ELCA News Blog
October 3, 2006
ELCA congregations encouraged to 'STAND UP' against poverty
by Annie Lynsen, ELCA Washington Office
Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have an opportunity to help set an official Guinness World Record on Oct. 15 by standing up for a moment during worship. The worldwide 'STAND UP' effort is sponsored by the Millennium Campaign. Established by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2002, the campaign supports citizens' efforts to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
An ELCA guide for congregational involvement in the STAND UP effort is now available, including sample prayers related to the MDGs. There are many ways for congregations to participate. One suggestion is to have the congregation stand for one minute, while the leader reads the STAND UP pledge, and then announce the total number of people who stood up. Differently-abled people can perform any appropriate action to show they are taking a stand (raising a hand, wearing a white wrist band -- the symbol of the global fight against poverty, or holding up a banner). Those who participate must report the number of people who stood up to the Millennium Campaign via e-mail.
All member states of the United Nations, including the United States, adopted MDGs in 2000. The goals are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and create a global partnership for development.
Promoting the STAND UP event is part of the ongoing activities of the ONE Lutheran campaign, which calls for strong U.S. leadership for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog