Methodist Churches across Britain to Hold Poverty Services for G8 Summit

To mark the importance of the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 6th July, Methodist Churches across the UK will give simultaneous services on the morning of Saturday 2nd July, a statement has announced. It also coincides with the massive rally organised by the Make Poverty History campaign in an attempt to press the leaders of the richest countries in the world to take action against world poverty.

The main Edinburgh service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday 2nd July at Methodist Central Hall. Other special services in churches across Britain will take place on the same morning as well.

Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, says "many people will make the journey to Edinburgh for the G8 events. But even more will not be able to, for many different reasons. So by holding the same service at churches across the country, we will all be able to join as one in celebrating our faith and raising our voices to support Make Poverty History."

These services will be open to all. The Methodist Church hopes that as many churches as possible will be involved and it also invited churches across the world to join in.

The Methodist Church has regarded the anti-poverty effort as an important issue and has set it on the top of the agenda for the upcoming annual Conference in Torquay. A team of Methodist Conference members, including the President, Revd Tom Stuckey and Vice President John Bell, will make a 460-mile journey between Torquay and Edinburgh so as to join the 2nd July rally, as soon as the Conference finishes on 30th June.

With regard to the recent promise made by the G7 leaders to cancel debts for some developing countries, Anthea Cox said it is "a significant step forward in working towards debt cancellation. It was good to hear the Chancellor thank Churches and NGO’s for their role in campaigning in this area. This announcement will make a significant difference to the lives of some of the poorest people."

In addition, Cox warned that "the G8 summit does not mark the end of Make Poverty History". He urged for continued effort in other meetings such as the World Trade Organisation in December in Hong Kong and the UK’s presidency of the EU in the second half of 2005.

"I am delighted with the high profile that trade, aid and debt are receiving. When every day 30,000 children die of poverty you know instinctively that something is wrong and that you must act. Governments are hearing the force of the argument for economic justice and it is appropriate that churches should be central to this call. We are confident that decisions taken at the G8 will make a difference to the lives of many in Africa and elsewhere," he added.