It was called a “Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget.”
On June 10th, clergy, congregants, religious and lay leaders representing multiple denominational expressions led a vigil and public procession in Washington, D.C. Inspired by the public witness of Jesus’ disciples at Pentecost, they gathered at the U.S. Capitol before a key Senate vote on a reconciliation package that threatens to greatly reduce Medicaid and SNAP benefits to millions of Americans as well as other vital programs.
Pastors were encouraged to invite congregational engagement on Pentecost Sunday, to participate in the vigil, public procession and to bear witness at Capitol Hill through prayer, scripture reading, singing and storytelling. Aiming to center the voices of people experiencing poverty, people of faith across Christian traditions gathered to advocate for justice and a moral budget.
Dressed in robes, collars and stoles, hundreds of clergy from across the country rallied to ask the Senate to reconsider a reconciliation budget bill. The House of Representatives previously passed the bill, which includes tax cuts for the wealthy, increased spending on the military, and significantly reduces spending on essential programs that millions of citizens rely upon each month.
Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of the Faith and Justice Center at Georgetown University, helped organize the rally and march, which coincided with the day of Pentecost. Wallis believes budgets are moral documents, representing values held dear to a person, organization or country. In his opinion, the budget bill fails the test of being a moral document.
Condemning the bill as immoral, leaders at the rally in the Senate park called on Congress to show their support for every American, especially the most vulnerable. They expressed the sentiment that the United States is only as strong as its most vulnerable citizens.
“Creator God, we gather today because we believe deep down in the crevices of our inner beings that there has got to be something better than this,” Rev. Mia McClain, the pastor at Riverside Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., prayed. “We come simply asking that you give us the strength to be your people in this hour. Let that Holy Spirit fire rain down on us today!”
“Here are the grounds of the United States Capitol, this hallowed building that some have dared to call the citadel of democracy, a place where the legislative branch of our government, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and provide for the welfare and the common good of all of the American people,” Rev. Dr. Keith Byrd, the pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Washington D.C. prayed. “Yet, we find today that a great evil has been conspired in these sacred chambers against the very people they have sworn to serve.”
Speakers included Elizabeth Chun Hye (Liz) Lee, the Director of Mobilization and Advocacy for the United Women of Faith; Jeanné Lewis, CEO at Faith in Public Life; Rev. Paul Raushenbush, President and CEO of the Interfaith Alliance; and Rev. Dr. Sharon Fleck, the Executive Director of Faithful America.
Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director of Faith in Action and Dr. Kenyatta Gilbert, Dean of Howard University School of Divinity, also prayed and read scriptures. Rev. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, offered a homily.
“The core principles of Pentecost are about a promise to, the promise of and the power in our sons and daughters,” Wilson said. “Those in the Senate…ought to know about this promise to pour into the next generation, that we have made a promise of social mobility in America. We have decided that each generation should do better than their parents, that it is our responsibility to give them the best of ourselves—and we break the promise!”
Following Jesus’ teachings, Wallis and other clergy called on members of Congress, especially professed Christians, to remember that Jesus taught his followers to care for the least of these. Jesus said in Matthew 25, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
After the rally in the park, clergy marched up the steps of the U.S. Senate to offer more remarks, voice prayers, and sing hymns. As they approached the steps, they were met by Senators Chris Coons, Amy Klobachur, Rafael Warnock, Chuck Schumer and Cory Booker.
Klobachur encouraged her Republican colleagues to “read the Scriptures” for moral clarification on what to do with this budget. Booker roused the crowd, calling the Senate to “stand up for every American” regardless of the size of their bank accounts and who they voted for in the last election.
Episcopal Priest Marrian Budde offered an inspirational prayer, citing Micah 6:8 to the crowd: “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Her words were followed by scheduled Senate meetings to advocate for a moral budget.
Attendees descended the steps peacefully, inspired to continue advocating for the least of these in their communities. Participants were asked to report back to their local congregations and communities the following Sunday but also continue local action in the spirit of Pentecost.
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