The Philadelphia interfaith social justice coalition POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower & Rebuild) will inaugurate a suburban wing known as POWER Metro this Sunday, Feb. 21. The “founding convention” will happen from 3 to 5 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 Main St., Lansdale. Leaders from many houses of worship, including churches, mosques and synagogues, will gather as one non-partisan voice for socio-economic change in their communities.
The Rev. Jeffrey Tatgenhorst, pastor of St. Luke UMC in Bryn Mawr, has been working to invite more UM churches to participate. He will help chair the convention. Members of the new organization met Jan. 10 at Norristown Church of God to discuss and select issues to pursue, while also planning their mobilization efforts. About a dozen United Methodists came from St. Luke and other churches.
POWER Metro will address statewide concerns about public education funding and the need for a higher minimum wage to Gov. Tom Wolf and legislators in Montgomery County. Pennsylvania is one of three states in the U.S. that do not have a standard equitable funding formula for education. The result is varied funding levels across boroughs and inadequate funding in many low-income communities.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the convention. Please let Tatgenhorst know if you plan to attend. Find more information about POWER Metro and the issues they are addressing on their Website. Also download and share this event flyer.
Photo: The Rev. Jeffrey Tatgenhorst (2nd from right) leads a group of UMs in selecting issues to focus on for POWER Metro’s advocacy efforts. John Coleman photo