Jesus said: “Would anyone among you offer your child a stone instead of bread, or a snake instead of fish? If you know how to give your children what is good for them, how much more will our loving God give good things to those who ask!”

(Matthew 7:9–11 paraphrased)

Tools for Action

Bread Not Stones has tools to encourage and enable communities of faith to pray, learn, and act toward eradicating child poverty in their local regions.

These Tools Inform

These tools inform all readers by providing background information on child poverty in Canada as well as links to further resources to help readers find out more about child poverty in their own regions. In addition, the tools include resources to connect United Church congregations, community and social justice ministries, and Canadian and global partners.

These Tools Assist

These tools assist communities that are being called to respond to this issue in their own unique ways. Many churches recognize the existence of child poverty in their own local community and wonder what to do about it. These tools will assist in discerning faithful, appropriate, timely, and effective responses.

These Tools Are a Response

The 41st General Council (2012) of The United Church of Canada (UCC) directed the Executive of the General Council to develop strategies to enable all members and adherents of the UCC to take action in collaboration with all levels of government, the business community, and the community of non-profit organizations and partners to address child poverty in Canada. The General Council was directed to embrace the opportunity to encourage every Conference, presbytery, district, presbyterial, and congregation to advocate for:

• the development of long-term provincial and national strategies for reducing poverty while increasing social inclusion; and
• the development of poverty reduction strategies where measurable targets, time frames, transparency, accountability, and progress assessment measures are among elements given serious consideration

The United Church has been active in the public arena—including elections—since its earliest days. The founders of this church believed that ours is a living faith and witness to the ministry of Jesus Christ that is expressed in active, thoughtful involvement in society. It is important for people of faith to bring forward the consistent message that every individual must be cherished and included, and that the earth must be carefully tended. Our combined voices have greater impact when we work together.

Background

Child Poverty in Canada

Children are not an isolated group, and poverty is not an isolated issue. Child poverty needs to be addressed through an approach that supports the whole family. The gospels tell us that Jesus valued children and their place in the community. However, still today, children are among the most vulnerable people in our society.

The most recent statistics indicate that one in seven children lives in poverty (1). More children and their families live in poverty as of 2011 than they did in 1989 when the House of Commons unanimously resolved to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. When it comes to child poverty, Canada ranks 24th of 35 industrialized countries.

Poverty among Racialized and Indigenous Children

Racialized (2) communities face high levels of poverty. The 2006 Census showed that the poverty rate for non-racialized persons was 9 percent while it was 22 percent for racialized persons (3), and 40 percent for Indigenous children (4).

Poverty in racialized communities is also a growing problem. The problem is especially severe among more recent immigrants, the vast majority of whom belong to racialized groups. In general, over the past two decades poverty rates have been rising among immigrants and fallen among the Canadian born (5).

Children of immigrants, a lone woman parent, of racialized families, of Aboriginal identity, and those with a disability are at a higher risk for poverty. Children from these groups are more likely to live in poverty than all children (6).

A Reflection on Child Poverty

(Estimated time: 10–15 min.)

Supplies: Hymn books (if you choose to sing), a Bible

Bible Reading: Mark 7:24–30

Then share the following reflection.

Charity Is Not Enough

Shortly after protesting child poverty on the frigid steps of the Alberta Legislature with 100 other United Church people, three of us met with the minister responsible for children. We asked if the government would provide hungry kids with a free lunch. The minister seemed bewildered by the question. “You mean all children?” We suggested he could begin with the hungry ones.

Shortly after, I visited a school in Ndilo, Northwest Territories. “Do you have hungry students here?” I asked the principal. “No,” she replied, “our staff cook makes breakfast and lunch, although kids can bring their own if they prefer.” If Northwest Territories can do it, why can’t the wealthiest province in Canada?

Hungry students cannot learn, sparkle, or behave in their own best interests. They are at risk of academic failure and poor health—not news to anyone with common sense. Yet many Canadian students are hungry. People say it’s the parents’ responsibility. But if parents cannot fulfill that responsibility, should we stand by? The fact is there are not enough volunteers to take over the job. Charity is not enough.

