The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
August 2007
ERD Strives to Fulfill Millennium Goals
By Brin Bon
Episcopal Relief and
Development "as it strives
to fulfill the Millennium
Development Goals, is
providing real evidence of
what it means to love your neighbor
as yourself. The MDGs are concrete
images that people can wrap their
hearts and minds around. They are a
specific way of addressing the
Gospel challenge to care for our
neighbors."
These are the words of Presiding
Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori, in
a letter read at ERD's annual network
in May.
 The Presiding Bishop's words
resound with me not merely as a
representative of ERD or as a supporter
of the MDGs, but more
importantly, as a Christian. They
remind me that in accepting my
baptism and affirming a life in
Christ, I am called to seek and serve
Christ in all people.
Through its many humanitarian
and disaster relief programs, ERD
answers this call, and invites us to
share in their important ministry.
The eight MDGs have since
been embraced by many faith-based
organizations, including ERD.
Countries across the globe have
agreed that extreme poverty and
hunger must end, child mortality
rates must decrease, the causes and
consequences of diseases like
HIV/AIDS and malaria must be
treated, and environmentally sustainable
solutions must be implemented
to ensure clean water and
responsible agricultural practices.
At the global level, addressing
these concerns results in stronger
economies, lower mortality rates,
and political stability in developing
countries—all good reasons to
address the eight goals. However,
from a Christian perspective,
addressing the MDGs doesn't just
make good economic sense, it
affirms the humanity inherent in all
of God's creation, and God's call of
reconciliation in Christ.
ERD addresses at least one of
the MDGs in each of its many programs
in the developing world.
Millennium Goal Six seeks to"reverse the spread of disease, especially
HIV/AIDS and malaria. One of the ways ERD addresses this goal
includes a partnership project with
Christian Aid called "Nets for Life".
This program distributes long-lasting
insecticide treated nets in countries
throughout Africa. For just $15
a family in Africa can be spared from the
devastation of malaria.
MDG Seven is directed at ensuring environmental sustainability
including access to clean, safe drinking
water, and creating sustainable
food sources. Not only does this
goal address the direct needs of
water and food, but ensures the
maintenance of proper sanitation.
This, in turn, prevents mosquitoes
from hatching as a result of unclean,
stagnant water near populated areas,
thus reducing the risk of contracting
malaria in the first place.
In addition to digging wells
with clean ground water, many of
ERD's programs also provide the
resources for villages to create their
own stable food supplies. In ERD's
"Gifts for Life" catalogue $22 offers
a village enough seeds to feed their
entire community and the education
needed to plant, tend, and harvest
their crops. This small act of providing
a food source for an African
community addresses Goal Seven, as
well as Goal One, which is to eradicate
extreme poverty and hunger.
Goal One, in addressing poverty
and hunger, touches on one of the
most urgent afflictions suffered
globally. Every year, more than 10
million children starve to death or
are killed by a preventable disease!
More than 800 million people go to
bed hungry each night.
Each of the 50,000 deaths from
poverty that occurred on this day
alone could have been prevented.
With the help of organizations like
ERD, we can all be part of the solution
that prevents these deaths from
continuing.
For more information about
ERD's many programs, or if you are
interested in supporting the mission
of ERD through giving or through
service, please contact me, Brin Bon,
(801) 971-8177, or email
brin@urbanconcierge.com.
I am excited to be part of this
important ministry with you, and
look forward to hearing your
thoughts about how to grow the
work of ERD in the Diocese of
Utah. Remembering our baptismal
vows, we affirm our call to "strive
for justice and peace among all people,"
by answering, "I will, with
God's help."
As our response indicates, we do
not have to do this work alone.
Learn, Pray, Act, Give—with
God's help.
Brin Bon is diocesan ERD coordinator
and a member of the Cathedral
Church of St. Mark.
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