On Sunday June 22, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette included a full-page letter to the state’s Congressional delegation from 169 religious leaders from across faith and political lines urging them to vote against proposed cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funds. Pastor Robert, along with most Presbyterian clergy in Little Rock, was among the signatories.
Open letters to political leaders have a rich history in church advocacy for those on the margins. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, churches like Westover were leaders in putting public pressure on elected officials to take right action regarding integration and voting rights.
The current proposed federal budget would drastically cut funding for SNAP and other food assistance programs that are a key part of the funding for agencies such as Arkansas Food Bank, Stewpot, El Zocalo, and Thrasher Boys and Girls Club as well as subsidized meals for students in the LRSD.
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families initiated the effort that led to the open letter.
