The Gathering 2007 & Lobby Day
Bread for the World's Gathering 2007, Sowing Seeds: Growing a Movement, was held June 9-12 in Washington, DC. More than 1,500 activists gathered to worship together, forge new relationships, learn from one another, and renew our commitment to ending hunger and poverty. This was an amazing movement of the Spirit, and we plan to keep the momentum going.
As part of The Gathering 2007, the second Interfaith Convocation on Hunger was held June 11 at the Washington National Cathedral. The Convocation attracted nearly 1,000 worshippers from 45 states. Leaders of a broad array of faith traditions – including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim groups -- urged an abiding commitment to bring "bread to those who are hungry, and hunger for justice to those who have bread."
Rev. William J. Shaw, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, challenged participants: “Who will bring the poor in this nation and around the world to the attention of … the people of plenty?” Imam Mohamed Magid, executive director of the All Dulles (VA) Area Muslim Society, told worshippers of a visit to a Sudanese refugee camp in the 1980s. He arrived with relief supplies, but a young woman informed him, “You are too late. The babies have died.” Magid urged participants: “Let us vow together to never be late again.”
On Bread for the World's Lobby Day on June 12, more than 500 constituents made visits to the offices of 211 members of Congress. To reinforce the visits, activists who could not travel to Washington placed more than 1,200 calls to senators' and representatives' offices. Fourteen members of Congress attended a Lobby Day reception on Capitol Hill and spoke of their support for Bread for the World, our work and our mission. Thank you to all who participated in Lobby Day and The Gathering!
Read what people had to say in their blog entries
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Derek Boykin, Bread for the World's Northeast regional organizer, led morning worship for participants on Sunday. |
Salil Shetty, director of the U.N. Millennium Campaign, gave an update on where things stand halfway to the Millennium Development Goals target date of 2015. He also praised grassroots Christian activists for speaking out to U.S. government leaders in the fight against hunger and poverty. |
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Bread for the World activist Marie Frasure spoke to the crowd during the commissioning portion of the Interfaith Convocation at Washington National Cathedral. |
Representatives of many faith communities gathered on the altar for a commitment action. All those attending the convocation made written commitments to take action in the coming year to end hunger. |
Students from across the country participated in The Gathering. |
Davidson college student Elizabeth Henry and Gordon College student Jon Young sharing campus ideas with other students. |
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Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) spoke on building the political will to overcome hunger at the National Leaders' Forum on Hunger and Poverty, jointly sponsored by the Alliance to End Hunger, Bread for the World, and Results. |
Participants at The Gathering 2007 enjoyed music performed by Evensong Rising and Patrick Lundy and The Ministers of Music. |
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Students from Northern Illinois University head to visit their members of Congress during Lobby Day. |
Gathering participants meet at a Movement Building Dinner to network and discuss ways to strengthen their anti-hunger activism. |
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Students Jermaine Hopkins of Miles College and Ann Watford of Davidson College lobby Representative Spencer Bachus (R-AL). |
On Lobby Day, members of Templo Calvario presented Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) with letters about the farm bill and hungry people, written by her California constituents. |
