Christian groups’ global campaigns against poverty have been praised by International Development Minister Douglas Alexander.
26 March 2008
Christian groups’ global campaigns against poverty have been praised by International Development Minister Douglas Alexander.
Mr Alexander described the church as part of the “well from which the Government draws its legitimacy.” He made his comments during a meeting with leaders of the Black Church Leaders Forum and Micah Challenge on Tuesday, March 25th. He praised the church for its part in 2005’s Make Poverty History campaign and for the role it plays in raising awareness of international development issues.
Micah Challenge is part of a global movement of Christians and churches who have united to speak out and act to end world poverty. Mr Alexander called on Micah and the BCLF to work with the Department for International Development (DfID) on its Call to Action and similar development related programmes.
The Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance and Chairman of Micah Challenge International, said: “It was important for Micah Challenge and the BCLF to meet Douglas Alexander. It is crucial we continue discussions on this with the Government, while retaining our credibility as independent campaigners who have a mandate to hold world leaders to account.”
Micah Challenge UK Executive Director Andy Clasper, said: “I was delighted that the BCLF and Micah Challenge UK were able to come together to represent the unity of the church on these issues. The Secretary of State gave us the clearest endorsement possible for the work we’re doing in speaking out against injustice. We should take great encouragement from this meeting.”
The Rev Katei Kirby, head of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, said: “This opportunity for partnership, access and recognition should provide both the framework and the platform for the black Christian community to be a strategic partner in international development issues.”
This week’s meeting was arranged after Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on church leaders to help the Government achieve its poverty targets, during a round-table discussion with the BCLF and Micah Challenge UK in October 2007.
Notes to editors:
1. The Black Christian Leaders Forum (BCLF) exists to bring together the diversity of hearts and minds of Black Christian leaders who share a common vision for social transformation. The forum represents the Black Church and the wider Black community on strategic issues to Government.
2. Micah Challenge is a coming together of people, in 40 different nations, who want to take up the challenge laid down by Old Testament prophet Micah, and speak out against the injustice of global poverty. Micah Challenge UK is working with churches, charities, and others to help people think differently about global poverty, and to empower them to pray, act together and speak out for its alleviation.
3. Tuesday’s meeting was attended by Andy Clasper, executive director of Micah Challenge UK, The Rev Katei Kirby, head of ACEA, Dr R David Muir, Evangelical Alliance Public Policy Director, Rudi Page, head of the Renewal Advancement Financial Autonomy International Development Agency, Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, chair of the BCLF and Chair of Micah Challenge International, the Rev Wale Hudson-Romberts, Chair of the Africa Development Forum (ADF) and National Race Adviser for the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Maxine Lyseight, Parliamentary Assistant to David Lammy MP,and Laura Webster, Senior Government Relations Officer for Tearfund and a member of the Micah Challenge UK Policy Working Group.
4. The Evangelical Alliance, formed in 1846, is the largest body serving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has a membership including denominations, churches, organisations and individuals. The mission of the Evangelical Alliance is to unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and social transformation. According to a Tearfund survey (Churchgoing in the UK, 2007), there are approximately 2 million evangelical Christians in the UK. For more information, go to www.eauk.org.
