More than three dozen Utah religious leaders plan to release a letter this weekend addressed to state Senate President John Valentine, urging legislators to raise the state's minimum wage.

Some 38 leaders representing 15 different faith traditions signed the letter. Included as signers are Bishop George Niederauer of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake; the Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, Episcopal Bishop of Utah; Massod Ul-Hasan of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake; the Rev. Fr. Elias Kouos, Presbyter of the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake; and Pastor France Davis of Calvary Baptist Church.

Drafted in what they said is the spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the leaders called on the people of Utah to remember the reason for the holiday, and his call for "justice for all." In his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, King urged a " 'national minimum wage act that will give all Americans a decent standard of living.' We ask our state legislators to help Utah families out of poverty by raising the minimum wage.

"In the words of Dr. King, 'There is nothing but a lack of social vision to prevent us from paying an adequate wage to every American (worker) whether he is a hospital worker, laundry worker, maid or day laborer.' As religious leaders in Utah, we unite for the cause of justice for all of Utah's workers."

The letter will be released at a service of Prayers for Justice and Peace on Sunday in honor of King, where signers will comment on why they're seeking legislative action. Individual religious leaders across the state have advocated a larger minimum wage in the past, but this is believed to be the largest joint effort aimed at state legislators.

The move follows a report released last month by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which shows the current fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Utah is $675. To afford the monthly rate, a household must earn $12.98 per hour — 252 percent of the current minimum wage. In Salt Lake City, an hourly wage of $13.87 is required to afford rent for a two-bedroom apartment, according to the report.

The Rev. Daniel Webster, one of the letter's signatories, told the annual People's Summit On Poverty recently that some Utahns see only the "entitlement" in programs designed to help those who work hard, but don't have the skills to make a living wage. Many of the working poor make the current minimum wage but can't support their families. "People don't want to be poor," he said.

Many, he said, are forced to choose each month between paying the rent or the utility bills. That in a state that values keeping families together — yet adults working two or three different jobs have no time to spend with their children, he said. He cited scripture to urge justice for the weak and orphaned, to rescue the needy, and to speak out for those who cannot speak.

The ecumenical service of hymns, prayers and a message will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 1710 S. Foothill Drive, at 4 p.m. The public is invited to the event, co-sponsored by the Utah Poverty Partnership, the Anti-Hunger Action Committee, Episcopal Peace Fellowship and the Coalition of Religious Communities of Utah.

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