September 16, 2005
By Matthew Davies

Religious leaders and people of faith concerned about the plight of the world's poor united in a three-day interfaith vigil of prayer and fasting September 14-16, which ran concurrently with the United Nations' 60th annual general assembly in New York.

Asking U.S leaders to increase aid to fight global poverty and to fulfill its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – an eight-prong declaration that seeks to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 – Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town and Jim Wallis, editor of the Christian social justice magazine "Sojourners," came together in a time of witness at the vigil's closing ceremony September 16.

Encouraging signs

Ndungane noted significant progress this week. President Bush, in his speech to the nation September 15, mentioned America's commitment to the MDGs, despite previous fears that the U.S government was backing away from the goals.

"We should take this as huge encouragement to keep going," Ndungane said to the crowd gathered in New York City's Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. "Because it shows that even the President of the U.S. listens to what the people say."

"We now have the world's political leaders saying the right things about ending extreme poverty," said Wallis. "I think that's because of the momentum of our world's church leaders and NGOs."

Titled "Summer of Prayer and Fasting," the event's sponsors included American Jewish World Service, the Anglican Consultative Council, Catholic Relief Services and Micah Challenge, among others.

Bringing fairness, greater integrity

Calling for an extension of debt cancellation and greater justice in trade policies, Ndungane said, "We have argued for measures to bring fairness [and] we have called for greater integrity in the organization of our global politics and economics – an integrity that protects the weak against the exploitation of the strong, that gives them equal dignity, respect, and influence in the councils of the world."

Approximately 30,000 people die every day from the consequences of poverty, "yet this is not news," Ndungane said. "It is not news because it is not new."

"But there is no reason why it must stay the same," he added. "We know that the world has the resources to make a difference. What we have been lacking is the political will."

Earlier this week, Ndungane joined a consultation of international religious leaders that delivered a consensus statement to the United Nations. The statement reaffirmed support for the MDGs and calling for increased collaboration between churches and governments in tackling global poverty.

Making a difference

Highlighting just, fair and open trade as "the best guarantor of stable, sustainable livelihoods for everyone on this planet," Ndungane said: "People do not want to live by hand-outs. They want to support themselves and their families in dignity. We all want that dignity and self respect – we all should have it."

During a Litany for Social Justice, the gathering – which included Anglican Observer to the United Nations, Archdeacon Taimalelagi Tuatagaloa-Matalavea – prayed for the rural and urban poor, the rebuilding of communities, prisoners and captives, the orphaned, neglected and abused, and for the reconciliation of all people.

"We must network together, and raise our voices together, and harness public opinion together, and together ensure that the plight of the poor is heard and addressed and changed for ever," said Ndungane. "We must not give up hope. We must not give up trying. We know we can make a difference."

Episcopal News Service
Matthew Davies is international correspondent / multimedia manager for the Episcopal News Service.