By Katie Furrow
“But seek the welfare of the city…and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).
In response to the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the Church of the Brethren and a number of other Christian groups who represent Creation Justice Ministries, the former National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program, have signed onto a letter praising the charitable actions of faith groups while also urging Congress and the Obama administration to take action to resolve the situation.
In part, the letter calls on the federal government “to leverage federal resources to ensure the City of Flint can get new, safe water infrastructure as quickly as possible” and to “take decisive action to reverse trends of environmental racism by ensuring community members are meaningfully engaged in all environmental decisions that will impact them, including selecting their water supply.”
The entire letter, along with statements from faith leaders across the country, can be read at www.creationjustice.org/uploads/2/5/4/6/25465131/christian_communities_respond_to_flint_water_crisis.pdf .
— Katie Furrow is a food, hunger, and gardening associate for the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness and the Global Food Crisis Fund.