UK Evangelicals urge Bush to act on world poverty
-20/06/05
A number of prominent evangelicals have written to US President George Bush in the run up to the G8 summit in Edinburgh, urging him to do more to alleviate world poverty.
Making an appeal to his evangelical faith, the UK evangelicals including the Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, Nicky Gumbel, David Coffey, Steve Chalke, Jonathan Aitken and Joel Edwards, suggest that the summit is a ‘God-given’ opportunity.
“As leaders of Evangelical Christian churches and organisations in the UK we are writing to you as a brother in Christ, to ask you to use your unique position as President of the United States and a member of the G8 to alleviate world poverty” they write.
“The G8 Summit taking place in July is a moment for vision and decisive solutions to global problems. This is a God-given chance to change the course of history for the millions of people who live on less than one dollar a day.”
While we acknowledge that there may be key differences between the leaders over some of the policy options currently proposed, we still believe and pray that a comprehensive package of measures resulting in wider debt relief, a significant increase in overall aid flows and an international commitment to trade justice can be agreed by all members of the G8″ they write.
“As part of our Christian commitment and witness we are encouraging our own constituencies to support poverty alleviation at home and abroad. We would be very happy to meet the US ambassador in the UK to discuss these matters in more detail.”
The full text of the letter is as follows:
As leaders of Evangelical Christian churches and organisations in the UK we are writing to you as a brother in Christ, to ask you to use your unique position as President of the United States and a member of the G8 to alleviate world poverty.
The G8 Summit taking place in July is a moment for vision and decisive solutions to global problems. This is a God-given chance to change the course of history for the millions of people who live on less than one dollar a day. While we acknowledge that there may be key differences between the leaders over some of the policy options currently proposed, we still believe and pray that a comprehensive package of measures resulting in wider debt relief, a significant increase in overall aid flows and an international commitment to trade justice can be agreed by all members of the G8.
Poverty and injustice, which are addressed throughout the Bible go beyond man-made politics and require us to do what is right in God’s eyes. We believe you can lead the way in helping the poor. As Jesus said,
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV
We welcome the steps you have already made, particularly the recent agreement to cancel the debt of 18 of the poorest countries. However, we recognise that now is not the time to rest on what has already been achieved but to build on this work and push forward for a final historic agreement. We pray that God will bless you and the other leaders with vision, wisdom and discernment as you participate in the Summit and beyond.
As part of our Christian commitment and witness we are encouraging our own constituencies to support poverty alleviation at home and abroad. We would be very happy to meet the US ambassador in the UK to discuss these matters in more detail.
REVD JOEL EDWARDS
General Director, Evangelical Alliance UK
On behalf of the attached signatories
JONATHAN AITKEN
Writer and author
PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO
Senior Pastor, Kingsway International Christian Centre
RT REV WALLACE BENN
Bishop of Lewes
LYNDON BOWRING
Chairman, Care
RT REVD PETER BROADBENT
Bishop of Willesden
Spring Harvest Leadership Team
REVD STEVE CHALKE MBE
Founder, Oasis Global and Faithworks
GERALD COATES
Director, Pioneer Trust
REVD DAVID COFFEY
General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain
Moderator of the Free Churches
ROY CROWNE
National Director, Youth for Christ
RAM GIDOOMAL CBE
Chairman, South Asian Development Partnership
REVD NICKY GUMBEL
Holy Trinity, Brompton
GRAHAM FAIRBAIRN
General Director, Tearfund UK
RT REVD JAMES JONES
Bishop of Liverpool
DR SIMEON OLAPOSI KEHINDE
National Chairman, Fellowship of Nigerian Christians
KATEI KIRBY
General Manager, African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance UK
DR JONATHAN OLOYEDE
Team Leader, Soul in the City, London
DAVID W PORTER
Director, Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland
Chair, Evangelical Alliance UK Board of Trustees
DEREK TIDBALL
Principal, London School of Theology
Chair, Evangelical Alliance UK Council
REV PAUL C WEAVER
General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God UK
UK Evangelicals urge Bush to act on world poverty
-20/06/05
A number of prominent evangelicals have written to US President George Bush in the run up to the G8 summit in Edinburgh, urging him to do more to alleviate world poverty.
