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The Special Role of Episcopal Relief & Development
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Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies, is a friend and supporter of Episcopal Relief & Development and our mission to heal a hurting world. We asked her to share her reflections on why the work of Episcopal Relief & Development is so important.
Episcopal Relief & Development is unique because it is Episcopal, and that directly informs the way it works. Episcopal Relief & Development helps us, as Episcopalians, make our baptismal promise to “respect the dignity of every human being” come to life. It is our relief and development agency.
What helps make Episcopal Relief & Development so effective is that it works directly in partnership with dioceses, churches, NGOs and donors. Like many other agencies of its kind, Episcopal Relief & Development sets goals and measures outcomes. But Episcopal Relief & Development does more than that. Its work goes to the core of a person’s soul, where dignity resides.
Unlike quantifiable goals and objectives, a person’s dignity is difficult to measure. Dignity is that elusive quality baptized Episcopalians are called to respect in every human being. The way Episcopal Relief & Development does its work respects the dignity of every human being.
I saw firsthand the impact our work can have when I traveled to Livingstone, Zambia for the roll out of the NetsforLife® initiative. The village’s Anglican churches had organized a celebration of the program in the local community center which had been built with the support of Episcopal Relief & Development. We spent the day parading with the villagers, and participating in dances and skits about malaria prevention. It was hot and dusty and joyous, colorful and wonderful. Over 1,500 insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed to people who were so glad to have them. The sense of pride and hope was palpable. It was a remarkable day for me.
Episcopal Relief & Development’s programs focus on sustainable development, which is often defined as work that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. But for us, as Episcopalians, I think it goes a bit deeper. Like the Xhosa word ubuntu (loosely translated to mean “I am because you are”), sustainable development encourages interdependence as a way of life. Solutions to social, economic and environmental problems become the work of a diverse culture of people coming together in community, building sustainable relationships through unity of purpose and common effort. That is unique…and precious.
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