Media spotlights issues addressed by Religious Leaders Forum

The commitment by the Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit to advocate for shelter and literacy is attracting some media attention. 

In the Detroit Free Press: Religious leaders join to fight illiteracy, keep poor warm

Local media outlets are also highlighting the devastating impact of the cutbacks facing Detroit residents:

Detroit News: Winter heat help shrinks

Detroit Free Press: Detroit loses out on $9.2 million to help poor people

The Bridge magazine: Literacy woes hamstring Detroit's revival

Watch this space for more media coverage of this important issue. 

Unprecedented alliance of religious leaders unites to advocate for shelter and literacy

An unprecedented alliance of religious leaders in the metropolitan region has come together to address what they see as two of the most pressing issues facing our region at this moment: warmth and literacy.

The Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit includes leaders of most of the region’s religious traditions, including the Board of Rabbis, the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, the Muslim Imams’ Committee, the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Presbyterian Church USA, various Orthodox traditions and numerous other religious groups.

“Our entire community continues to be especially hard hit by the struggling economy,” according to a statement released by the group. “This has created a moral crisis to which we must respond. Therefore, we agree that it is our moral responsibility to advocate together for the well-being of all who live in our community.”

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Statement from Religious Leaders Forum on shelter and literacy

We, the members of the Religious Leaders Forum of Metropolitan Detroit, are united in our concern for the dignity of every human being. Our entire community continues to be especially hard hit by the struggling economy. This has created a moral crisis to which we must respond.

Therefore, we agree that it is our moral responsibility to advocate together for the well-being of all who live in our community.

There are two areas of critical and immediate importance to us:

First, it is imperative that all people in our community have adequate warmth and shelter this winter. No one should freeze to death in our community this winter.

Second, literacy among both children and adults is essential to the well being of all individuals and for the productive future of our whole community.

Many of our congregations have established warming shelters and other support for those in great need.  Some also provide literacy programs.  We are committed to supporting existing programs by mobilizing volunteers, providing more facilities as appropriate, and taking other practical steps to address these critical challenges to the well being of people in metropolitan Detroit.

We join together to pledge our attention and our moral leadership to seek comprehensive strategies from all our community leaders to address these critical concerns. We pledge our determination to work with them to help make those strategies successful.