This is another post in a series examining social and economic disparities. The prior three posts focused on health disparities and the underlying social determinants driving adverse health outcomes among specific population subgroups. To better contextualize the information presented here, I recommend reading the prior posts in order as my thinking has evolved over the weeks I’ve been working to better understand the why, the what, and ultimately, the how regarding a response from a Christian perspective.
In a June 2020 editorial entitled, Where will Houston go from here, Stephen Klineberg, founder of the Kinder Institute, highlights a number of local initiatives that should portend a more prosperous economic future and quality of life for Houstonians. But after an optimistic beginning Klineberg pauses and asks: “The question is whether all these efforts are going to be a story of too little, too late.”
Klienberg’s caution arises from an awareness of increasing inequality manifest in a number areas; with regard to a widening educational gap he asks, “What happens to a city when a growing number of its citizens are unable to participate meaningfully in the economy, becoming increasingly impoverished and desperate?”
Klineberg cites other mounting problems in Houston besides the burgeoning gap in access to quality education, including growing pockets of concentrated poverty; homelessness and despair; the persistence of environmental racism; the region’s increasing vulnerability to flooding; its position as a hub for human trafficking.
Inequality - How It Defines a Society
Klineberg’s concerns are relevant not only to those who live in, or are slipping into poverty, but predictably to our society at-large. The differences in wealth based on education (and other social attributes) that have evolved over the last few decades are striking and graphically illustrated by the data presented on the Federal Reserve interactive website. It is legitimate to posit that social inequality is inevitable, and many would agree with the assertion. However, the degree of inequality is the more concerning issue as it is strongly correlated with the overall prosperity and health of a society.
In a book titled, The Spirit Level. Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger, by Wilkinson and Pickett, the authors make the compelling case that a society that reduces the degree of inequity between the upper and lower 20% of its members fares better overall. Using numerous data sources the authors highlight the "pernicious effects that inequality has on societies: eroding trust, increasing anxiety and illness, and encouraging excessive consumption". They also show that for each of eleven different health and social issues, outcomes are significantly worse in wealthier countries with extreme income disparities.
Health & Social Issues Affected by Extreme Income Disparities: physical and mental health, drug abuse, education, imprisonment, obesity, social mobility, trust & community life, violence, teen pregnancy and child well-being.
It is noteworthy that social mobility, otherwise known as the "American Dream", is included among the social issues affected by extremes in income disparity. This is an important measure as it allows assessment of economic resources over time in addition to point-in-times measures of wealth and or income. In a brief article entitled, Income Inequality Matters, but Mobility is Just as Important, Carrol and Chen report that, "mobility over time [1970-2010] in the top and bottom quintiles is low with approximately 70% in each quintile showing no change". The article also includes data from Coark that parallels the findings of Wilkinson and Picket demonstrating that intergenerational mobility is inversely correlated with increasing income inequality.
It may be surprising to learn that the income gap between the richest and poorest 20% in America is exceeded only by Singapore; approximately a factor 8.5 versus 9.5 respectively. And of note to those of us who live in Texas, our state ranks among the top ten states with the largest income gap between the richest and poorest, relative to the other forty states.
When assessing inequality, it is important to recognize that focusing on wealth and relative income is simply an objective measure that has been found to correlate with real-world outcomes experienced by individuals, families or groups; no value judgment on the acquisition of wealth is intended. Nevertheless, if in fact there are negative social consequences associated with extreme disparities in wealth, it is important and incumbent on all citizens, especially Christ-followers, to be aware of those consequences and to understand how to mitigate them; for citizens in general, because a healthy society benefits all, and for Christians in particular, because we are called to love and care for our neighbor.
Health Outcomes: Only One Dimension of Disparity
I began this series of posts focusing on Health Disparities with the understanding that the problem is complex and that any impactful solution must address multiple dimensions of our shared community life. In the course of my continuing study it is clear that health outcomes are included in, and part of a broader range of social concerns that include trust and community life, violence, social mobility, incarceration and child well-being, In other words, adverse health outcomes are only one manifestation of the consequences of extremes in wealth disparity and the inevitable social faulty lines that result.
If reducing wealth disparity in America can mitigate the degree of social ills listed above, including health disparities, are there feasible, realistic opportunities available? Clearly, as individuals, and even as a parish, we do not have the ability to affect large-scale, meaningful change with regard to wealth disparity. As such, there are three important aspects of the challenges that need to be considered. First, acting at the local level in one’s own community is the only rational and realistic way to begin. Second, there are ways to reduce wealth disparities in a local community that do not involve wresting financial resources from one group to give to another, e.g., investing in the creation of communities of opportunity; investing in organizations and community resources that provide pathways out of poverty for individuals and families; literally investing ourselves, as well as our resources in the welfare of our neighbors. And lastly, any strategy, regardless of focus, must guard the dignity of each and every person we encounter in our effort to serve in the name of Christ.
Focusing and Prioritizing Our Efforts
Based on my review of the issues contributing to adverse social outcomes enumerated here, I am led to prioritize three areas of investment that have the potential to reduce wealth disparities: (1) ensuring uniform equality of, and access to education, and improving education outcomes; (2) increasing training that results in an increase in skilled workers and overall employment at a living wage; (3) providing affordable housing in safe urban areas adjacent to or reasonably near employers. Thoughtful investment and advocacy in these three areas in our local community should have the effect of improving incomes and ultimately wealth for the individuals and families at the bottom of the income scale.
Concluding Comments
St. John the Divine has been reimagining how our congregation will take the life, love and light of Christ into the world. It is noteworthy that the GO Leadership Team, a newly constituted group helping define and direct the GO ministry, has arrived at employment, housing and education as priorities for investment of our financial and human resources beginning in 2021.
Lastly, I want to emphasize the importance of parishioner involvement with GOing into the world. Participating in mission, whether local or foreign, in the name of Christ is evidence of a maturing community of disciples, and expression of a spirituality that realizes the vital importance of participating in the redemptive work begun by our Lord Jesus, and ultimately delegated to his Church. Mission is not simply another activity among many. To put it emphatically, the Church exists for mission; being faithful to Christ means embracing this calling day in and day out.
Bless us Lord as we strive to be faithful to your mission. Pray without ceasing for God’s will to be done here on earth, even as it is realized in heaven. Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen
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