The Millennium Development Goals

Next, watch his address from this web site (after clicking the link, click "open" in the dialogue box) or download it to your computer for use in your church (after clicking the link, click "save" in the dialogue box). Note: If you save the PowerPoint to your computer, you also will be able to view his spoken text, which highlights biblical references.

In 2000, leaders from 189 member states of the United Nations signed the Millennium Declaration, which pledged to eradicate extreme poverty and to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. However, the MDGs are not about the United Nations. They are about the lives of women, men and children in our communities and all over the world. The eight goals identify issues that religious leaders and faith communities have been actively addressing for uncounted years, issues that speak to the heart of all faith traditions: the value of each individual human life.

Each goal has measurable targets, and a primary way in which individuals, parishes, dioceses, churchwide agencies and government at all levels are working to meet the goals is to set aside 0.7 percent of their budgets to these targets:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target: Halve the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and those who suffer from hunger.

2. Achieve universal primary education
Target: Ensure that all boys and girls complete primary school.

3. Promote gender equality and empower women
Target: Eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education at all levels by 2015.

4. Reduce child mortality
Target: Reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate among children under five.

5. Improve maternal health
Target: Reduce by three-quarters the ratio of women who die in childbirth.

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Target: Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.

7. Ensure environmental sustainability
Target: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources. By 2015, reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water. By 2020, achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.

8. Develop a global partnership for development
Targets: Develop open trading and financial systems that include a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction, nationally and internationally. Address the least-developed countries' special needs and the special needs of landlocked and small island developing states. Deal comprehensively with developing countries' debt problems. Develop decent and productive work for youth. In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries. In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies.

Source: adapted from "Faith in Action: Working Toward the Millennium Development Goals," an action toolkit for religious leaders and communities developed by Religions for Peace, www.religionsforpeace.org

The World Bank details the history of the goals and monitors milestones toward meeting them at
ddp-ext.worldbank.org/ext/GMIS/gdmis.do?siteId=2&menuId=LNAV01HOME1.

Several multimedia interviews focusing on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals have been produced by the Episcopal News Service in recent months, and more are planned in conjunction with use of the current bulletin insert series on the MDGs. 

• The bulletin inserts are black and white and come in two sizes: half of an 8.5" by 11" sheet double-sided and a full 8.5" by 11" one-sided in PDF format. They are designed for parish use Sundays during Lent and may be downloaded from www.episcopalchurch.org/.

• Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town, Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, gives an overview of the MDGs: www.episcopalchurch.org/ 3577_80475_ENG_HTM.htm

• Alexander Baumgarten, international policy analyst in the Episocopal Church's Office of Government Relations, talks about the ONE Campaign: www.episcopalchurch.org/ 3577_78390_ENG_HTM.htm

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson on the Millennium Development Goals: www.episcopalchurch.org/ 3577_77964_ENG_HTM.htm

MDGs and the Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee voted in its 2004 convention to support the Millennium Development Goals (see etdiocese.net/ETE/2004/Jan-Feb/ungoalsres.htm).

The Bishop and Council of the Diocese of East Tennessee earmarked the full 0.7 percent of the diocesan budget to the Millennium Development Goals beginning in 2006, beyond mission and ministry already funded in other ways.

The 2006 General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed Resolution A010, which affirms the goals and commits the church to this mission (gc2006.org/legislation/, and click on A010).

A Joint Pastoral Letter from the presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was released Sept. 14, 2006, along with four reflections on global poverty.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold published a reflection on the Millennium Development Goals on Sept. 21, 2006.

In the sermon she delivered at her investiture Nov. 4, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori spoke of the church claiming "a vision of shalom embedded in the Millennium Development Goals – a world where the hungry are fed, the ill are healed, the young educated, women and men treated equally, and where all have access to clean water and adequate sanitation, basic health care, and the promise of development that does not endanger the rest of creation."

The 2007 East Tennessee diocesan convention's theme was "Grace and peace to you and to the world," with the "peace" portion emphasizing our diocese's commitment to the MDGs. The presiding bishop attending our convention and spoke to the nearly 750 people gathered there about the church's mission to the world. Her presentation, in audio, video and text forms, is available on this site, as is a transcription of a question-and-answer period following her presentation.

What can one person or one community do?

Use the Stations of the Cross for Global Justice and Reconciliation, created by the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, as a teaching and meditational aid during Lent.

Learn about the goals.
Track the progress around the world toward meeting the goals at www.mdgmonitor.org/.

Plan activities and events for your church or issue group.
Follow the links above, and also check out these organizations, which offer many free resources through their Web sites:
Episcopalians for the ONE Campaign (www.episcopalchurch.org/ONE)
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (www.e4gr.org/)
Episcopal Relief and Development (www.er-d.org/mdg)
The Millennium Campaign (www.noexcuse2015.org/)
Heifer International (www.heifer.org/)
United Nations (www.un.org/millenniumgoals/)

Hold a U2charist (see http://www.e4gr.org/u2charists/information.html) or a "Holy Eucharist in Celebration of the MDGs" in and donate the offering to ERD or another goal-specific charitable organization.

Contact governmental representatives and urge policy changes; check out the Episcopal Public Policy Network for ideas (www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_ENG_HTM.htm).

Buy gifts that help others, from sources such as:
ERD's "Gifts for Life" catalog (www.er-d.org/waystogive_40774_ENG_HTM.htm)
Heifer International's gift catalog (www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/)
and businesses that support Fair Trade policies (www.fairtradefederation.org/).

Contribute to ERD - click the “donate now” button at right.

Read and use others' great ideas - Find out just how much one can do at www.e4gr.org/action/advocacy.html.

Share your ideas and inspire others by sending stories and photos about your MDGs-related activities and events to be published in the East Tennessee Episcopalian. Guidelines and information are posted to etdiocese.net/ETE/policydeadlines.php under "editorial policy."

Imagine what we can do, together.