After more than two years of employment at The Church of The Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Seth Martin was fired from his job in the middle of a global pandemic because he protested being evicted from his contract-provided housing on campus so that the new priest could make his residence there despite the availability of other housing options that would not involve displacement of any current campus residents. 

On June 20th, 2020, as Montgomery County, PA remained under lockdown orders Seth and his wife Mj, and sons Quincy (4 years old) and Asher (9 years old and diagnosed with autism) were forced to vacate the residence they have called home for two years despite being unable to secure new permanent housing or gainful employment for Seth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They are currently living in temporary housing with family more than 100 miles from Mj's job and the community, friends, and school system they love and were settled in. Asher may not be able to return to his elementary school or services that he has become accustomed to and loves.

We demand economic justice for the Martins and any other employees of Good Shepherd, Rosemont who may be displaced from their contract-provided housing!

We demand that Good Shepherd, Rosemont provide the necessary assistance for the Martins to secure safe, permanent housing that meets the family's needs.

As a non-profit organization Good Shepherd, Rosemont does not pay into the PA Unemployment Compensation fund thereby making their employees ineligible to collect unemployment compensation. Therefore, we demand that Good Shepherd, provide the Martins with a stipend at least equivalent to the amount they would have received under PA unemployment law until such time as Seth is able to find employment that provides a salary equivalent to his former employment package with Good Shepherd, Rosemont. We also demand that he be provided with a stipend equivalent to the pandemic unemployment act allowance from the date of his termination until the pandemic aid package expires.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, "I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”