Eleven presidential candidates sent short videos on their approach to ending poverty and hunger to the Christian organization Circle of Protection.
Three candidates failed to submit videos – Donald Trump, Rand Paul and Chris Christie.
The Circle of Protection sent a letter from 100 Christian leaders to all 2016 candidates asking for three-minute videos on what they “would do as president to offer help and opportunity to hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world.”
The letter read in part: “As national leaders from all the major branches of Christianity, we care deeply about many issues facing our country, but ending hunger and poverty is a top priority of our work together. We are praying for a president who will make ending hunger and poverty a top priority of his or her administration. Are you that leader?”
Baptist signatories included Leith Anderson, president, National Association of Evangelicals; Gary Cook, president, Dallas Baptist University; David Goatley, executive director, Lott Carey Convention; Randall O’Brien, president, Carson-Newman College; Virginia Holmstrom, executive director, American Baptist Women’s Ministries, American Baptist Churches, USA; Suzii Paynter, executive coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; Julius Scruggs, president, National Baptist Convention; and Sam Tolbert, president, National Baptist Convention of America Inc.
“Responding presidential candidates demonstrated their concern about poverty and hunger. While their analyses of the problem and solutions may differ, at least these individuals see the impoverished and hungry as critical concerns,” said Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics and a letter signatory.
“That’s an encouraging sign,” he said. “Let’s hope we have a vigorous, civil political discussion about how we as a nation prioritize one of God’s deepest concerns.”
The Circle of Protection is a nonpartisan, multi-denominational affiliation of organizations and individuals.