In 1989, the Canadian government promised to eliminate child poverty by 2000. We failed. Why? Because we’re in denial, we want someone else to fix this, and because we don’t place children’s wellbeing at the forefront of public policy. In 2012, the United Nations child advocacy agency ranked Canada 18th out of 35 industrialized countries when child poverty rates are compared with overall poverty rates. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel to correct this. We can learn from Scandinavia, Japan, and Ireland. We can learn from the village of Ndilo.

The Child Well-Being Initiative was started in 2006 by Alberta Northwest Conference United Church Women who learned about hungry students, homeless children sleeping in churches, and the 91,000 children living in poverty in their rich province. Since then, the women have raised public awareness, petitioned government, written letters, and demonstrated.

It is encouraging to learn about the school in Ndilo and to learn of the school principal in Lethbridge, Alberta, where in addition to dealing with report cards, she buys groceries and organizes volunteer teams to help feed her hungry students. Although there are volunteers everywhere who help, charity is Taking Action to End Child Poverty (7) obviously not enough to help all impoverished Canadian children. We need the political will to turn this world around for kids.

-Carolyn Pogue

Discuss

• What question could you ask your reeve, chief, mayor, member of the legislature, and member of parliament that would help them understand the urgency of child poverty?
• Jesus commands us to put love in action. Where do you see this carried out in your community?

Pray This Prayer Together

God of all children,
we stand before you bewildered by the fact of child poverty.
We stand in frustration and shame that students are hungry,
that homeless children sleep in cars and church basements because we don’t provide meals at school, nor build enough affordable housing.
Strengthen us to honour and care for the children in our communities.
Help us to place the best interests of children first.
In the name of your child, Jesus.
Amen.

Sing: “When I Needed a Neighbour” (Voices United 600) and “Who Is My Mother” (More Voices 178)

Special Sundays

Most Canadian poverty organizations and many congregations mark one or both of these international days with some sort of activity or action to either raise awareness or advocate for systemic changes.

Consider either developing an action for these days or drawing attention and encouraging action on partner initiated activities. These resources can help you plan special Sundays and other events:

a) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – October 17
• United Church of Canada www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons
• United Nations www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-day-for-povertyeradication
b) International Day of the Child – November 20
• United Church of Canada www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/children
• United Nations www.un.org/en/events/childrenday/

Remembering Hungry Children

(Estimated time: 20–30 min.)

Supplies: Hymn books (if you choose to sing), a Bible (different translations), paper dolls (a chain of 14 for each
participant and one extra set), pen, and markers

Opening Prayer

(sing to tune for “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

We gather round in this holy space,
holy space, filled with grace.
We gather round in this holy space,
to do as Jesus taught us.(7)
-B. Ogden, 2002

Bible Reading: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12)

Reflection

For most, the words of the Beatitudes are familiar; many of us can probably recite them from memory…

But words can become divorced from meaning. They can be abstracted and used for a million mundane purposes. They can be pasted into advertisements and mission statements of multinationals.

They can become like veneer glued to plastic to give it the appearance of fine carpentry. Or they can be obscured by a fog of assumptions that makes them illegible. Like wearing someone else’s thick glasses.

Perhaps some words are overly venerated—locked away in glass cases—filled and categorised and cross referenced. Pinned like a lifeless butterfly.

But these words—it seems to me that every generation needs to discover them anew. They contain something so wonderful, so powerful, that they are dangerous.

Like dynamite.

Here are the words of Jesus, spoken to his friends. Given as a means to shape their engagement with the present-future Kingdom of God.

Words that turned everything upside down.

Subversive, revolutionary words.

Beautiful, hope-filled, wonderful words.

May they find their way to the middle of you …”(8)

-Chris Goan, Poost, 2009

Listen again to the words of Jesus…

Read:  Matthew 5:1–12 (You might read from a different translation or a paraphrase of your own.)

