STAND UP! on October 15

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, recently released a joint pastoral letter urging Lutherans and Episcopalians to recommit themselves to ending global poverty through achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in collaboration with ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.

All member states of the United Nations, including the United States, adopted Millennium Goals to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and create a global partnership for development by the year 2015.

The ELCA is encouraging congregations to participate in the worldwide “STAND UP” effort being sponsored by the Millennium Campaign wherein ELCA congregations have the opportunity to help set an official Guinness World Record on October 15th by standing up for a moment during worship.

Visit the ELCA’s advocacy Web site to learn more about how congregations can participate in this worldwide event.

Ideal resources for individuals and study groups are Ending Poverty: A 20/20 Vision: A Guide for Individuals and Congregations and Ending Hunger Now: A Challenge to Persons of Faith. Please visit endinghungernow.org for more information.