ELCA NEWS SERVICE
September 14, 2006
ELCA, Episcopal Presiding Bishops Urge Renewed Commitment to End Poverty
06-140-AL*
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), and the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of
the Episcopal Church, released a joint pastoral letter urging
Lutherans and Episcopalians to recommit themselves to ending
global poverty through achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) in collaboration with ONE: The Campaign to Make
Poverty History. The release of the letter will be celebrated
Sept. 15 in a joint worship service at the Episcopal Church
Center in New York.
The letter, "That All May Be One," serves as an advocacy
resource intended for ELCA synods, Episcopal Church dioceses and
congregation leaders, and includes reflections on the theological
basis for the MDGs. It includes examples of how Lutherans and
Episcopalians are currently collaborating to end global poverty,
specific actions the U.S. government can take toward achieving
the MDGs, and a vision for future collaboration in advocating for
the MDGs through the "ONE Lutheran" and "ONE Episcopalian"
campaigns.
"We hope that by reflecting together on the challenge of
global poverty, our communities may be called into deeper
conversation, collaboration and advocacy on this urgent topic,"
the presiding bishops wrote.
The MDGs were adopted by more than 191 member states of the
United Nations, including the United States. The goals are to
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary
education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce
child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability
and create a global partnership for development.
"This joint pastoral letter comes as the ELCA and The
Episcopal Church embark upon new shared commitments to the MDGs,
particularly through our collaboration in ONE: The Campaign to
Make Poverty History, a large and growing movement of more than
2.3 million Americans working for the end of global poverty," the
bishops wrote.
During the past year, the ELCA and Episcopal Church have
launched "ONE Lutheran" and "ONE Episcopalian" campaigns, which
have involved joining the ONE Campaign's advocacy efforts,
promoting the ONE Campaign at church events, and offering "ONE
Lutheran" and "ONE Episcopalian" resources for congregations,
according to Kimberly C. Stietz, director for international
policy, ELCA Washington Office.
"Christians have a vital role to play in the movement to
achieve the MDGs, and the ONE Campaign ... (and each) offers a
way to channel our energies in working toward a reconciled
world," the bishops wrote. "In short, a world that has achieved
the MDGs will be a world that more greatly reflects Christ's
prayer that all be one as he and the Father are one."
---
The joint pastoral letter is at
http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy/one/06-09-14-pastoral.html or
http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/m_060914.html on the ELCA Web site.
A link to the video of the worship service celebrating the
release of the letter will be available for viewing at
http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy/ on the ELCA Web site.
ONE Lutheran resources are at http://www.ELCA.org/one/
on the ELCA Web site.
* Annie Lynsen is director for grassroots advocacy and
communication, ELCA Washington Office.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
