Responses to the Letter from
the Southern Members of the Micah Network

US Response ~ Canadian Response

FROM CRWRC-US, OSJ, and CHRISTIAN REFORMED WORLD MISSIONS

Dear Friends,

We urge you to read carefully the letter from Christian evangelical leaders in the Global South. Here is why:

First, because we respect the people who wrote and signed it and the spirit in which they sent it. We may have only a little experience with the stark reality that compels them to write this letter, but we have much experience with their love for us.

Second, this letter comes to us from our brothers and sisters within the Micah Challenge network in the developing world (the Global South). The CRC Synod of 2004 (Acts of Synod 2004, Art. 33, Pg. 555) endorsed the Micah Call and encouraged strong CRC participation in the Micah Challenge. Paying attention to this letter is an important piece of our response to that endorsement.

Third, the letter asks us to place the welfare of those in extreme poverty on an equal footing with our own as we select and communicate our priorities to our political leaders this fall, and to remember that US policy – especially our action or inaction in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – greatly affects the welfare of the poorest segments of the world. We believe this request is of critical importance.

The letter raises uncomfortable and serious questions that call us to pray and work a lot harder toward just, sustainable, and effective help for all God’s image bearers – especially those living in the Southern Hemisphere over the next seven years.

And so, we stand united in hoping for your strong participation not only in the Micah Challenge network, but even more so, in the political debates and action needed to turn good goals into real results.

This letter evoked an unusual variety of strong and conflicting emotions from the three of us. You may experience a similar response. We created a document of “frequently asked questions” to help work through these.

May God bless you abundantly as you engage your part of the Christian Reformed Church in doing justice, loving mercy, and walking more humbly with our God.

Sincerely,

p.s. If you’d like to learn more and would consider signing a letter challenging the presidential candidates
to renew the U S commitment to the Millennium Development Goals go to www.micahchallenge.us.
 

Response from CCg. Canada

Dear Friends,

"Use your citizenship responsibly for the benefit of the entire world."

This special challenge comes to Christians in North America from Churches in the global South. They've written to us—members of their family—urging committed action for hope and change in the face of hunger, disease, violence and injustice in their countries and communities.

Their challenge to us is sharp and sobering—we need to hear it, and we need to act.

At the turn of the Millennium Canada and the nations of the world made a commitment to fight extreme poverty with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These achievable goals are a beginning point on the journey for justice, they represent a solemn moral imperative to fight chronic poverty. But commitment to the MDGs is weak and our sisters and brothers in the global south are not seeing evidence of our actions against deepening injustice.

Micah Challenge Canada, Make Poverty Historyand countless churches and development organizations have worked for accountability to the MDG promises—but our nation and the international community are falling short:

• The latest UN progress report on the MDGs raises grave concerns that the global economic slow down, the food security crisis and climate change are threatening progress on the MDGs. The food crisis itself is expected to drive 100 million more people into poverty.

Canada promised to dedicate 0.7% of our gross national income (GNI) to development assistance by 2015. Despite this promise, and promises to double aid to Africa, Canada's aid levels have stagnated around 0.3% of GNI.

According to the UN Secretary General: We know what to do. But it requires unswerving, collective, long-term effort.

The letter from our southern brothers and sisters describe a reality of suffering. As hard as these words are to read, their truths are even harder to ignore. The lives of millions of God's children and the integrity of His Good Creation are at stake. This compels us to seek first the Kingdom of God and God's justice!

Canadians have just come through an election. And because of the economic drama in the North we're aware of the fragility and interconnections the global economy. Our typical stresses about mortgages and retirement are comparatively minor to the life and death realities of chronic poverty in the south. And so even today we must press on, in the truth of the Good News of God's Kingdom, and respond to the call of our neighbors in the south.

Please read the letter with courage and conviction—and then join with others in your community to see to it that we keep our promises to fight the moral scourge of chronic poverty. 

Sincerely,

Mike Hogeterp
Research and Communications Manager
CCG (Committee for Contact with the Government)