Discuss:

• What does it mean to call something or someone blessed? What or who are considered blessed in your community? How are they treated? How do you think God would have us treat them?
• The poor, the poor in spirit, the persecuted, those who mourn…if Jesus were here today who else might he add to this list?

Group Responses

Children are precious, yet 14 percent of children in Canada live in poverty. They are poor, persecuted, in mourning; and they are among the people whom we are to consider blessed.

Make a string of 14 paper dolls for each participant (9). Explain that the 14 dolls represent the 14 percent of children in Canada living in poverty, then invite participants to spend some time in quiet reflection with their paper dolls, asking themselves:

• Do I know of children in my community living in poverty? (Participants may be acquainted with several but do not know it.)
• What might child poverty look like in my community?
• How might it be different in other parts of Canada?

On an extra set of dolls (or one side of the participants’ set of dolls) write (or ask the participants to write) the following statements (one statement per doll) and read them aloud.

• I don’t eat three meals a day.
• I don’t eat protein every day.
• I don’t eat fresh fruits or vegetables every day.
• I don’t have any appropriate books to read.
• I have nothing to play with outside.
• I don’t get to join after-school activities with my friends.
• I don’t have anything to play with.
• I am not able to participate in school trips that cost money.
• I don’t have a quiet place to do my homework.
• I do not have access to the Internet.
• I never get new clothes.
• If my shoes get wet, I don’t have a second pair.
• I can’t invite friends over to my house to play.
• I don’t get to celebrate special occasions like my birthday.(10)

Ask participants to write similar statements on their own dolls (or the reverse side of the dolls) drawn from their own experience of what child poverty looks like or might look like in their community. Once everyone has written their statements, conclude the time with a song and community prayer.

Sing: “Jesus Loves Me” (Voices United 365)

During the song, link the chains of paper dolls together and use them to encircle your gathering space or worship centre as a visual and physical reminder of the children whom we are called to love.

Community Prayer

Holy Mystery,
You speak to us words of comfort and
words of challenge,
words that are subversive, powerful, explosive, and sometimes confusing.
You call the meek, the physically weak, and the downtrodden fortunate,
and you promise that the hungry will be fed
and the thirsty will be given something to drink.
Yet we are surrounded by stories of children who are living in poverty.
Children who:
do not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables
(add examples generated from the group response).

We pray for these children, Holy Mystery, especially those unknown to us.
We long to see suffering children experience comfort;
we desire that all children who are hungry be fed.
And we acknowledge that we cannot meet these requests on our own.
We need to work with many others (locally, regionally, provincially, and federally) and we need your Holy Grace.

So with the help and support of each other, and by your grace, we trust in the promise that has been given to us through Jesus that:

He is with always; we are never alone.

With this assurance, God, we pray for the children living in poverty in Canada and the families who struggle to support them… In their suffering, may they be soothed by the words of Christ and by the assurance of the coming Kingdom.

We pray also, God, for those who are actively working toward eliminating child poverty in Canada such as (name communities, people, and social service agencies in your community). In their work, may they be encouraged and supported by the witness of Christ’s followers.

We pray that your Kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.

And ask that you help us all to be good stewards of our unique and individual gifts by responding to the needs around us with your vision, so that one day:
the poor in spirit may know the kingdom of God,
those who mourn may be comforted,
the meek may inherit what is theirs,
and no child will live in poverty.

We gather these prayers together in the prayer that Jesus taught us …(11)
-Alydia Smith

Prayer of Jesus

Our dear God, who lives in heaven,
your name is very, very special and great.
You look after everyone who has died and everyone alive.
We want to live here on earth, with you,
just like you live in heaven.
Please give us all that we need to survive.
Sorry for all we’ve done wrong—please forgive us.
We will forgive everyone what has done wrong to us.
Please stop us wanting to do bad things and don’t let anything bad hurt us or make us want to fight back.
Help us to remember that you made this planet,
and us, and everything else on it.
You are in charge of the world and will be for ever.
Amen.(12)
– Jack, India, and Harry of the Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle, Elson

Closing Song: “May God’s Sheltering Wings” (More Voices 214)

Learn

Growing Income Inequality in Canada

The 2011 Occupy Movement highlighted increasing inequity in Canada and the world over. Many United Church of Canada (UCC) members supported and participated in the movement that raised awareness of how wealth is concentrated in fewer hands while the number of those living in poverty is increasing.

