Massachusetts Episcopal Network for the Poor People’s Campaign
May and June Events
Wednesday, May 1
7 - 8:30 pm
Online Open House
We'll go over what the Poor People's Campaign is about and the Episcopal Church's connection to it, celebrate the March 2 assembly at the State House in Boston, discuss upcoming ways to get involved (voter registration efforts and the June 29 assembly in Washington, DC), and make connections with others involved in social justice advocacy. We hope that you can join us as we continue to explore how we live into our 2022 Diocesan Resolution to engage with and support the Poor People's Campaign. Register for the Zoom Here
Beginning on Wednesday, May 8
Wednesdays at 9 am on Zoom
Weekly Book Study: We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible with the Poor People's Campaign
After nearly two years, we completed our journey through We Cry Justice in April. We took a brief hiatus, and we will begin anew on May 8. We Cry Justice meets on Wednesdays at 9 am on Zoom. We follow the same format each time: reading the Bible verse and chapter aloud together, discussing the questions posed, and wrapping up with the closing prayer. Each week is self-contained and no prep work is needed. Please join as often as you are able. The book is available for purchase from the Kairos Center. Email [email protected] to receive a weekly reminder and the Zoom link. We hope you will join us in this rewarding and inspiring study!
Monday, May 20
7 - 8:15 pm
Online Book Discussion:
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Poverty is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States, a fact that the Poor People's Campaign is publicizing so that we as a nation can address the policy choices that have fostered this preventable situation. Although reading the book beforehand is encouraged, it is not required. If you want to learn more about the causes of poverty and the Poor People's Campaign, you are welcome to attend. Register for the Zoom Here
Save the Date - June 29
New Date for the Mass Poor People's and Low-Wage Workers' Assembly & Moral March on Washington & to the Polls
This event in Washington, DC, will now be held on June 29. Stay tuned for details as we organize folks to attend!
ABOUT US
Welcome to the Massachusetts Episcopal Network for the Poor People’s Campaign (MAPPCEN) web page, and thanks to St. Dunstan’s for hosting us!
Drawing from the resolution passed at the 2022 Diocesan Convention, we acknowledge that issues of poverty and justice are interconnected and cannot be adequately addressed with siloed action. These injustices adversely affect us, our siblings, both locally and globally. We commit to ministries of active engagement, advocacy, and support.
We hope Episcopalians in Massachusetts will join in solidarity with the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign (MAPPC), whose goals overlap substantially with the justice ministries currently happening, and participate through education, formation, engagement, support, and/or actions, all providing avenues for us to live into our mission strategy.
The network offers Episcopalians in Massachusetts a Bible study based on We Cry Justice, public witness, and actions of solidarity with the campaign at the local, state, and national level.
The network also plans to highlight and support the related justice work already underway, to provide opportunities to build relationships and spread the good news of the work being done.
Mission - What is our purpose?
Our purpose is twofold:
- Connect local Episcopalians to the actions of the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) movement for people at the local, state, and national levels
- Foster supportive relationships among those doing justice work in the Dioceses of Massachusetts
Goals - What will we do?
Support the PPC movement to build the political will to eliminate systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.
- Serve as a bridge to help Episcopalians in MA connect with PPC (via MAPPC), and channel them into action
- Enable Episcopalians to stand in solidarity with MAPPC/PPC - coalesce when there is an action
Support the constellation of related justice work being done in the Dioceses of MA.
- Collaborate and support justice organizations in our Diocese and connect with Western MA
- Connecting and highlighting social justice work done by Episcopalians in our state
- Build relationships among Episcopalians in Massachusetts doing justice work, giving them opportunities to share their experiences
Tactics - How will we do it?
- We Cry Justice Bible studies
- Newsletter to share MAPPC and DioMass Justice news
- Annual conference/gathering
- Mobilizing communications for action
- Others as we discern them
We began gathering as a network in 2022, working to connect people across our dioceses who are interested in learning more about the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival (PPC), how our faith calls us to learn about the five interlocking justices and fight against them, and how we can engage with and support the PPC. You can read about us in the DioMass News HERE.
Since our formation, we have:
- Participated in the Mass Poor People’s and Low Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2022.
- In the fall of 2022, we began a book study for We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible With the Poor People’s Campaign. We meet Wednesdays at 9 am on zoom. Each week is self-contained, and we welcome folks to join us!
- Presented a resolution in support of the PPC at the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts 2022 Annual Convention (and it passed!). You can read the resolution and the full convention report for more information, and the resolution is a way to live into our Mission Strategy 2021.
- Created a monthly newsletter with info on justice work being done here in Massachusetts and at the national church level, as well as news on the PPC and related news articles. You can read all our newsletters here. If you would like to be on our email list and/or have info to add, please email us at [email protected].
- Built a MAPPC EN Google Calendar. This lists justice events going on across the state and online, with links to more info. A great way to see all the impressive work being done by churches and groups across the state and find ways to get involved. If you have events to add, please email us at [email protected].
If you'd like to be part of the steering team for our network and/or be a liaison between our network and one of the justice groups in our dioceses, please email us at [email protected].
Network Steering Team Members:
Phoebe Chatfield, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston)
Rev. Jer Colvin, St. Luke's (Hudson)
Meredith Haider, Grace Church (Great Barrington)
Dan Fields, St. Paul's (Natick)
Martha Gardner, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston)
Rev. Sean Leonard, St. Dunstan's (Dover)
Savina Martin, MAPPC (Boston)
The Very Rev. Amy McCreath, Dean, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston)
Connie McGrane, Parish of the Epiphany (Winchester)
Amelia Slawsby, St. Dunstan's (Dover)
Rebecca Spangler, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston)
Kris Wile, St. Andrews (Framingham)