The Scottish Episcopal Church’s Church in Society Committee has welcomed new Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s call for a greater international effort to combat global poverty.

It also backs his reminder to other world leaders about the promises made in 2000 when they committed themselves to the eight UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty by 2015.

However, having just passed the halfway mark in terms of time, the Prime Minister notes they are “a million miles” from being met by 2015. Scottish Anglicans agree, and say that people of all faiths and none need to work together to combat poverty.

They declare: “As a Christian community, we are committed to a Gospel message of care and support for the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters. We believe that the quality of a society can be measured by the respect shown to its weakest members.”

The Episcopal Church statement goes on: “As members of a global society, we have an obligation to do whatever is in our power to ensure that significant progress is made towards meeting the MDG’s at least by 2015, and earlier if at all possible.”

It adds: “The Anglican Communion has made achievement of the goals a priority; member churches will work towards this through global partnerships and local action. The Scottish Episcopal Church has pledged to ensure that it plays its part in this important work.”