British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called on church leaders, including the head of Micah Challenge International, to help the Government achieve its poverty targets.
|PIC1|Brown made the call as he met the Black Christian Leaders Forum (BCLF) at Downing Street last week.
Joel Edwards, international chairman of Micah Challenge and general director of the Evangelical Alliance, was among the leaders at the round table discussion.
The Prime Minister arranged for the BCLF to meet the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, to take developments forward.
Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christians taking action in the fight against poverty. Its members include churches, Christians and Christian organisations united in their aim of campaigning for the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - a set of eight targets, agreed on by world leaders in the year 2000, to alleviate poverty by 2015.
Rev Edwards said: "This meeting with Gordon Brown was an exciting experience which leaves me very positive for the future.
"Mr Brown has shown commitment to the MDGs in the past, but it was wonderful to have a face-to-face invitation asking us to work with him on this. And the fact that he has already arranged further meetings with the Government on this issue shows how serious he is.
"The Prime Minister's support, a week after a similar endorsement from the UN Secretary-General, should be an inspiration for Christians around the world to get involved with Micah Challenge. Campaigning does work - world leaders are taking notice."
Brown said: "What we have in common is not only what we do here in the UK but also our responsibility, because of our shared moral sense, to the rest of the world."
related articles
Ban tells church not to underestimate its power
Ban tells church not to underestimate its power
UN Chief says Evangelicals, MDGs a natural fit
UN Chief says Evangelicals, MDGs a natural fit
Joel Edwards on the Micah Challenge to halve extreme global poverty
Joel Edwards on the Micah Challenge to halve extreme global poverty
Government pledges to unite with poverty campaigners
Government pledges to unite with poverty campaigners
Brown vows to work with black Christian leaders on community issues
Brown vows to work with black Christian leaders on community issues
News
Russia and Ukraine agree to temporary Orthodox Easter truce
In the Orthodox calendar, Easter falls one week after the date celebrated in western Europe.
Bishop urges people of Britain to stand up for Christian truth
It follows an earlier open letter addressed to King Charles, calling upon him to defend Christianity in line with his titles of Supreme Governor of the Church of England and "Defender of the Faith".
Fundraising Regulator reminds churches that collections are subject to code of practice
Churches can breach the code even when acting in good faith.
Religion is often left unspoken in the workplace despite widespread faith identity, research finds
Fifteen per cent of UK employees with a faith say they have experienced religious discrimination in the workplace.