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Plymouth UCC shows ‘Inequality for All’

Plymouth UCC and All Pilgrims churches will show the documentary, “Inequality for All,” at 1:30 p.m. after a 12:30 p.m. lunch on Sunday, March 30, at Plymouth in Seattle.

Briana Frenchmore and Jenn Hagedorn at a hearing in Seattle. Photo courtesy of Jenn Hagedorn

In the film, Robert Reich, professor, author and member of the Clinton cabinet, explains how the consolidation of wealth by a few threatens the American work force and the foundation of democracy.  He explains how economic inequality affects everyone.

Jenn Hagedorn, social justice liaison at Plymouth, said the film is being shown as an educational event related to the resolution being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting on the living wage.

She is working with Briana Frenchmore, one of three 2013-2014 Justice Leadership Young Adult interns, who is serving with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, assisting with its living wage ministry.

“I hope we will generate more interest and collaboration among UCC congregations on the issue of economic inequities,” she said.

Jenn, who grew up in Northshore UCC in Woodinville, was a justice leadership young adult intern with the CCGS last year, working with Plymouth, as Briana is this year.  Jenn is now also working on a master’s degree in public health in studies at the University of Washington.

After showing the documentary, there will be a panel discussion with Nick Hanauer, a venture capitalist in Seattle, Conference Minister Mike Denton and Jaime Marwaha, organize with Unite HERE Local 8.

Plymouth has signed the CCGS’s Living Wage Principles, which are the basis for a resolution on the living wage being proposed by the Justice Witness Ministry Committee for Annual Meeting. 

Plymouth has also formed a Living Wage Ministry Team, which first met Feb. 9.

That team, Jenn said, seeks to be a resource for other UCC congregations that want to adopt living wage principles or start living wage ministries.

Two components of the ministry are 1) to discern how Plymouth will be accountable and work for systemic change, and 2) to offer education on how faith informs this work.

“We are discerning where our energy will go,” she said.

Briana, who is working on the living wage, economic justice and immigration campaigns with the CCGS encourages  people of faith to advocate for these issues.

She said the CCGS is starting a Living Wage Banner Campaign, asking churches to put up an outside banner that says, “Living Wage?” to encourage discussion in congregations and with the community.

In global studies at Pacific Lutheran University, Briana’s focus was on social justice and development.

“This is a real life application of theories and critiques I studied in the context of changing Seattle’s policies,” she said.

“A living wage has many implications for low-wage people and their families,” she said.  “I believe the faith community has a role in advocating for a living wage to create a more livable community, in which people would not need charitable assistance but be able to lead lives of dignity with access to healthful food, child care, affordable housing, education and transportation.”

Briana sees intersections of the living wage with racial and gender inequities, because more of the low-wage workers are women, immigrant women and women of color.

At Plymouth, she is also working with a member seeking to find companions for unaccompanied immigrant minors. 

With the CCGS, she is helping coordinate efforts related to a February through April  Fast for Immigrant Families, urging members of congregations to speak with members of Congress about immigration.

For information, call 206-525-1213 ext. 106 or 206-265-2834, or email b.frenchmore@thechurchcouncil.org or jenniferlin44@hotmail.com.

 

February March 2014 © Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ Conference News

 

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