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Rev. Dr Sharon Watkins, chair of the board of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), spoke at the National Press Club (USA) on 21 June as part of a coalition of Christian leaders expressing opposition to federal budget cuts in the USA that would harm people living in hunger and poverty.
“I ask you – what kind of people don’t take care of our children?” said Watkins.
“We, of the NCC, are 38 member churches who follow Jesus,” she said. “We have been consistent in proclaiming that Jesus would not have liked this budget.”
Watkins was among Christian leaders who represent the first broad-based, ecumenical response to the ongoing budget debates since the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
The Christian leaders belong to the Circle of Protection, a broad coalition of leaders from all the families of U.S. Christianity who have come together around the biblical mandate to protect poor and vulnerable people.
“Jesus tells us a neighbor is the one who shows mercy,” said Watkins. “He calls us to be that neighbor. Instead, this budget would reduce U.S. foreign aid by 29 percent – at a time when famines are emerging in four countries across Africa and the Middle East – not just drought: starving-to-death famines.”
Deep cuts to foreign aid are likely to fall especially hard on international initiatives that help people get out of poverty – nutrition programs for babies, she said.
“Further, this proposed budget seems to be based on an assumption that poor people and children should fund our national defense. The National Council of Churches and the Circle of Protection do not agree. The biblical prophets teach us that our security depends on upholding justice for people in poverty.”
The church leaders are also urging Congress to improve the U.S. healthcare system in ways that guard the health of people who are most at risk. The Trump administration has proposed significant budget cuts to programs for people who are poor, hungry, weak, sick, and vulnerable.
