Bishop Hubbard to address "Faith for a Fair NY"

Bishop Howard Hubbard will be on of the featured speakers next month at the 1st Annual "Faith for a Fair NY" Teach-In, to held from noon on October 22nd to 1 p.m. on October 23 at the Dominican Retreat Center, Latham. The event is sponsored by the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State and the New York State Council of Churches.
According to the announcement:

This is an opportunity for people of faith from around the state to network, learn, and take action around issues of social justice. 

Keynote speakers:

Kim Bobo, Executive Director and founder of Interfaith Worker Justice
The Most Rev. Howard Hubbard, Bishop of Albany and long-time economic justice advocate

Participants will choose from workshops covering a diverse range of issues including:

Quality education
Immigration Reform
The Farm Bill and SNAP
Creating living wage communities
Interfaith organizing

Join with people of faith throughout the state to come together to build relationships and work towards meaningful change. Each person plays an important role in the struggle for social justice in New York State, and it is only together that we will fully realize our vision for dignity, equality and economic security for all New Yorkers. I look forward to greeting you at the Retreat Center as together we put our passion into action. 

Costs: $75 for commuters, includes 4 meals
$125 for overnight guests-lodging and 4 meals vegetarian options available at every meal. 

Register by October 15 by sending payment (check made out to Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS) and contact info to:  

The Rev. Brooke Newell 

PO Box 203 

Jay, NY 12941  

Questions? Please call Rev. Newell at 518-946-2573 or email her at brooke@cjgreen.net

Labor-Religion Coalition and the fiscal cliff

The Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State, co-chaired by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, has issued the following statement on the impending "fiscal cliff":　

As the nation faces an austerity crisis (or so-called fiscal cliff), religious communities are highlighting their concern for the individuals and families living at the economic margins. We call on our political leaders to adopt solutions that support the most vulnerable, promote the common good, and establish a fair system of taxation and distribution.
Such solutions must include:
Allowing the Bush era tax cuts for the wealthiest to expire on December 31.
Protecting the social safety net, including social security, medicare and medicaid.
Creating good jobs through investment in education, public transportation infrastructure and other community-building initiatives.
Take Action

Please call your Senators and Congressional Representatives.

You can call them using this toll-free number: 888-659-9401
Tell them to eliminate the tax cuts to the wealthiest 2% in our nation and fund social safety-net programs that allow people to live in dignity.

An interfaith prayer service to raise the minimum wage

Please join us on Wednesday, June 13, for an interfaith prayer service to raise the minimum wage.

The Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State and its many allies have collected 500 faith leader and clergy signatures demanding a raise in the minimum wage this year. They will hold a prayerful service on the Million Dollar Staircase in the state Capitol and deliver the letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office. The group will gather at Westminster Presbyterian Church (85 Chestnut Street in Albany) at 11:15 a.m. for an 11:30 a.m. procession to the Capitol.

The prayer service will begin at noon on the Million Dollar Staircase. (From the State Street entrance, make a left. From the Washington Avenue entrance, make a right.)

The New York State Bishops’ Statement on the Minimum Wage is here.