Faith in the Public Square

 In order to assist church and faith leaders discuss the importance of vaccinations in the fight against COVID, the National Council of Churches has produced a fact sheet titled  A Christian Approach to Vaccine Hesitancy   The fact sheet also provides “a scriptural basis for a compassionate response to vaccine hesitancy and provides responses to Biblical misinformation around vaccination.”   When announcing the release of the fact sheet, the Council cited research showing that church and faith leaders can successfully encourage people to get vaccinated. The fact sheet states that some religious Americans have indicated that certain religious approaches made them more likely to get vaccinated. They have responded favorably to these situations: - A religious leader encouraged them to get the vaccine.  - A member of a local religious community they trust addressed their concerns about the vaccine or got the vaccine. - A healthcare professional from a local religious community they trust

The New York State Labor-Religion Coalition -- in conjunction with the Capital Region Poor People’s Campaign, FOCUS Churches of Albany, and Schenectady Community Ministries -- will sponsor a Truth Commission on December 7 to highlight “the continuing crisis of poverty, amplify the demands put forward by directly impacted communities, and help connect leaders and groups representing different identities, issues and regions of New York.”   According to an announcement for the virtual event, it will “gather testimony from directly impacted leaders, learn about ways communities are organizing in response, and build solidarity among the poor and dispossessed.”   Here is more: In 2017, the  Labor-Religion Coalition  organized a  Truth Commission on Poverty in New York State  that collected testimony from directly impacted New Yorkers, advocates, direct service providers, faith leaders and policy experts. The Truth Commission showed the prevalence and systemic nature of poverty across our sta