JOINT STATEMENT OF
The Episcopal Church’s ONE Episcopalian Campaign
EPISCOPAL RELIEF and DEVELOPMENT
EPISCOPALIANS for GLOBAL RECONCILIATION
At the 75th General Convention in June of 2006, the Episcopal Church set out the Millennium Development Goals (or MDGs as they are more commonly known) as a mission priority for the Episcopal Church. In 2000, 191 nations—including the United States—agreed on a plan to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015. They identified eight goals:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Achieve universal primary education for children.
Promote gender equality and empower women.
Reduce child mortality.
Improve maternal health.
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
Ensure environmental sustainability.
Create a global partnership for development.
All three of our organizations are working in different but complementary ways towards achieving the MDGs. Below are brief summaries of how we work to assist Episcopalians in making the MDGs a reality.
The Episcopal Church’s ONE Episcopalian ™ Campaign
ONE Episcopalian ™is a grassroots partnership between The Episcopal Church and the ONE Campaign to rally Episcopalians – ONE by ONE – to the cause of ending extreme poverty in our world and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Episcopal Church formally endorsed the MDGs at both the 74th and 75th General Conventions. The ONE Campaign (ONE) is a coalition of 2 million people and over 70 non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. ONE believes that allocating an additional one percent of the US budget towards providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world’s poorest countries. ONE does not ask for donations but encourages advocacy by signing its declaration, spreading the word about the campaign, and by contacting elected officials and asking them to do even more to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. For more information please go to: www.episcopalchurch.org/ONE.
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)
ERD is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church. 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. All of ERD’s international programs are designed and assessed in part by how well they address the MDGs. If you want to make a gift in support of the MDGs, donating to ERD is a good way to do that. Visit our website or call to learn more: http://www.er-d.org/ or 1-800-334-7626 ext. 5129.
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (EGR)
EGR is an independent 501(c)(3) organization resourcing the movement of spiritual transformation emerging around the MDGs in the Episcopal Church. From individuals and congregations to dioceses, church-related organizations and national church structures, EGR works with every level of the church connecting, educating, encouraging, providing resources and empowering ministry for the MDGs. We provide the connective tissue for this movement – drawing together any and all efforts to engage the MDGs so the movement may grow in new and exciting ways. EGR is not a granting agency, nor do we do any direct development work. Instead, we encourage MDG-related ministries and promote the work of ERD, ONE and any effort aimed at effectively engaging this mission. A primary way EGR invites the Church to engage the MDGs at every level is through 0.7% giving. Giving is not only a tangible commitment to this work, it draws us into deeper involvement through prayer, education, advocacy and relationship-building. Visit our website at http://www.e4gr.org/ for more information.
We hope that this description of The Episcopal Church’s ONE Episcopalian Campaign, Episcopal Relief and Development, and Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation is helpful as you discern your call to fight against global poverty and achieve the MDGs.
Alex Baumgarten
International Policy Analyst, Office of Government Relations, Episcopal Church
ONE Episcopalian ™
Robert W. Radtke
President
Episcopal Relief and Development
The Rev. Mike Kinman
Executive Director
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
