Episcopalians launch grassroots Make Poverty History campaign

-07/06/06

At its General


Episcopalians launch grassroots Make Poverty History campaign

-07/06/06

At its General Convention next week, the Episcopal Church USA (part of the worldwide Anglican Communion) will launch a new grassroots partnership with ONE, the American wing of the global campaign to Make Poverty History.

The new initiative, called ONE Episcopalian, seeks to rally Episcopalians ñ one by one ñ to the cause of eliminating extreme poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set out by the United Nations and backed by many churches, faith groups and NGOs.

“Strong advocacy from a wide array of Americans – including people of faith – is needed so government leaders will commit the resources necessary to meet the Millennium Development Goals,” explained Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold.

He continued: “The ONE Episcopalian campaign will provide an opportunity for all Episcopalians to unite their voices with the large and growing movement to end global poverty in our time.”

ONE is a coalition of more than 70 of America’s leading advocacy and humanitarian organizations and more than 2.3 million people, joining together to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty.

The specific goal of ONE is to direct an additional one per cent of the US federal budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, food and clean water to transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world’s poorest countries.

President Bush, who has recently been accused of being over-influenced by the religious right, has resisted the call. His administration sees private investment and aid, not public action or policies on debt and fair trade, as the answer to under-development.

The Episcopal Church USA, which endorsed the Millennium Development Goals at its 74th General Convention in 2003, has been a member of the ONE Campaign since its first year of existence.

ONE Episcopalian intends to build on this energy by equipping dioceses, parishes, and individuals to be more effective advocates and join with people across America and the world in the fight against global poverty and AIDS-HIV.

Calls for firm commitments on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have come from, among others, Pope Benedict XVI, the World Council of Churches, the Micah Challenge (World Evangelical Alliance) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ñ which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 ñ form a blueprint agreed to by all the worldís countries and leading development institutions. They have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the worldís poorest.

[Also on Ekklesia: Churches launch global campaign against poverty; Chancellor tells churches 2005 is ‘make or break’ for world; Artists issue a global warning; UK Chancellor visits major donor; Christians mobilise for UN anti-poverty goals; Development agencies issue warning to chancellor; World leaders failing global poor, says Christian Aid; Churches call for decisive G8 action;Bush breaks HIV funding promise: millions will die say campaigners; Episcopal leader attacks US poverty proposals]


Episcopalians launch grassroots Make Poverty History campaign

-07/06/06

At its General Convention next week, the Episcopal Church USA (part of the worldwide Anglican Communion) will launch a new grassroots partnership with ONE, the American wing of the global campaign to Make Poverty History.

The new initiative, called ONE Episcopalian, seeks to rally Episcopalians ñ one by one ñ to the cause of eliminating extreme poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set out by the United Nations and backed by many churches, faith groups and NGOs.

“Strong advocacy from a wide array of Americans – including people of faith – is needed so government leaders will commit the resources necessary to meet the Millennium Development Goals,” explained Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold.

He continued: “The ONE Episcopalian campaign will provide an opportunity for all Episcopalians to unite their voices with the large and growing movement to end global poverty in our time.”

ONE is a coalition of more than 70 of America’s leading advocacy and humanitarian organizations and more than 2.3 million people, joining together to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty.

The specific goal of ONE is to direct an additional one per cent of the US federal budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, food and clean water to transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world’s poorest countries.

President Bush, who has recently been accused of being over-influenced by the religious right, has resisted the call. His administration sees private investment and aid, not public action or policies on debt and fair trade, as the answer to under-development.

The Episcopal Church USA, which endorsed the Millennium Development Goals at its 74th General Convention in 2003, has been a member of the ONE Campaign since its first year of existence.

ONE Episcopalian intends to build on this energy by equipping dioceses, parishes, and individuals to be more effective advocates and join with people across America and the world in the fight against global poverty and AIDS-HIV.

Calls for firm commitments on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have come from, among others, Pope Benedict XVI, the World Council of Churches, the Micah Challenge (World Evangelical Alliance) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ñ which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 ñ form a blueprint agreed to by all the worldís countries and leading development institutions. They have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the worldís poorest.

[Also on Ekklesia: Churches launch global campaign against poverty; Chancellor tells churches 2005 is ‘make or break’ for world; Artists issue a global warning; UK Chancellor visits major donor; Christians mobilise for UN anti-poverty goals; Development agencies issue warning to chancellor; World leaders failing global poor, says Christian Aid; Churches call for decisive G8 action;Bush breaks HIV funding promise: millions will die say campaigners; Episcopal leader attacks US poverty proposals]