Budgets Are a Moral Document Forum

The Seattle Budget Roundtable Forum, held at Queen Anne Baptist Church last Thursday, brought together over 30 faith leaders from across the city to engage with the city’s budget process and learn how their voices can influence public policy. The forum featured a presentation by the Solidarity Budget, outlining their proposals for a more equitable and community-centered budget, including funding for housing, human services, food security, and community-led violence prevention. Attendees also experienced uplifting music by Keith Curl-Dove, which provided a communal and reflective space for faith leaders to consider the moral implications of the city’s fiscal decisions. The forum emphasized that budgets are not just financial documents, but moral documents that reflect the city’s priorities and values.

Faith leaders gained practical guidance on how to prepare and present testimony that centers equity, justice, and care for Seattle’s most impacted communities. We highlighted that the presence and advocacy of faith communities during the budget process carry both moral and practical weight, reminding council members that the city’s residents, especially those in vulnerable neighborhoods, are watching and holding them accountable. The forum underscored the collective power of faith leaders to influence decisions, amplify community needs, and ensure that Seattle’s budget reflects the values of community care.