In 2009, ONE is engaging faith communities through its ONE Sabbath effort, which gives local congregations and believers opportunities to respond to such global challenges as AIDS, malaria, lack of clean water and children out of school, and informs congregations about the proven solutions that can save lives and transform impoverished communities.

This weekend, Lebanon Valley College and ONE hosted a ONE Sabbath Forum exploring the special role faith communities play in responding to the consequences of global poverty, hunger and preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

The forum was moderated by the Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, the director of public advocacy for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, and included panelists from various faith traditions: Sensei Tony Stultz from the Buddhist community; the Rev. Dan Donmoyer from the Lutheran Church; Samia Malik, director of communications for the Council of American Islamic Relations; Patrick Walker, regional director for Church World Service; and Rabbi Paula Reimers from the Jewish community.

The panelists were asked how their faith traditions are responding to the issues of poverty and disease on a global and personal level, and how faith communities can work together to respond. The forum was a great success and many were in attendance. All of the panelists agreed that acting together as ONE is critical in the fight against global poverty and disease despite people’s differences in faith traditions.

Comments were also made by some of the panelists speaking out against apathy and the danger that exists when people do not participate in advocacy. At the end of the forum people from the audience were permitted to ask questions and Lancaster, PA ONE Member Fran Gouveia enthusiastically reminded everyone in attendance that ONE members have and continue to be some of the best advocates for people in the developing world!

After the forum concluded, guests stopped to sign the ONE Declaration and picked up information on ONE Sabbath. Many commented on the importance of people working together despite their differences whether it be faith, politics, or occupations and that having the visual of different faith leaders sitting together arriving at similar conclusions was inspiring!

-Brian Sweeney

(Read rest of Rev. Sandra Strauss’s op-ed below.)