Faith in the Public Square

To mark World Refugee Day, religious leaders from several faith communities in the Capital District will offer an interfaith Zoom program on Monday, June 21. The hour-long program begins at 7 p.m. Among the speakers are representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Protestant faiths. [The final list is still in formation.] Speakers will share selections from their sacred texts, prayers, and/or stories of what people of their faith are doing to help refugees.   No pre-registration is required. To join the Zoom Meeting, click  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81648352852 Meeting ID: 816 4835 2852 One tap mobile +16465588656,,81648352852# US (New York) For more information, contact Deacon Walter Ayres at 518-469-4339.    

Over at the Capital Area Council of Churches, the hard-working force behind the annual CROP Walk, Kitt Jackson, reports that they are just $40 away from their goal of $100,000. If you would like to help them achieve, or even exceed, their goal, visit their web page and make a general donation to the walk or support one of the teams or walkers who are registered. The total shown on the web page does not yet include all the checks we have received at the office.  

The newsletter of the New York State Council of Churches highlights its state legislative agenda regarding issues such as the environment, health, housing, and criminal justice reform. Here is a summary of some of those issues.  The Council supports the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA), “a landmark environmental justice bill” which will impose a carbon tax on corporate polluters and use the resulting revenues (estimated to reach $15 billion per year) to invest in frontline communities, build sustainable energy infrastructure, and create good, green jobs.  The CCIA is essential to realizing the vision of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, which put New York State on the leading edge of the fight against catastrophic climate change.   People of faith can sign a letter urging legislators to pass this legislation.  The Securing Wages Earned Against Theft (SWEAT) Coalition seeks “to protect workers and honest businesses by stemming wage theft.” The SWE