millenium development goals

This summer our congregation has been focusing on global poverty. We had been reflecting on Jeffrey Sachs' The End of Poverty and we have viewed the videoconversation between Bono (of U2) and Bill Hybels of the Willow Creek Community Church. A practical way of responding to global poverty is to become conversant with the Millenium Development Goals of the United Nations. These are widely agreed-upon objectives by political leaders across a wide (almost universal) spectrum, and all for the benefit of the poorest living on our planet, most in sub-Sahahan Africa. The Millennium Development Goals are:

	Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
	Achieve universal primary education
	Promote gender equality and empower women
	Reduce child mortality
	Improve maternal health
	Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
	Ensure environmental sustainability
	Develop a global partnership for development

For beginning inspiration in learning more about global poverty, our three leaders at the moment are Bono, Jeffrey Sachs and Paul Farmer (the subject of the amazing Mountains Beyond Mountains). The evangelical and mainline Christian churches are sensing that this focus is both a faithful response to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment and a way beyond the impasse related to issues that divide us. If you are in Charlotte on Sunday morning, August 5, Ron Robinson, professor religion and chaplain at Wofford College will lead a forum on this topic. Please join us at 9: 45. If you cannot be present, I invite you to explore this blog, particularly links to Africa University, Partners in Health, the Haiti Mission, and the One campaign.