This morning, more than a hundred Christian leaders sent a letter to Capitol Hill urging our leaders in Congress to protect the international affairs budget. The signers—representing the Catholic and evangelical communities—include national leaders, pastors, heads of faith organizations, recording artists, and authors. Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, who spoke at the 2017 inauguration, also are among the signers.
They delivered a simple message: “Matthew 25 tells us when we serve the least of these, we are serving the Lord. As people of faith, we cannot turn our back on those in desperate need.” The money, time, and effort we expend on behalf of those who live in extreme poverty around the world is part of devotion to God. It’s not optional, it’s part of the mission.
Our country’s budget reflects our nation’s character. The hand up we offer to a woman seeking to leave the abuse of her trafficker is reflected in our choices. Our country’s answer to the pleading mother running from conflict is determined by whether or not we show up to help. These faith leaders stand in a long tradition of calling our nation to uphold those who live on the margins. It’s core to what it means to live as a Christian, but it’s also something that’s been true of us as Americans.
Just as we, together with our country’s leaders, stepped up to care for those suffering from HIV a decade and a half ago, so too should we continue to forestall the underlying conditions of necessity that drive education inequality and extreme poverty.
Here at ONE, we’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with pastors, bishops, artists, and ministry leaders who care about the most vulnerable. Like they said, “As followers of Christ, it is our moral responsibility to urge you to support and protect the International Affairs Budget, and avoid disproportionate cuts to these vital programs…”
We couldn’t agree more.
The letter reads:
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Minority Leader Pelosi,
As Christian leaders, it’s an honor to represent dedicated and faithful citizens living in every congressional district in this country. We’re writing to share our support for the International Affairs Budget that every day brings hope to poor, hungry, vulnerable and displaced men, women and children around the world.
America is blessed with fertile land, abundant natural resources, a strong economy, and faithful citizens who value religious freedom. But beyond our borders, many countries experience unparalleled suffering and loss of life due to extreme poverty, disease, natural disasters, and conflict. Today, there are 65 million displaced people, the most since World War II, and 795 million people still go to bed hungry every night.
Matthew 25 tells us when we serve the least of these, we are serving the Lord. As people of faith, we cannot turn our back on those in desperate need. We are grateful for America’s global development and diplomacy programs that have been instrumental in saving lives, safeguarding religious liberties, and keeping America safe and secure. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have strong legacies of supporting humanitarian and development programs that enable countless people to pull themselves out of poverty and live life with dignity. It is through these diplomatic and development tools that we’ve seen countries and communities build peaceful, productive societies that do not turn to violence or terrorism.
At a time when we’re especially security conscious, the International Affairs Budget is crucial to demonstrating our values to the world, building friendships with other nations, and lowering security risks around the world.
With just 1 percent of our nation’s budget, the International Affairs Budget has helped alleviate the suffering of millions; drastically cutting the number of people living in extreme poverty in half, stopping the spread of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDs and Ebola, and nearly eliminating polio. Additionally, it promotes freedom and human rights, protecting religious freedom for millions around the world.
As followers of Christ, it is our moral responsibility to urge you to support and protect the International Affairs Budget, and avoid disproportionate cuts to these vital programs that ensure that our country continues to be the “shining city upon a hill.”
