For Your Interest:
posted March 19th, 2007 at 10:12 am by Betty
Following the conference in South Africa centered on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)the words of Cape Town Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane are very encouraging. See the article found at Episcopal News Service: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_83596_ENG_HTM.htm. The following are some of the outstanding quotes from Ndungane:
“Working for MDGs is not simply working for the needy as a separate category of human beings, but working for the healing of all, including the healing of those who don’t see the problem.”
Such work “must also put questions to prosperous societies of West and North asking whether or not they have understood that they too are deprived and dehumanized by a global situation of injustice, a system that tolerates the idea of superfluous people who are alllowed to remain invisible.”
The Milennium Development Goals are “the starting point for a world that reflects God’s principals of inclusivity.”
The first recommendation is connected to the first MDG of poverty and hunger eradication. “Given that food can be utilized as a weapon of war in various conflicts globally, this body has been emphatic in stating that the Church must exert pressure on governments and international bodies to ensure that food is used for the nourishment and development of our future — not as tool of war… Furthermore…we need to contribute to the creation of sustainable food production systems globally….”
The second recommendation involves education. Noting that “girls and women continue to suffer disproportionally from the effects of poverty, disease and hunger…as a community we recognize the importance of our sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, friends and colleagues in living out our mission and in reflecting the vision of humanity illustrated in the Gospels.”
“Accordingly, alongside the policies and programs to serve the needs of girls and women — which serves all of our needs — this body has articulated that first and foremost we need a change of mindset, in both men and women, about gender and gender roles…Therefore, in our dialogues going forward, we have committed to using language that is inclusive of women and non-threatening to men. We will strive to do this not only in our dialogue, but also in our worship.” 
gender roles
inclusive 
Millennium Development Goals
Ndungane
poverty
sustainability
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