Bishop William Gafkjen urges you to add your voice to speak out for the world's poorest
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
I recently joined my signature to Bishop Mark Hanson's and those of many other religious leaders of various faith traditions to encourage the Obama Administration to adopt economically just policies that will expand debt cancellation to more poor countries in need and establish binding standards of responsible lending and borrowing.
I was moved to add my signature to this letter by the biblical commitment to the poor and Martin Luther's assertion that civic leadership carries responsibility for establishing and maintaining just care for all. Reflecting on biblical material, for example, our church's social statement regarding economic justice, aptly titled "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All," says:
"Through human decisions and actions, God is at work in economic life. Economic life is intended to be a means through which God's purposes for humankind and creation are to be served. When this does not occur, as a church we cannot remain silent because of who and whose we are."
The statement also reminds us that "When a developing country becomes heavily indebted, the poorest are usually the most adversely affected. A huge share of a country's income must be used to pay off debt, which may have been incurred unjustly or under corrupt rulers. Structural adjustment programs to pay off debt typically divert funds from much needed educational, health, and environmental efforts, and from infrastruc tures for economic development."
My signature on the letter to President Obama is accompanied by my prayers for him and for the other leaders of our country, that they may be have the strength, focus, and courage to build a just global economy that assists in establishing peace and prosperity for all.
Click here to read the letter.
From the ELCA e-Advocacy Network , ELCA Washington Office:
More than a decade ago, countries in the global south were faced with insurmountable debts for loans often given to dictators for projects that never materialized or even oppressed the countries’ citizens. For many of these countries, servicing such a debt meant the inability to provide adequate resources such as education, public health, safe water and proper sanitation services for their citizens.
The Jubilee 2000 movement resulted in over $100 billion of debt cancelled in 29 countries. One of the many improvements is it allowed for thousands of little girls in Tanzania to receive primary education.
Our partners at Jubilee USA Network have organized an open sign-on letter to President Obama calling for him to join other world leaders and end the cycle that leads to devastating debt crises.
What Can You Do?
We encourage you to sign on to the letter, therefore lending your support to this call for a just international economy. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson has already signed on, as well as 18 other heads of denominations and faith-based groups working for peace with justice. Click here to read the letter.
Lutheran Advocacy in the Jubilee Movement
The Jubilee movement relies heavily on communities of faith, in order to spread the message for debt relief in other countries. To date, there are 59 Lutheran faith communities in the Jubilee USA Network.
These congregations continue to participate in God's mission by growing the voice and moral presence of faith communities in the struggle to break the chains of debt in financially struggling countries. This Lutheran campaign on debt has allowed Lutherans to act out their faith and restore hope for the millions affected by the debt crisis. If your congregation decides to join this Jubilee movement, please let our office know by sending an e-mail to washingtonoffice@elca.org.
Please sign on to the open letter and spread the message widely.
Blessings,