Christian Communities Call for Swift Government Action to Heal Injuries Inflicted on the People of Flint, Michigan
“But seek the welfare of the city… and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
Christian communities nationwide are expressing grave concern for the residents of Flint, Michigan and the surrounding areas, whose water is contaminated by high levels of lead, and whose voices have gone unheard in our democracy. It has become clear that this public health catastrophe was entirely preventable. Short-sighted cost cutting measures by an unelected emergency city manager have put thousands of people, especially children, at high risk for lead poisoning. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and for children, the impacts can be both severe and irreversible.
We commit to ongoing prayer for the families as they continue to endure tragic and lifelong health impacts. We pray for the newly elected mayor’s ability to craft a new direction for the city of Flint. We also resolve to respond to the moral call to rectify such horrifying injustice.
Christian communities have responded to the crisis swiftly with charitable action. The Week of Compassion ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Global United Fellowship, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Commission on Relief, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have all been working to deliver clean water to Flint residents. However, the water infrastructure remains polluted.
At every level, government must act now to manage the damage. We call on Congress and the Obama Administration to leverage federal resources to ensure the City of Flint can get new, safe water infrastructure as quickly as possible. Flint residents should receive a refund for any polluted water they paid for, and they should not continue to have to pay water bills for water they cannot use. Most importantly, we call on government at every level to support the long-term ability for children who have been poisoned to cope with the health burdens they will bear for the rest of their lives.
Furthermore, we call on the Administration to strengthen the work of the Environmental Justice Division of the Environmental Protection Agency. Government analysis of the problems associated with the Flint water crisis, as well as any government solutions, must not feign “colorblindness” or ignore socio-economic status. According to the U.S. Census, more than half of Flint’s residents self-identify as Black, and forty percent of Flint’s residents live below the poverty line. Nationwide, communities of color are more likely to be exposed to polluted air, land, and water than predominantly white communities. This trend reflects the failure of our democracy to protect communities from market-based decision-making processes that prioritize profit over the health and well-being of people. Every level of government must take decisive action to reverse trends of environmental racism by ensuring community members are meaningfully engaged in all environmental decisions that will impact them, including selecting their water supply.
Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care policies of 38 Christian communions, including Baptist conventions, mainline Protestant, Historically Black Churches, Peace Church, and Orthodox communions. Learn more at www.creationjustice.org
Contact: Shantha Ready Alonso 202-827-3975 shantha@creationjustice.org
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Here is the link to the pdf of the statement that has all the endorsements including words from PC(USA) Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons: http://www.creationjustice.org/uploads/2/5/4/6/25465131/christian_communities_respond_to_flint_water_crisis.pdf