Dr. Robert W. Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief and Development, addressed the House of Bishops, House of Deputies and Episcopal Church Women during the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio. Radtke addressed the House of Bishops on June 13, House of Deputies on June 14 and Episcopal Church Women on June 15.
Radtke highlighted the ongoing challenges of people living in poverty around the world where food is scarce and children suffer from easily preventable diseases. He highlighted ERD’s accomplishments in the areas of food security and health care, such clean water and HIV/AIDS. He also thanked everyone for their overwhelming generosity and noted the increase in contributions from individuals and churches that support ERD’s work.
During his address, Radtke requested that people not forget the enormous work that still remains for ERD and the wider Episcopal Church. “All these facts cannot obscure the fundamental reality of our times: God’s call to us to feed the hungry and care for the sick remains as urgent today as it ever was.”
He shared stories with bishops, deputies and the Episcopal Church Women about the tremendous difference ERD and its partners throughout the Anglican Communion are making in impoverished regions of the world, such as El Salvador. During a visit to ERD’s health care program in the Bajo Lempa region of El Salvador, Radtke recalled a family of five that suffered from upper respiratory problems caused by cooking over a fire. With support from ERD and local partners, the family received a smokeless stove, curing the mother, Maria, and her children from potentially deadly diseases. “Maria said it changed their life—her children didn’t burn themselves when they played in the cooking area and her eyes and lungs were clear,” said Radtke.
Episcopal Relief and Development is highlighting its programs in the areas of emergency relief and rebuilding, food security and health care each day during General Convention until June 20th. Located at Booth 146 and 147 in the Columbus Convention Center, ERD is serving free samples of two, new blends in the Bishops Blend Coffee program—Kaldi’s Roast and Café de la Paz.
For more information on Episcopal Relief and Development, please visit www.er-d.org. For a transcript of Radtke's speech, please click here.
Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
