Thursday, October 11, 1 pm EDT, noon CDT, 11 MDT, 10 PDT, 9 AKDT...... Participants: Mary Allen; Tim Baer; Eleanor Braun; Luke Fodor; Elizabeth Henry; Kathy Horvat; Char Mills; Bill Monk; Bean Murray; Stephanie Schultz; Barbara Whitton; Mike Kinman; Marguy McVey

I. Welcome & brief introduction

II. Prayer, Readings and Reflection - see below

III. Update from ERD - Luke Fodor
All of ERD's work is related to the MDGs. So the grant ERD received for Malaria prevention (noted below) supports only part of their work. Yet, the Nets for Life program has been so successful they're

Episcopal Relief and Development was awarded $1.5 million grant from USAID for a malaria-prevention program in Angola. More details are available at www.er-d.org

.
Luke emphasized that ERD gives nets free of charge to the poorest of the poor, including those removed from government access due to their remote locales. ERD can access such people through the community of churches. The entire cost for the provision of each net, including education on how to use the net is about $12/net. Nets last about 5 years.
Each ERD Diocesan Coordinator has been sent a net for education and use at diocesan conventions. Some are using these to educate by "renting" nap times at conventions; the money for which goes to "Nets for Life". Others have cut a hole in the net and worn the net like a poncho, prompting questions by observers and the further dissemination of information about the need and efforts to combat malaria. In Olympia, Washington, a challenge has been issued for Advent, to buy enough nets to represent each person in the diocese.

Luke also said a public announcement will occur at Executive Council and will be sent to each diocese regarding the MDGIF, their goal to raise money and their desire for help with this goal. Details referenced below:

The MDG Inspiration Fund is a new partnership between Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), Jubilee Ministries, and the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to raise $3 million to fight malaria and other preventable diseases. Over the next two years, from 2007-2009, the Executive Council has designated $924,000 and ERD will identify additional contributions to reach a goal of $1 million for the MDG Inspiration Fund. The $1 million will be used to "inspire" individuals, congregations and dioceses to contribute $2 million with the aim of raising a total of $3 million by 2009.

How will the money be allocated?
The income generated from the MDG Inspiration Fund will be used to fight malaria, which is an objective of MDG #6, along with HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases. Malaria is an easily treatable disease and is a high priority for many of ERD's partners in the Anglican Communion. Although this program specifically targets MDG #6, several additional MDGs are addressed through malaria prevention, including MDG# 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8. The Fund will assign $2 million of the total $3 million to be used in support of ERD's NetsforLifeSM program, a partnership for malaria prevention in 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a possible pilot program in Asia. ERD is an implementing partner in NetsforLifeSM. The program promotes an integrated prevention model that focuses on delivering long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, building community awareness about malaria, training people on proper use of the nets and educating communities to seek treatment while advocating for better access to drug therapies.

ERD will work in partnership with Jubilee Ministries to allocate the remaining $1 million for programs targeting global health issues including, but not limited to malaria prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean.

From Eleanor Braun, a link for more information about Nets for Life, http://www.netsforlifeafrica.org/ ; more news about the grant from USAID to ERD for malaria nets, http://voanews.com/english/Africa/2007-10-08-voa14.cfm ; and an interesting article about mosquito netting in last Tuesday's NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/health/09nets.html

IV. Update from ONE Episcopalian/EPPN - Mary Getz/Alex Baumgarten
Since Mary Getz, of EPPN, had a prior commitment that precluded her participation in this call, Luke read an email update from her, which is included below:

The Episcopal Church, in coalition with many other faith groups, has spent a lot of time working on reform of the Farm Bill. Why? The legislation governs many important policy areas, including key investments in rural communities, critical nutrition programs for those in need, conservation of our natural resources, and clean and renewable energy. Globally, the farm bill's impact is felt in developing countries where the success of small-scale farmers is key to the eradication of poverty - a primary Millennium Development Goal.

Earlier this summer, the House passed its version of the bill with little in the way of reform. While this is a disappointment, the faith community is well positioned to continue aggressive advocacy as the Senate begins its consideration this fall.

In fact, the Senate is now expected to have its "mark-up" of the Farm Bill around the 18th of October. Now is the time to talk to our Senators. Let them know we are committed to Farm Bill that:

. Ensures that commodity payments go to those who need them most rather than the large-scale producers that receive more than 75% of current payments;
. Reduces the harm of U.S. agricultural policies to farmers and families living in deadly poverty around the world; and
. Strengthens nutrition, conservation, rural development programs and food aid.
As a follow-up from the conference call today, Elizabeth sent an update on the Farm Bill from Bread, which can be found at http://www.bread.org/take-action/recent-developments-on-seeds-of-change.html. EPPN also has a good resource here (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_88915_ENG_HTM.htm).

