Just came across this:
As the Church of the Lord in what is
known as the "Southern" part of the world, moved by the Holy Spirit to
fight for the abundant life that Jesus Christ offers, we address our
Christian family in the United States, a Church of the same covenant,
faith and love. Grace and Peace to all of our brothers and sisters.
We
know your works of love; these works have allowed millions of human
beings for many generations in our countries in the South to receive
the gospel, the Grace of Jesus Christ and the power of His Salvation.
The U.S. church's untiring missionary effort planted in our lands Hope
in Him who came to reconcile EVERYTHING.
Nevertheless,
the political, social and economic situation in the places where this
hope has been announced is increasingly distressing. Millions of people
in the global South are dying of hunger, violence and injustice. These
situations of poverty and pain are not simply the product of the
internal functions of our countries; rather they are the results of the
international policies of the governments that wield global power.
Therefore,
we have this against you, brothers and sisters, that along with this
powerful announcing of the Gospel, the Church from the United States
has not also raised its voice in protest against the injustices that
powerful governments and institutions are inflicting on the global
South - injustices that afflict the lives and ecosystems of millions of
people who, centuries after the proclamation of the Gospel, still have
not seen the sweat of their brow turned into bread.
The
worsening inequality and poverty in the South is alarming. Seven years
since the United States and 191 other nations publicly promised to cut
extreme global poverty in half by the year 2015 through the eight
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), your country has made only a
little progress towards fulfilling its commitments.
The
MDGs should stir us to action because they echo the calls of the
biblical prophets for justice and equity. Further, they are achievable
and measurable markers on the roadmap to end extreme global poverty.
And
so we ask you as sisters and brothers, citizens of the wealthiest most
powerful nation on earth, to publicly challenge your candidates and
political leaders - now and after the elections are over - to lead the
world in the struggle to cut global poverty in half by 2015. If you who
know the Truth will not speak for us who will?
The
Church in the United States has the opportunity today to be faithful to
the Hope that it preaches. We urge you to remember that the Hope to
which you were called as a messenger demands that you seek first the
Kingdom of God and God's justice.
Out
of love for us, the global Church, in holiness, use your citizenship
responsibly for the benefit of the entire world; it is for this very
reason that the Lord poured out His life on the Cross.
All who have ears, let them hear what the Lord says to His Church.
Click here to see a long list of the signatories.
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