August 21, 2008

CHICAGO – Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) declared Minnesota a "ONE State," joining the ONE campaign against global poverty and disease by signing a pledge in a ceremony Aug. 20 in St. Paul. The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Saint Paul Area Synod, joined Pawlenty, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and other Minnesota leaders at the ceremony.

The ONE Campaign is a grassroots effort to motivate people to fight HIV and AIDs and extreme poverty. The campaign seeks an additional 1 percent of the U.S. budget to address global poverty, debt relief for the world's most impoverished countries and fair international trade rules.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman also signed declarations earlier in the week making their respective cities official "ONE Cities."

"Today the Lutheran Church and others of faith and conscience in Minnesota and throughout the country are uniting to speak with one voice to urge ongoing U.S. leadership in the fight against global poverty and deadly disease," Rogness said. "It is because of the generosity of the American people that Lutheran ministries in Tanzania and Nigeria are able to provide life- saving treatment and care to our brothers and sisters infected with HIV and AIDS. Lives are saved. Hope is reclaimed." Rogness, who introduced Pawlenty, is chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops' international poverty and conflict special interest group.

"This campaign reflects the very best of what Minnesotans are all about: being good neighbors and helping those who are less fortunate than us," Pawlenty said. "The fight against global disease and extreme poverty is not a Republican or Democratic or Independent issue; it's an issue that brings us all together and an issue that we all must work to address. Global poverty won't be solved by government alone or faith-based organizations alone or philanthropy alone or businesses alone. It takes all organizations and people working together, doing their part and urging others to get involved. That's what the ONE Campaign, and being a ONE State, is all about."

About a dozen states and some local governments have also signed the pledge, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

ELCA News Service