Indefatigable activist Wallis
coordinates holy war on poverty
Jim Wallis, founder and driving force behind
Call to Renewal and one of the best-known Christian activists
in the nation, wants to talk you into eradicating poverty. When Wallis speaks, the big shots tend to
listen. He runs national round tables where Christian leaders
can propose ideas, get instant feedback and begin to plot their
next actions. He speaks all over the country, on radio and television,
in churches, schools and virtually anywhere people will listen.
He just won't - actually, he can't - stop because he is convinced
that poverty can be erased and that he has created a movement
that is going to make it happen. "We can't just think ministry anymore,"
Wallis says. "We have to talk about movement. Call to Renewal
is a new table where people can gather. In the past, to get churches
together it was tougher than trying to get the youth gangs to
talk together." But now, for instance, Wallis has brought
together the National Council of Churches and the National Association
of Evangelicals, two large Christian organizations that have never
collaborated in mission. As he talks excitedly about the new alliances,
he'll throw in new mission goals for Habitat for Humanity, World
Vision or Catholic Charities. Then, just as one begins to think
about a short rest, he will launch into housing statistics from
Cleveland or Atlanta, and the hard sell begins again. This is just the way the man works. He has
been a relentless missionary all his adult life working for the
rights of the poor. "I've just been talking with people,"
Wallis says. "And to their credit, they want to come to this
new table. They want to be a part of this movement. "We have all these people working together,"
Wallis said. "We're building round-table discussions all
around the country. And we're working with other faith communities
- Jewish organizations, for instance." Wallis makes his goal clear in his new book,
"Faith Works" (Random House, New York, $23.95), and
clearly says that churches and Christian organizations are needed
if this nation ever expects to wipe out poverty. Wallis has very little faith in political
organizations to destroy the systems that create poverty. In his
new book he tells a joke about a drowning man who is slowly sinking
about 100 feet off shore. The Republicans arrive, throw the man
50 feet of rope and tell him the rest of the rescue will be up
to his own efforts. Then, the Democrats come along, throw the
drowning man 200 feet of rope but drop their own end. That's where religious organizations can
provide much needed help. Most will follow through with consistent
help, and if powerful coalitions can be formed, Wallis believes
the four goals of Call to Renewal can be realized. The first goal is to overcome poverty. The
second is to dismantle racism. Then Wallis wants to rebuild families
and communities. Finally, the broad overarching goal is to protect
the dignity of every person's life. Those are monumental goals, but Wallis believes
they can be achieved. "No organization can do these things
by themselves," Wallis said. "Someone has to pull together
all the different sectors. Without a vision the people perish." Wallis said the contrast between his message
and the pleading of the two presidential candidates is vast. "Gore and Bush are talking about soccer
moms," Wallis said. "I'm talking about a mom working
in a fast-food joint who has to run from table to table and then
in the afternoon she's running back to a table in the corner to
help her kids do their homework. Why can't we have affordable
child care in this country? It's the economic boom time right now, and
it's lifting the yachts but not the boats." Wallis anticipates a question: "And
why don't politicians pay attention to these people? Because poor
people don't vote, and they don't contribute to campaigns." --- For more information on the Call to Renewal
Movement, contact Jim Wallis at 2401 15th St., N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20009. Or call (202) 328-8745.
Clark D. Morphew
Posted For May 27, 2000