Resources for Congregations
These resources may be downloaded and printed to use and distribute to your congregation or group. If you have a resource or sermon you'd like to include for use by members of our coalition, please contact us.
Official Cap the Rate Campaign Flyers
This flyer was developed by South Dakotans for Responsible Lending to educate congregations on the issue of predatory lending and payday loan interest rates in South Dakota, and encourage members to vote NO on Amendment U and YES on Initiated Measure 21 on Tuesday, November 8.
Discussion Guide: "Modern Day Usury: The Payday Loan Trap"
A helpful discussion guide for churches, created by the Center for Responsible Lending.
Sample Text for Announcements and Bulletins
A great way to share our message is through your congregation's bulletin or newsletter. You can edit and use this sample text written by our campaign.
Statement on Predatory Lending
This statement from Bishop Bruce R. Ough, resident bishop of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church, may be used as a guide for your church's statement on joining the coalition to stop predatory lending.
Sermons
Rev. Jean Morrow of Spirit of Peace United Church of Christ delivered this sermon on payday lending and James 1:19-27 on August 30, 2015, titled "Waddling is Not Enough." Download it at right to study or present to your group.
Rev. Ryan Otto of First Congregational Church delivered this sermon on payday lending and Isaiah 58 on August 30, 2015. Download it at right for your personal use or to share with your congregation.
Lend Justly
A collection of resources for congregational education, including sample church resolutions, videos and other helpful links to learn more about faith communities' responses to payday lending reform.
General Education
These links offer more background and education on the payday lending industry. To submit a link for this list, please contact us.
Center for Responsible Lending: State of Lending
An across-the-board survey of financial products that Americans use to handle everyday transactions, buy homes and automobiles, and build savings and wealth.
Pew Charitable Trusts: Payday Lending in America
Pew’s Payday Lending in America series sheds light on the experience of borrowers. The research also details fundamental problems with payday loans, and suggests how policymakers can help solve these problems.
Exodus Lending
Early in 2012, a payday loan store opened on the corner of East Lake Street and 27th Avenue in Minneapolis, just a short distance from the doors of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Having been rooted in the neighborhood for over a hundred years, the congregation took notice and began to inform itself about the predatory practices of payday lenders. Motivated to respond, Holy Trinity started Exodus Lending, a not-for-profit organization committed to providing trapped payday borrowers a just pathway to financial stability.