2006 Synod Assembly

Resolution 2006-03:

A Minnesota Without Poverty - Where All Children Thrive - A 2020 Vision

Passed

1          Whereas, the Southeastern        
2                      Minnesota Synod has embraced
3                      the principles for accomplishing
4                      the goal of ending poverty in
5                      Minnesota by 2020 as laid out in
6                      “A Common Foundation:  Shared
7                      Principles for Overcoming
8                      Poverty,” authored by
9                      Bishop Peter Rogness and signed
10                    by Bishop Harold Usgaard along
11                    with 34 other religious leaders in
12                    Minnesota

13        WHEREAS, achieving the goal of
14                    ending poverty and not just
15                    managing its symptoms will only
16                    happen through prevention and
17                    early intervention efforts focusing
18                    on children in order to arrest the
19                    problem before it becomes
20                    generational; and

21        WHEREAS, a strategy for attacking
22                    the problem by focusing on
23                    children, the principles of which
24                    are summarized in the document
25                    “A Minnesota Without Poverty –
26                    Where All Children Thrive:  A
27                    2020 Vision” (click here to download in PDF) has
28                    been developed by leadership from
29                    LCPPM, LSS, and state and local
30                    experts on homelessness; and

31        WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Area
32                    Synod, Lutheran Social Service of
33                    Minnesota, and the Lutheran
34                    Coalition for Public Policy in
35                    Minnesota, in consultation with
36                    leadership from the other five
37                    ELCA synods in Minnesota, have
38                    endorsed the goal of launching the
39                    Ending Poverty Initiative as a
40                    statewide endeavor;

41        therefore be it resolved,
42                    that the Southeastern Minnesota
43                    Synod, with leadership from the
44                    Synod Hunger Task Force, fully
45                    supports the statewide rollout of
46                    “A Minnesota Without Poverty –
47                    Where All Children Thrive:  A
48                    2020 Vision” through its
49                    participation in the Statewide
50                    Organizing Team, constituted as
51                    the vehicle for implementing the
52                    effort; and

53        Be it further resolved, that
54                    Lutheran Social Service of
55                    Minnesota and the Lutheran
56                    Coalition for Public Policy in
57                    Minnesota be encouraged to
58                    provide support and leadership in
59                    defining steps for congregations to
60                    embrace the strategies being
61                    developed as part of this initiative;
62                    and

63        Be it further resolved, that
64                    every congregation in the
65                    Southeastern Minnesota  Synod be
66                    encouraged to take action in the
67                    next twelve months to support
68                    local efforts to end poverty as well
69                    as strategies emerging from the
70                    Statewide Organizing Team during
71                    the upcoming elections and
72                    Minnesota state legislative session.

Submitted  by the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Hunger Task Force, Rev. Clark Cary, Chair

Implementation Partners:
LSS Congregational Partnership &
            Advocacy, Lutheran Social Service of  
            Minnesota
Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in
            Minnesota

Continue to Resolution 2006-04

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