Faith, Social Justice, and Public Policy

Gary Maring, a progressive person of faith, discusses key social justice policy issues of the day such as economic inequality, poverty, homelessness, human rights, health care, peacemaking, and environmental stewardship which need support from the progressive faith, spiritual, and secular communities. He says we need to rediscover a passion and a moral call to action among these communities. Otherwise we let the Religious Right and their political supporters dominate the media and move our country backward on social justice issues. Finally he says, we need a call to compassion and justice the common tenets of most religious traditions. Mr. Maring brings significant credibility on social justice issues as one of the founders of N Street Village, a comprehensive transition home for homeless women now serving more than 60 percent of the population of homeless women in D.C. As a founder and a current Board member of N Street Village, Gary Maring shares the experience of seeking biblical justice in an urban congregation's challenged community. Opening the doors to the homeless, by his DC church, Luther Place, came to be seen by many as the essence of faith-based response to the critical needs of the community. The diverse interreligious and secular base of supporters continues to this day helping to live out the concepts of hospitality and shalom (peace with justice) in service at N Street Village. Mr. Maring makes the important observation that churches are the largest beneficiary of charitable giving and they have tremendous property and other financial resources which can be pooled with government and private resources to create community social justice programs on a significant scale as was done with N Street Village, a $20 million public-private partnership development. Mr. Maring also offers an extensive bibliography of progressive theologians and shares their insight regarding the biblical call for social justice, the transformation occurring in institutional religion, and the role of faith in public policy.