Normally, around this time in early Spring, UCC advocates would gather with other people of faith at Ecumenical Advocacy Days for a weekend of education and skill building for advocacy. Unfortunately this year we are not able to gather in person. Nevertheless, as faith advocates across traditions, we are still joining our voices together this week to advocate for justice in our nation’s capital.

The theme for the EAD conference was, “Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored!” We are seeing how the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the deeply rooted systemic injustice and institutionalized racism that traps communities of color in cycles of poverty and poor health outcomes. We join with the ecumenical Christian community to demand justice in our nation’s response.

As people of faith, we are called to care for both neighbors and creation. Communities already experiencing devastating racial, health and economic inequities due to climate change and environmental injustice, are more vulnerable to job loss, debt, wealth loss, illness, and death during this time. For this reason, each response to this pandemic must employ a racial equity lens that equips policies and programs to eliminate such divides.

Call on Congress urging them to pass short-term relief and long-term recovery packages that address historic systemic racism and wealth disparities, while also addressing immediate needs in the U.S. and around the world. We are a global community and we will not have recovered until all have recovered.

For more information, visit advocacydays.org.