At the same time, investment in the common good (social security) is eroding. This increased awareness emphasizes the need for the United Church to develop a strategy to eradicate child poverty by addressing systemic causes.

A lot of work on child poverty exists. Many UCC global and Canadian partners and members have already started to focus their work on child poverty issues. Campaign 2000 produces a yearly Report Card on Child and Family Poverty (www.campaign2000.ca/reportCards/national/2013C2000NATIONALREPORTCARDNOV26.pdf). In 2011 the report noted that poverty has continued to persist even after two decades of the organization’s work. The 2011 Report Card states:

As Campaign 2000 issues its 20th monitoring report on child and family poverty, we are struck by the lack of progress over two decades. The economy has more than doubled in size, yet the incomes of families in the lowest decile have virtually stagnated. The gap between rich and poor families has continued to widen, leaving average-income families also struggling to keep up. (Campaign 2000: 2012)

The Broadbent Institute released Towards a More Equal Canada: A Report on Canada’s Economic & Social Inequality (www.broadbentinstitute.ca/sites/default/files/documents/brod_equalityen.pdf)—a tool to stimulate discussion. The study is framed around a poll that found that approximately 77 percent of Canadians find inequality a problem, over 70 percent support increasing corporate taxes, and a larger number still support increasing taxes for the richest Canadians. The Report details how when it comes to income inequality over the last 20 years, the majority of Canadians have seen more losses than benefits. (Broadbent: 2012)

The Broadbent Institute, Campaign 2000, UCC members, and other Canadian partners all provide ideas and strategies that will help the church to fulfill the General Council resolution.

Strategic Directions

Any plan for eradicating child poverty in Canada needs to contain broad strategies including key recommendations on child benefits, early childhood education, child care, Employment Insurance, federal work tax credits, a living minimum wage, a long-term national housing strategy, Aboriginal rights, immigration, access to service, racism, refugee policy, and employment equity.

The United Church collaborates with a number of Canadian ecumenical, interfaith, and civil society partners working on poverty issues. Therefore, a level of involvement already exists that includes: sign-on letters, information dissemination, supporting campaigns of others, participation in campaigns, as well as initiating campaigns.

The existing Child Well-Being Initiative (CWBI) started by the Alberta and Northwest Conference United Church Women (UCW), provides an exciting model of a movement that has involved congregational members in a campaign that emphasizes the root causes of poverty in Canada. We have an opportunity here to support and expand the CWBI nationally.

The following list gives information about this UCW initiative, plus other existing initiatives, campaigns, and/or movements that tackle child poverty and systemic injustice.

1. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Canada is subject to Periodic Reviews before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. These reviews provide an opportunity to collaborate with existing partners like KAIROS and Campaign 2000, both of which produce and submit Shadow Reports with recommendations to the committee.

The KAIROS report (see no. 6 on page 14) focuses primarily on Aboriginal children. In between committee sessions, KAIROS continues its advocacy and monitoring.

Campaign 2000 also produces a report that encompasses all of Canada, but also pays specific attention to the situation of poverty in Aboriginal communities. The UN Periodic Review offers an opportunity for focused advocacy at the level of the UN. As a signatory, Canada is required to respond to questions put before it by the UN Committee, but any recommendations arising out of the UN findings are just that—recommendations that are not binding or enforceable.

2. Bill C-233: The Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada

Bill C-233 is a private member’s bill that arose in the House of Commons out of the lack of action on child poverty, despite the 1989 all-party resolution to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000, and the 2009 unanimous motion that was to develop a plan to eliminate all poverty in Canada.

