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Area Religious Leaders Join Global Advocacy Group ONE to Talk Faith and Global Poverty

Published: 13 Feb. 2009

Area Religious Leaders Join Global Advocacy Group ONE to Talk Faith and Global Poverty

Discussion features faith leaders of various traditions, will explore opportunities congregations and individuals have in responding to global poverty and disease

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Stephen Wilson
steve.wilson@one.org
Phone: (202) 495-2772

February 13, 2009

Annville, PA-This Sunday, February 15, Lebanon Valley College and the advocacy group ONE will host a forum exploring the special role faith communities play in responding to the consequences of global poverty, hunger and preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

The forum will be moderated by the Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, the director of public advocacy for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, and will include panelists from various faith traditions: Sensei Tony Stultz from the Buddhist community; the Rev. Dan Donmoyer from the Lutheran Church; Samia Malik, director of communications for the Council of American Islamic Relations; Rabbi Paula Reimers from the Jewish community and Patrick Walker, Regional Director for Church World Service. .

The forum is being hosted by Lebanon Valley College and ONE, a global advocacy and campaigning organization backed by more than 2 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. The forum is part of ONE's 'ONE Sabbath' effort, which aims to mobilize people of faith in Pennsylvania and across America to speak out and take action for those struggling against poverty and disease around the world, especially during these turbulent and difficult economic times.

What:

Forum on Faith and Global Poverty hosted by ONE and Lebanon Valley College

When::

February 15, 2009 at 2 p.m.
The forum will be 90 minutes.

Who::

The Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, the director of public advocacy for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Sensei Tony Stultz
The Rev. Dan Donmoyer
Patrick Walker, Regional Director for Church World Service
Samia Malik, director of communications for the Council of American Islamic Relations
Rabbi Paula Reimers

Where::

Miller Chapel on Lebanon Valley campus

Etc::

The panelists will be asked how their faith traditions are responding to the issues of poverty and disease on a global and personal level, and how faith communities can work together to respond, especially during the global financial crisis

Event Contact: For questions about the event, please refer to Brian Sweeney, brian.sweeney@one.org (717) 644-3034

In 2009, ONE is engaging faith communities through its ONE Sabbath effort, which gives local congregations and believers opportunities to respond to such global challenges as AIDS, malaria, lack of clean water and children out of school, and informs congregations about the proven solutions that can save lives and transform impoverished communities.

The ONE Sabbath effort includes Jewish and Christian congregations and encompasses ONE Sadaqa in the Muslim community and ONE Seva in the Hindu community.

ONE Sabbath provides participants with tools to become advocates within their own faith traditions. Whether through  a forum such as this, a small study group, a visit to a politician's office, a sermon, a multimedia worship presentation, a petition, a gift to charity, a community organizing event or a conversation with a neighbor, ONE Sabbath participants will help to educate their communities and inspire healing and hope for those who need it most.

ONE Sabbath aims to raise awareness among voters and candidates about the opportunities President Obama and the 111th Congress have to implement proven, affordable solutions that will save lives, make our world more secure and live up to America's best convictions.

As a nonpartisan, secular organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and disease, ONE celebrates the fact that communities of faith and individual believers are central advocates in this effort, and have been for years. ONE welcomes people of all faiths and those who profess no faith into the growing global movement to eradicate extreme poverty and end deaths from preventable and treatable diseases. ONE Sabbath is one way people of faith can lend their voices and contribute through action.

ONE Sabbath is an effort by ONE to rally individuals and organizations of all faiths to address the challenges of extreme poverty and global diseases such as AIDS and malaria. The effort is known as ONE Sadaqa in the Muslim community and ONE Seva in the Hindu community.

ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organization backed by more than 2 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit www.ONE.org

 

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