In conjunction with the inauguration of Professor Paul Knitter to the Paul Tillich Chair, the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary presented: “Religions of the World and Poverty: A Symposium.” The Symposium brought together renowned spokespersons from religious traditions around the world to meet with local activists, religious leaders, and poor people to explore ways of collaborating to achieve economic justice.

Poverty Scholar Candidate Participants:
- Ron Blount of Taxi Workers Alliance (Philadelphia, PA),
- Evelyn Dortch of Direct Action Welfare Group (Charleston, WV),
- Gwen Gains of Call-em' Out (Detroit, MI),
- Carl Johnson of United Workers Association (Baltimore, MD),
- Marian Kramer of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, (Detroit, MI),
- Jean Rice of Picture The Homeless (New York, NY), and
- Patricia Wray of Direct Action Welfare Group (Charleston, WV)

Religious Leader Presenters:
- Professor Paul Knitter
- Venerable Dhammananda, Thailand
- Dr. Ved Shravah, Albany, New York
- Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, India
- Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman, Israel
- Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid, Harlem, New York
- Chief Oren Lyons, Onondaga Nation, New York