The Millennium Development Goals

 

What are the Millennium Development Goals?

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.

8.        Develop a global partnership for development.

Endorsed by General Convention, these goals have been given top priority in the Church by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. July 7 marks the halfway point towards the MDG goal deadline of 2015, and churches across the country are setting aside the following Sunday, July 8, to help raise awareness for the MDGs.

The ONE Campaign

The Episcopal Church has partnered with The ONE Campaign to create The ONE Episcopalian Campaign. 3,400 Episcopalians have committed themselves-"one person, one voice, one vote at a time-to make a better, safer world for all" by recognizing that "a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs education, health, clean water, food, and care for orphans would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget."

Parishes can take the process one step further by becoming a ONE Congregation. ONE Congregations pledge to complete three of the following goals: feature the MDGs in a sermon or rector's forum; organize an offering of letters and ask participants to sign the ONE Declaration; use ONE resources in Christian education classes for youth and adults; meet with members of congress to advocate for the MDGs; collect an offering once a year for the MDG programs of Episcopal Relief and Development.

Want More Information?

Episcopal Life will dedicate an entire issue of its monthly publication to the MDGs. To learn more about ordering copies of this issue, click here.
 

To learn more about the MDGs in The Diocese of Virginia, read The Virginia Episcopalian article here.
 

For information on joining The ONE Episcopalian Campaign, click here.
 

Sign up to the receive the MDG newsletter from Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation here.