Campaign 2000, Canada Without Poverty (www.cwp-csp.ca), and Make Poverty History have developed an Advocacy Campaign centred on Bill C-233. People are encouraged to contact their MPs to support the passing of this bill and to sign a petition calling for action. This campaign is a natural complement to the Child Well-Being Initiative.

3. Dignity for All Campaign

Dignity for All campaign (www.dignityforall.ca), sponsored by the UCC and organized by UCC partners—Canada Without Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice—calls upon the federal government to take action to eliminate the structural causes of poverty in Canada. The campaign advocates for:

• a federal plan for poverty elimination that complements provincial and territorial plans
• a federal anti-poverty act that ensures enduring federal commitment and accountability for results
• sufficient investment in social security for all Canadians

This campaign involves signing on to a petition with these demands, and campaign organizers suggest that signatories distribute postcards that can be used for further advocacy with the federal government. The campaign is ongoing. It is also supported the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry (a UCC community and social justice ministry).

4. Make Poverty History

The Make Poverty History campaign (www.makepovertyhistory.ca) was launched in February 2005 with the support of a wide cross-section of public interest and faith groups, trade unions, international development agencies, students, academics, and literary, artistic, and sports leaders. Make Poverty History is part of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP).

5. Citizens for Public Justice

UCC partner Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) (www.cpj.ca) is a national organization that advocates, campaigns, and researches poverty in Canada from a faith-based perspective.

A key piece of work that CPJ undertakes is to produce a variety of reports, report cards, and other research pieces that contain recommendations for action to eradicate poverty. For example, in anticipation of federal budgets, CPJ will produce reports with clear recommendations. Moments like these could provide an opportunity for the UCC to encourage members to take the report and its recommendations to its local MPs, as well as actively participate in CPJ requests for action, including awareness-raising activities and advocacy initiatives.

A useful resource for study groups and worship is CPJ’s Living Justice: A Global Response to Poverty (www. cpj.ca/living-justice-gospel-response-poverty).

6. KAIROS Canada

KAIROS: Canada (www.kairoscanada.org) is a coalition of Canadian churches, church-based agencies, and religious organizations dedicated to promoting human rights, justice and peace, viable human development, and universal solidarity among all people. Link with KAIROS work on “Honouring the Children” UN Rights of the Child and Aboriginal children (see www.kairoscanada.org/dignity-rights/ indigenous-rights/honouring-the-children).

See also Poverty, Wealth and Ecology in Canada: A Study for the Alternative Globalization Addressing People and the Earth (AGAPE), World Council of Churches (www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ SUS-CJ-11-10-PovertyWealthEcology.pdf).

7. Child Well-Being Initiative

The Child Well-Being Initiative (CWBI) is a project of the Alberta and Northwest Conference United Church Women (UCW) whose members were and continue to be outraged by the number of children in poverty in such a rich province. This same Conference drafted the General Council Resolution for GC 41 (see page 4).

On November 18, 2010, a date close to the International Day of the Child, United Church Women and others descended upon the Alberta Legislature with 83 specially made dolls—one for each member of the legislature. Attached to each doll was a tag that listed child poverty statistics and made recommendations Taking Action to End Child Poverty 15 to end child poverty in Alberta. In addition, they delivered a petition to the legislature that spoke to systemic issues of inequality in our society: the lack of affordable housing, a living wage, food security, and public child care. The petition has been tabled in the legislature by a sympathetic MLA. Since then, members of the UCW continue to sew and deliver rag dolls to prominent people across the country as a continued reminder of the need to address child poverty. (See page 29 for details of the doll.)

The Alberta and Northwest UCW members have continued their advocacy campaign. Two years later, in November 2012, the UCW women returned to the Alberta provincial legislature with 70,000 paper dolls to depict every child living in poverty in Alberta. The Child Well-Being Initiative is raising awareness about this emergency, asking for government action, and seeking support and prayers. The campaigners hold press conferences and work with MLAs to advocate for an end to child poverty in Alberta.

