The REAL Instruments of Unity

I think we've about exhausted the topic of responses to the Windsor Report. For those who might want to continue such discussions, I recommend Tobias Haller's reaction to Dr. Williams latest pronouncement. My favorite line is his closer:

...So let's embrace an imperfect communion based on mission instead of a pure one based on the lifestyles of the missionaries!

On that note, it might be helpful to remember that Windsor wasn't even a topic for the first half of Convention. The buzz was all about the Millennium Development Goals, which I briefly mentioned following the amazing U2charist. Here's the resolution regarding the MDGs that was passed by Convention:

Resolution D022
Title: MDGs and the ONE Episcopalian Campaign

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church commend the leaders and members of The Episcopal Church, including Episcopal Relief and Development and program ministries of the Episcopal Church, for their leadership on behalf of the Millennium Development Goals, both through public advocacy and implementation of MDG programs in the developing world; and commend parishes, missions, congregations, and dioceses, and others, like Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation and the Micah Challenge, for their support of the implementation of the MDGs in fulfillment of our Baptismal Covenant and as an expression of the hunger of this church for far deeper communion with all of God’s beloved; and be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention establish the work toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as a mission priority for the coming triennium, and that each diocese, congregation and parishioner be urged to commit to 0.7% giving toward these goals by July 7, 2007 (07/07/07); and be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget line item of no less than an additional 0.7% (circa $900,000) of the non-government revenue of the Episcopal Church for work that supports the implementation of 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 and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability, and
8. Create a global partnership for development with a focus on debt, aid, and trade; and be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention encourage parishes, missions, congregations, and dioceses to designate the Last Sunday after Pentecost , or such days as may be designated ecumenically for commendation of the MDGs, as special days of prayer, fasting and giving in the Episcopal Church toward global reconciliation and the Millennium Development Goals; and be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention request that all dioceses establish a global reconciliation commission or similar body dedicated to mobilizing Episcopalians toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; and be it further

Resolved, the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns report to the 76th General Convention on the progress that has been achieved in implementing this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention endorse “The ONE Campaign,” the U.S. movement for the MDGs, through The Episcopal Church’s “ONE Episcopalian” campaign; call on all parishes, missions, congregations, and dioceses, and individuals to join the ONE Episcopalian campaign; and publicly endorse The ONE Campaign’s call for the United States government to annually spend an additional one percent of its budget to combat global poverty, and to be active advocates for the achievement of this work.

EXPLANATION:
The Episcopal Church is to be commended for its endorsement of the Millennium Development Goals and the widespread adoption of 0.7% giving for the implementation of those goals.

In addition to our individual and communal giving and advocacy, in this resolution our church joins our ecumenical partners in advocating that the U.S. government spend one percent more of its annual budget to combat poverty in the world. The ONE Campaign is a two year-old U.S. based movement to "make poverty history." The ONE Episcopalian Campaign begins with this convention, equipping dioceses, parishes, and individuals to be effective advocates for the MDGs and connecting Episcopalians with others who seek to end global poverty in our time.

Since the MDGs are one of the main priorities of our new Presiding Bishop, we can expect them to become an essential part of the future mission of the Episcopal Church.

Here's a few resources:

The UN Millennium Development Goals

The ONE Campaign

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation

ONE Episcopalian

Convention also approved a related resolution:

Resolution A010
Title: Affirm "Call to Partnership"

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church receive and affirm "Call to Partnership," the communiqué presented to the United Nations Summit on Sept. 13, 2005, by Anglican, Evangelical, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Reform, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist and United Methodist participants in the Consultation of Religious Leaders on Global Poverty; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church acknowledge the leadership of persons in poverty and local leaders in poor communities as equal partners and not simply recipients in the global effort to alleviate the crushing burden of extreme poverty; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention urge our ecumenical and interfaith partners to affirm "Call to Partnership" and join the Episcopal Church in working across confessional lines and in partnership with governments and international organizations to pursue the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with all available human and financial resources; and be it further
Resolved, That in receiving and affirming the communiqué, the Episcopal Church call upon governments to pursue the achievement of the MDGs through:

1. significantly increased official development assistance to poor countries;
2. debt cancellation premised upon a country’s need for resources to meet the MDGs;
3. fair and open trade policies that allow developing countries to compete in international markets with rich countries;
4. policies designed to alleviate structural barriers and social injustices that exacerbate the effects of poverty in the developing world; and
5. policies that promote full accountability and transparency among developing countries for the use of resources derived through foreign aid while still allowing strategies for accountability and transparency to be dictated by developing countries themselves; and be it further

Resolved, That in receiving and affirming the communiqué, the General Convention affirm the work of the Church's officers, dioceses, congregations, baptized members, and Episcopal Relief and Development in undertaking and supporting partnerships for global development in impoverished countries and call for the expansion of this work through:

1. increased support through time and financial resources for companion relationships with dioceses and congregations in the developing world;
2. a renewed commitment to the work of Episcopal Relief and Development and other faith-based organizations that are operating successful partnerships on behalf of those living in poverty around the world;
3. a commitment to regular prayer from all dioceses, congregations and baptized members for an end to global poverty in all its forms.

We've got some work to do!

J.