Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

The Millennium Development Goals and the Episcopal Church

In two successive General Conventions, the Episcopal Church committed itself to eliminating extreme global poverty by working through the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs). The Goals were developed by the leaders of the world's nations, in cooperation with the United Nations. We can start by devoting 0.7% of our personal, congregational, and diocesan incomes to meeting the MGDs. Fulfilling the MGDs would mean lifting more than 500 million people out of extreme poverty. More than 300 million would no longer suffer from hunger. Child health would improve, saving the lives of more than 30 million children under the age of five.

So what are the MGDs? They are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental stability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

These eight goals are attainable with the resources we have at our disposal today. For more information visit www.er-d.org/mgd Additionally, if you have a story about how your congregation has begun to work towards furthering any one of these goals, please consider posting it under the comments...