V. Movement update from EGR - Mike Kinman, et. Al.
a. Website/Blog update
Updating continues nearly daily, by Bill and Mike. The site contains a wealth of information. We want to keep it current, interesting and persistently new. If anyone searching for information there cannot find it or needs old information that has been removed, please let us know. The Blog will be re-launched on 11/1. Mike is recruiting 30 bloggers from all over the Anglican Communion. Authors will contribute on a schedule of assigned numbers, once per month. The writers skew younger and outside US, intentionally. These include a couple of people in the Sudan; as well as the wife of Bishop in Rwanda. We've heard from 17 out of 30 potential writers who've been contacted. Bill notes, on our news pages, one can comment if one wants to add to the conversation. Additionally, in the registration section, if you are planning an event, please let Bill know and he can arrange for signup online, free of charge.

b. Diocesan contacts/surveys/conventions
There are 3 Convention pages on the site. One regards data gathering, noted in the "marching orders" of a recent letter sent by Mike. The other 2 are surveys: Congregational surveys need to be spread as widely as possible. To date, #250 have been completed. We need some diocesan contacts in each diocese. You are always welcome to add to these. There is no limit on the number of people, the more the better/easier. For any new contacts, please send Mike email and he'll include them.

c. Fundraising update
It is ongoing and growing. Financially, we currently have a couple of months of funding in the bank. We need to raise $37,000 by the end of the year, to close the year securely. Then $65,000 for the rest of the year.

d. Youth/Young Adult update - Elizabeth Henry
Elizabeth's been working with younger people nationally throughout the church - to figure out how the church can best serve the MDGs through establishing partnerships with youth. To this end, a committee is being formed, a group of 6 - 8 youth and young adults, by month's end, to help direct these efforts. If you have any ideas to recruit specific youth who may participate, please send Elizabeth or Mike an email. The desire is to have youth participating throughout the US. Currently, we have a fair number from the south & the east coast. Though we don't have any quota, we would like more from the West and the NE, to balance diversity. The 2nd round of "Eat In To Help Out" dinners are this coming week. To date, 25 dinners are scheduled. This doubles the number of dinners since the last round. The last time this event occurred, $3000 was raised. Hopefully, this round will bring in at least $10,000 for the MDGs. "Stand up against poverty" is trying to break a record this year. 10/17 is the International day to eradicate poverty. Diocese may incorporate the Stand up Pledge as part of the liturgy that week.

VI. Open floor for storytelling, questions, problem-solving, resource-sharing, exploring partnerships, conversation
Tim Baer reported that the Bishops' Alliance for Rural Health and Development (BARHD) has faced significant opposition in Uganda. This summer, the new Bishop of Uganda kicked out 9 rural clinics and wanted the church group out. The Uganda director of this program was removed because she is female. She has been replaced with a male.

E4GR is looking for theological resources, newspaper articles, personal stories . . . anything which may help make the MDGs come alive in all people's experiences; in their frames of reference. Please spread the word and also send us all ideas, stories, etc., for our newsletter. Submissions should be from 500 - 800 words, ideally. If photos can be included, all the better (vertical layout is best for these). Please email any submissions to Mike (MKinman@gmail.com).

Stephanie wrote a talk she was to deliver to her church the following Sunday. She read an excerpt and will send it to Mike.

VII. Closing Prayer and dismissal

Prayer, Readings and Reflection

Prayer for the Church (BCP, p. 816)
Gracious God, we pray for your holy, Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior, AMEN.

Gospel Reading for Thursday in week of Proper 22 - Matthew 9:18-26
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.' And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Silence - 30 seconds

A reflection on children in the world today by Nelson Mandela
Without children, humankind ceases to exist. We have inherited from the 20th century the vision and reality of freedom and democracy. All these very vital rights that we have are the result of the efforts of ordinary people. And it is these ordinary people we must urge to be in the forefront in ensuring that every child is given a chance-of going to school, of developing his human potential, because the children will respond to us in accordance with how we nurture them. How we bring them up with love and courage. How we protect them. The values that we give them. So that we should be able to be a society that is humane and that cares. And our children should be prepared to build an even better society than ourselves.

Silence (30 seconds), followed by word or phrase reflections
The EGR Prayer
Most loving God, as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting, may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all; as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit, may our heart overflow with compassion for all; as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all. Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit, and give us courage to accept our responsibility, wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity, and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished. Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church to free us from apathy and indifference; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.