Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:37-40

Matthew’s Gospel presents us with images of impoverishment and a righteous response. Such images compel our own response when faced with the effects of dire human need. Poverty is a reality that knows no borders. Our awareness of poverty and our response to alleviate the suffering that grows out of poverty extends its reach to the four corners of the earth. We continue to focus on the global reach of our mission priority to achieve the Millennium Development Goals – the eradication of extreme global poverty by 2015 in the developing world.  In addition, we are ever aware of the daily struggles born out of poverty that affect local communities in the United States.

Resolution 2009-A155 provides a meaningful response by the Episcopal Church to Domestic Poverty.