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.

Bishop Kenneth W. Carter

Bishop James B. Walker

Bishop W.E. Lockett†

Bishop Sylvester Williams

Bishop Teresa E. Snorton

Bishop Godwin T. Umoette

Bishop William H. Graves, Retired

Bishop Othal H. Lakey, Retired

Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, Retired

Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham, Retired

Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr., Retired

Bishop Marshall Gilmore, Retired

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey, Retired†