Christian Churches Together (CCT) in the USA has issued a statement calling on the new Obama administration - in addition to church and societal leaders - to make reduction of poverty a top priority. After leaders of CCT met with members of Obama's transition team last month, the ecumenical group issued a "Statement on Poverty," which states that a "renewed commitment to overcome poverty is central to the mission of the church and essential to our unity in Christ."

"We've heard a lot recently about Wall Street and Main Street," said General Minister and President Sharon Watkins, who was part of the coalition of churches. "Our concern is the people who live on the street, or have no street address."

To view a report about the CCT meeting, visit: www.disciples.org/Portals/0/PDF/DNS/2009/20090205-CCTMeetingReport.pdf (PDF). To read CCT's Statement on Poverty, go to: www.christianchurchestogether.org/poverty. To read a press release about the CCT meeting as reported by Religion News Service, go to: pewforum.org/news/rss.php?NewsID=17344