Emphasizing the top mission priority set by the General Convention in 2006 — to carry out peace and justice ministries framed by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — the Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication announces the launch of globalgood.org preceding the observance of Earth Day April 22.
Launched on April 20, globalgood.org “should be viewed as a portal,” said Daphne Mack, a communication specialist in the Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication and site editor of ‘globalgood.org.’ “Visitors to the site will learn about the MDGs, find out what kind of work the Episcopal Church and other organizations are doing to address the urgency of the goals and the environment, and more importantly how they can get involved and make a difference.”
Adopted by the United Nations in 2000, the MDGs seek to reduce global poverty by half by the year 2015. The eight goals include eradication of hunger and preventable illness, and achievement of environmental sustainability.
“Advocacy for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals represents one way the Episcopal Church is carrying out its mission of ‘restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ,'” said Alex Baumgarten, international policy analyst in the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations. “For this advocacy to be successful, it needs to come from Episcopalians across America, and the new Global Good web site represents one exciting new way of engaging those voices.”
Globalgood.org has been designed to provide a clear message coupled with ease of navigation.
The links to organizations and current events have been categorized for general audiences and youth, as well as emphasizing environmental initiatives and opportunities for action.
“The new site is offered to support Episcopalians in helping to achieve the MDGs,” said Canon Robert Williams, the Episcopal Church’s director of communication. “Our hope is to widen collaboration locally, regionally, churchwide and internationally around the vision set by the Presiding Bishop and the General Convention, which the Office of Government Relations is helping Episcopalians carry out in partnership with Episcopal Relief and Development and other groups.”
Contributions of stories, resources, and photographs are welcome from across the church, to this ever-evolving site and may be sent to Daphne Mack at dmack@episcopalchurch.org.