Making an appeal to his evangelical faith, the UK evangelicals including the Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, Nicky Gumbel, David Coffey, Steve Chalke, Jonathan Aitken and Joel Edwards, suggest that the summit is a ‘God-given’ opportunity.
“As leaders of Evangelical Christian churches and organisations in the UK we are writing to you as a brother in Christ, to ask you to use your unique position as President of the United States and a member of the G8 to alleviate world poverty” they write.
“The G8 Summit taking place in July is a moment for vision and decisive solutions to global problems. This is a God-given chance to change the course of history for the millions of people who live on less than one dollar a day.”
While we acknowledge that there may be key differences between the leaders over some of the policy options currently proposed, we still believe and pray that a comprehensive package of measures resulting in wider debt relief, a significant increase in overall aid flows and an international commitment to trade justice can be agreed by all members of the G8″ they write.
“As part of our Christian commitment and witness we are encouraging our own constituencies to support poverty alleviation at home and abroad. We would be very happy to meet the US ambassador in the UK to discuss these matters in more detail.”
The full text of the letter is as follows:
As leaders of Evangelical Christian churches and organisations in the UK we are writing to you as a brother in Christ, to ask you to use your unique position as President of the United States and a member of the G8 to alleviate world poverty.
The G8 Summit taking place in July is a moment for vision and decisive solutions to global problems. This is a God-given chance to change the course of history for the millions of people who live on less than one dollar a day. While we acknowledge that there may be key differences between the leaders over some of the policy options currently proposed, we still believe and pray that a comprehensive package of measures resulting in wider debt relief, a significant increase in overall aid flows and an international commitment to trade justice can be agreed by all members of the G8.
Poverty and injustice, which are addressed throughout the Bible go beyond man-made politics and require us to do what is right in God’s eyes. We believe you can lead the way in helping the poor. As Jesus said,
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV
We welcome the steps you have already made, particularly the recent agreement to cancel the debt of 18 of the poorest countries. However, we recognise that now is not the time to rest on what has already been achieved but to build on this work and push forward for a final historic agreement. We pray that God will bless you and the other leaders with vision, wisdom and discernment as you participate in the Summit and beyond.
As part of our Christian commitment and witness we are encouraging our own constituencies to support poverty alleviation at home and abroad. We would be very happy to meet the US ambassador in the UK to discuss these matters in more detail.
REVD JOEL EDWARDS
General Director, Evangelical Alliance UK
On behalf of the attached signatories
JONATHAN AITKEN
Writer and author
PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO
Senior Pastor, Kingsway International Christian Centre
RT REV WALLACE BENN
Bishop of Lewes
LYNDON BOWRING
Chairman, Care
RT REVD PETER BROADBENT
Bishop of Willesden
Spring Harvest Leadership Team
REVD STEVE CHALKE MBE
Founder, Oasis Global and Faithworks
GERALD COATES
Director, Pioneer Trust
REVD DAVID COFFEY
General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain
Moderator of the Free Churches
ROY CROWNE
National Director, Youth for Christ
RAM GIDOOMAL CBE
Chairman, South Asian Development Partnership
REVD NICKY GUMBEL
Holy Trinity, Brompton
GRAHAM FAIRBAIRN
General Director, Tearfund UK
RT REVD JAMES JONES
Bishop of Liverpool
DR SIMEON OLAPOSI KEHINDE
National Chairman, Fellowship of Nigerian Christians
KATEI KIRBY
General Manager, African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance UK
DR JONATHAN OLOYEDE
Team Leader, Soul in the City, London
DAVID W PORTER
Director, Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland
Chair, Evangelical Alliance UK Board of Trustees
DEREK TIDBALL
Principal, London School of Theology
Chair, Evangelical Alliance UK Council
REV PAUL C WEAVER
General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God UK