Thank you for your consideration.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York
Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
Rich Stearns, President, World Vision USA
Bishop Gregory J. Mansour, Chairman of the Board, Catholic Relief Services
Michael W. Smith, Singer/Songwriter
Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, Immediate Past President, Southern Baptist Convention
Amy Grant, Singer/Songwriter
Shirley V. Hoogstra, J.D., President, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
Tom Lin, President & CEO, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Third Day, Christian Rock Band
Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity
Mark Labberton, President, Fuller Theological Seminary
Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita, The Wesleyan Church
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco
David Wilson, General Secretary, Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Archbishop of Louisville
Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, President & CEO, Compassion International
John Crosby, Senior Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church
Rev. Johnnie Moore, Author
Bob Bouwer, Reverend, Faith Church (8 locations)
John K. Jenkins Sr., Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Keith Stewart, Senior Pastor, Springcreek Church
Alec Hill, President Emeritus, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Scott Arbeiter, President, World Relief Corporation
Martha Newsome, President & CEO, Medical Teams International
J. Ron Byler, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee
Mike Mantel, President & CEO, Living Water International
Carol Bremer-Bennett, Executive Director, World Renew
Gary Edmonds, President & CEO, Food for the Hungry
Anita Smith, President, Children’s AIDS Fund
Shepherd Smith, President, Institute for Youth Development
Bruce Wilkinson, President & CEO, Catholic Medical Mission Board
Steve Stirling, President & CEO, MAP International
Peter Vander Meulen, Coordinator in Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Joel K. Johnson, Pastor, Westwood Community Church
James H. Barnes III, President, Bethel University
Steve Moore, Board Chair, World Relief
Deborah Smith Pegues, Board of Directors, World Vision USA
Rev. Jonathan Odom, Pastor, Asbury UMC
Dr. Mark Wilbanks, Senior Pastor, Wieuca Road Baptist Church
Dr. Stephen Treash, Senior Pastor, Black Rock Church
Laura Truax, Senior Pastor LaSalle Street Church
Jeffrey Moes, Senior Pastor, Sunnybrook Community Church
Gino Grunberg, Co-Pastor, Harbor Christian Center
Rev. Jay Madden, Pastor for Mission, Peachtree Presbyterian Church
Chris Cramer, Pastor, Orchard Grove Community Church
Chad Hayward, Executive Director, Accord Network
Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals
Scott Garber, Author
Ken Wytsma, Senior Pastor, Antioch Church
William Minchin, Pastor of Business Administration, Grace Fellowship Church
Rev. Eugene Cho, Lead Pastor & Founder, Quest Church/One Day’s Wages
Bishop Horace E. Smith, MD, Senior Pastor, Apostolic Faith Church
Ted Esler, President, Missio Nexus
Rev. Dr. Michael L. Henderson, Senior Pastor, New Beginnings Church
Dr. G. Craig Williford, President, Multnomah University
Carmen Fowler Laberge, President, Presbyterian Lay Committee
Colin P. Watson, Sr., Director of Ministries and Administration, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Dr. Don Argue, Ambassador at Large, Convoy of Hope
Scott Ridout, President, Converge
Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage, Associate Pastor, Quest Church
Gregory Loewer, Pastor for Missions, Columbia Baptist Church
Jim Lyon, General Director, Church of God Ministries
Constantine M. Triantafilou, Executive Director & CEO, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)
Alan Robinson, National Director, Brethren in Christ, U. S.
Mark S. Young, President, Denver Seminary
M. Craig Barnes, President, Princeton Theological Seminary
Adam Pray, Minister, theChurch.at
Dennis Hollinger, Ph.D., President, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Alan Cureton, President, University of Northwestern
Jon Middendorf, Pastor, OKC First Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Bobby Griffith, Jr., Pastor, City Presbyterian Church
Rev. David Cassidy, Pastor, Christ Community Church
Dr. Timothy J. Brooks, Lead Pastor, South Portland Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Doug Serven, Pastor, City Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dan Claire, Rector, Church of the Resurrection
Rev. Joel St. Clair, Pastor, Mosaic Community Church
Dr. O. Alan Noble, Assistant Professor of English, Oklahoma Baptist University
Rev. Dr. Irwyn Ince Jr., Pastor, City of Hope Presbyterian Church
Rev. Russ Whitfield, Pastor, Grace Mosaic Church
The Right Rev. Dr. Steven A. Breedlove, Diocese, Christ our Hope, Anglican Church in North America
Rev. Alan Cross, Executive Director, Community Development Initiatives Montgomery Baptist Association
Rev. Dr. James C. Howell, Senior Pastor, Myers Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Don Flowers, Jr., Senior Pastor, Providence Baptist Church
The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Archbishop, Anglican Church in North America
Dr. Chris Ellis, Minister of Mission and Outreach, Second Baptist Church
Dr. Stephen Cook, Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Church
Dr. Christopher Pollock, Lead Pastor, Midtown Church
Peter Greer, CEO, HOPE International
David W. Kendall, Bishop, Free Methodist Church, USA
David T. Roller, Bishop, Free Methodist Church, USA
Matthew A. Thomas, Bishop, Free Methodist Church, USA
Justin B. Fung, Pastor of Teaching & Formation, The District Church
Jason Surratt, Pastor of Stewardship and Global Missions, Seacoast Church
Dr. Gregg Okkesson, Dean, Asbury Theological Seminary
Stephanie Summers, CEO, Center for Public Justice
Ruth Anne Reese, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
Brandon Heath, Singer/Songwriter
Dr. Stephen Offutt, Assistant Professor of Development Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary
Matt Maher, Singer/Songwriter
Jonathan Martin, Writer and Speaker
Aaron Graham, Lead Pastor, The District Church
