Glasgow: churches call on Christians to act to end UK poverty
On Saturday, Church Action on Poverty held 'Act For A Change'- a half day conference at St Mary's Episcopalian Cathedral, Glasgow to raise awareness of poverty issues within Scotland and across the UK and to look at ways people of faith can make a difference. Speakers included Bishop Bruce Cameron, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; Graham Blount, Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer; John Miller, former Moderator of The Church of Scotland and parish minister in Castlemilk in Glasgow, who reflected on his experiences of working alongside the people of one Glasgow's poorest communities, and Shona Robison MSP, Shadow Minister for Health and Community Care who responded to the debate. Fr Willie Slavin lead the liturgy. Explaining the reasons for holding the event Alister Blades of Church Action on Poverty said: "At the beginning of the 21st century, poverty is still very much a reality to many people in Scotland. A recent study reported that in Glasgow over 40% of households live in Poverty. We, as Churches and people of faith, cannot stand idly by. We need to stand alongside and work with communities and individual people to develop and campaign for practical solutions to poverty in Scotland and across the UK" Act For A Change-Glasgow was part of a series of events across the UK which aim to raise awareness of poverty issues in the UK and to look at ways people of faith can make a difference. Upcoming dates Gloucester (9 Oct), Birmingham (30 Oct) and Sheffield (20 Nov). Church Action on Poverty is an ecumenical Christian charity. For more information visit: www.church-poverty.org.uk