The Diocese of Olympia is pleased to introduce Aaron Scott as the new Missioner for Anti-Poverty Organizing for the Diocese of Olympia. Aaron begins this position on March 1st. He will continue his current position at Chaplains on the Harbor but will add this title to his ongoing organizing and consulting work on our behalf.
Aaron Scott is currently the organizer on staff at Chaplains on the Harbor. He serves on the National Steering Committee for the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, with The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber and The Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis. Aaron has worked in poor people’s organizing, popular education, and social movement building for the past twelve years. He holds a Masters degree from Union Theological Seminary in Biblical Studies and has been trained as an organizer by tent city residents, welfare recipients, and incarcerated people. Aaron is a second-generation preacher, a third-generation organizer, married to the Rev. Shelly Fayette, and proud papa to baby Moses.
Aaron is available to consult with leaders and congregations around building relationships and organizing with homeless people, incarcerated people, and all those directly impacted by poverty.
You can contact Aaron through the Office of the Bishop or directly at aaronpetryscott@gmail.com.
Please join us in welcoming Aaron on to our staff and give thanks for the resource he now offers our collective life.
Woohoo! Congrats Dio Olympia and Aaron!
I sincerely wish Aaron Scott well in his new role as the Missioner for Anti-Poverty Organizing in the Diocese of Olympia and I hope that such work on his part and those of his colleagues will help to reduce poverty in Western Washington and elsewhere. A very wise friend of mine shared with me a few years ago findings that three practices will greatly reduce the chances of living in poverty in the United States: 1. Obtain a high school degree. 2. Do not have children out of wedlock. 3. Show up for work and hold onto the job you have until a better one comes along.
I do hope that such practical advice and counseling will be included in approaching this mission. I believe that individuals do like to offer help to those less fortunate, especially when they see that the less fortunate are taking steps to improve their circumstances.