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Millennium goals seek to end poverty, hunger

The Episcopal Church at last year’s General Convention changed its mission priorities for the coming three years, making a commitment to peace and justice issues as its chief emphasis. The cornerstone of that effort centers on the Millennium Development Goals, an eight-prong effort that has at its core the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015.

Beyond just embracing those goals, General Convention called on every Episcopalian, parish and diocese to give.7 percent of their income toward the MDGs, with a target to accomplish this of July 7, 2007 — i.e., 07/07/2007.

There was support for the MDGs evident throughout General Convention, with more than a dozen people speaking in favor of their inclusion as a mission priority. A “U2charist,” a celebration of the Eucharist using the music of the rock band U2 and with an emphasis on the MDGs as its intent, drew more than 700 worshippers.

In remarks supporting the MDGs, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, then the bishop of Nevada, recalled the start of Jesus’ public ministry when he read from Isaiah’s prophetic claim of God’s reign as a time when good news is preached to the poor, the blind receive sight and the oppressed are set free. “The Millennium Development Goals are an icon, a vision, a lens of the reign of God in our own day,” she said.

What are the MDGs?
In September 2000, world leaders from 189 nations adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, including a package of efforts to reduce extreme poverty by 2015. These are known as the Millennium Development Goals, ambitious efforts that seek to address the development needs of the poorest countries on earth.

In a nutshell, the eight MDGs are:

1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2: Achieve universal primary education;
3: Promote gender equality and empower women;
4: Reduce child mortality;
5: Improve maternal health;
6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
7: Ensure environmental sustainability; and
8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

The United Nations estimates that more than one billion people — one-sixth of the world’s population — live in extreme poverty, lacking the basics of food, clean water, health care and social services to survive. In many of the poorest countries, life expectancy is about 40 years; in developed nations, it’s closer to 80.

While efforts are directed at developing countries around the world, the greatest need is in sub-Saharan Africa, called the “epicenter of the crisis” by the UN.

How can Episcopalians participate?
Three Episcopal entities together have called on all Episcopalians to participate in the MDGs and offered their work in support. The three — The Episcopal Church’s “ONE Episcopalian” campaign, Episcopal Relief and Development, and Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation — are working in different but complementary ways to help Episcopalians support the goals.

The “ONE Episcopalian” campaign advocates for an increased government commitment to fight world poverty. Episcopal Relief and Development, an official agency of the Episcopal Church, is involved with ongoing development in poor countries as well as emergency grants in times of crisis. Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation is an independent non-profit group working on behalf of the MDGs and calling for all levels of the church to give 0.7 percent toward them.

Information from the United Nations and Episcopal News Service was used in this report.