The campaign is exciting on many fronts! Firstly, it is a long-term campaign that is rooted in addressing systemic issues of injustice. Secondly, it is a creative campaign that uses a unique way to gain attention and awareness about poverty in Canada and the need for action. Thirdly, it is distinctly UCC. The UCW in Alberta have embraced and taken on this activity with energy and enthusiasm. They are an important sector of society—the people in the pews—from which government rarely hears. It makes the entire campaign that much more powerful.

Next Steps: Encourage UCW presidents and members and congregations church-wide to take the model of the Alberta and Northwest Conference UCW Child Well-Being Initiative forward into a national campaign prior to the next federal election period.

Additional Resources

• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Poverty or Prosperity: Indigenous Children in Canada (http://savethechildren.ca/document.doc?id=361)

• Citizens for Public Justice resources:

Poverty Trends Highlights: Canada 2013 (www.cpj.ca/poverty-trends-highlights-canada-2013-report)
Making Ends Meet (www.cpj.ca/making-ends-meet-report)
Poverty at Your Doorstep (www.cpj.ca/poverty-your-doorstep)
Take Action: Poverty Suggestions for political engagement, personal or small-group education, and spreading the word (www.cpj.ca/take-action-poverty).
Income, Wealth, and Inequality (www.cpj.ca/income-wealth-and-inequality)

• Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, The State of Homelessness in Canada (www.homelesshub.ca/ResourceFiles/SOHC2103.pdf)

• Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC): Faith Communities in Action Against Poverty (http://isarc.ca). ISARC represents the solidarity of the diverse faith communities in Ontario engaged in advocacy efforts for the elimination of poverty in Ontario.

• UNICEF Canada, Measuring Child Poverty (www.unicef.ca/en/discover/article/unicef-report-card-10#Issues)

• Connect local, regional, and national poverty issues to situations faced by global partners (see Extra Measures at ww.united-church.ca/getinvolved/global/extra-measures).

• Check out Mandate magazine, November 2014 (www.ucrdstore.ca/magazines/mandate) for a workshop on child poverty.

ACT

Download the resource below for practical ways you can engage your community and government to help combat child poverty in Canada. Starting on page 16, this resource lists practical actions, outlines steps, provides templates, and more.

1 Canada’s Real Economic Action Plan begins with Poverty Eradication, 2013 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada, Campaign 2000, Family Service Toronto.
2 “Racialized people is a term used to indicate that race is socially constructed rather than an inherent physical identity that one is born with. It also draws attention to the fact that in racist systems, people seen as White are often regarded as ‘neutral’ or having no ‘markings’ of race. The term refers to people who are viewed as different from the status quo or unequal.” (Ending Racial Harassment, The United Church of Canada 2008 pg. 5)
3 Poverty Profile: Special Edition, A Snapshot of Racialized Poverty in Canada, National Council of Welfare, 2012.
4 Poverty or Prosperity: Indigenous Children in Canada, June 2013, The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Save the Children.
5 Picot, Garnett and Feng Hou. The rise in low income rates among immigrants in Canada. Statistics Canada Catalogue no.11F0019MIE2003198, June 2003.
6 Needed: A Federal Action Plan to Eradicate Child and Family Poverty in Canada, 2012 Report Card on Child Poverty in Canada, Campaign 2000, Family Service Toronto.
7 By Brian Odgen, from Nursery Rhyme Nativities, published by Barnabas for Children 2011, www.brfonline.org.uk, used by permission.
8 Used by permission. Poost (www.proost.co.uk) and Chris Goan from “Learning to Love.”
9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYXxoVbPzqI
10 Statements are based on the 14 Measurements on Quality of Life from UNICEF www.unicef.ca/sites/default/files/imce_uploads/DISCOVER/OUR%20WORK/ADVOCACY/DOMESTIC/POLICY%20ADVOCACY/DOCS/unicefreportcard10-eng.pdf.
11 Reproduced with permission.
12 By Jack, India, and Harry of the parish of St Thomas the Apostle, Elson, Gosport, UK. Taken from Creative Ideas for Sacramental Worship with Children by Simon Rundell (Canterbury Press, UK: 2011), p. 60.