Faith leaders meeting with U.S. officials before G20 summit

Leaders from more than 25 faith-related organizations are meeting today and Wednesday in Pittsburgh in advance of Thursday and Friday’s Group of 20 Summit. The Faith Leaders Summit will meet with American delegation to the summit Wednesday. Rev. David Beckmann, president of the Christian-based Bread for the World anti-hunger organization, said he and other leaders are concerned about severe slippage in the fight against world hunger during the recession according to United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization statistics. “These startling realities are the backdrop within which we will meet with fellow faith group leaders here in Pittsburgh, and press for action — not only words — from the world’s wealthiest nations to help poor and hungry people to lift themselves out of poverty,” Beckmann said. He added he hopes U.S. officials will follow through on promises to link solutions between unemployment and hunger. “The Obama Administration’s emphasis is employment, which is the most important issue for poor people in this country. We eagerly anticipate the details of their new global initiative to reduce world hunger and poverty around the world by strengthening agriculture in poor countries,” he said. The Faith Leaders Summit is organized by Bread for the World, the Alliance to End Hunger and other partners. Leaders from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths are in attendance. Participants include Galen Carey of the National Association of Evangelicals; Steve Colecchi of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Steve Gutow of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs; Bernice Powell Jackson of the World Council of Churches; and Bill Shaw of the National Baptist Convention. Link: Bread for the World: http://www.bread.org/learn/global-hunger-issues/faith-leaders-summit.html