ONE Conference

[Eleanor Braun]

Diocesan coordinators:

 

I went to a mini-conference (4 hours) put one by ONE.Org for the state of Virginia yesterday which I thought you'd be interested in.

 

I don't know how many other states they've done this in.  For me, it was the first time I've seen actual humans associated with ONE - of course their web site has been around for a while, and even seems to have more information now:  http://www.one.org/us/  .  See especially their blog:  http://www.one.org/blog/

 

They were encouraging more people to do advocacy on MDG issues; a hot topic now is the climate change bill, including a provision to provide funding to poor countries affected by global warming:  http://www.one.org/c/us/pastcampaign/2960/  see also:  http://www.one.org/c/us/hottopic/2956/

 

One rewarding aspect:  they had breakout sessions, one of which was for people of faith to discuss what they were doing.  Of the eight or so of us in the group, two were Episcopalians, and the only two who really had anything to say.  The others were interested in what EPPN was doing, and in U2charists. We ended up providing them with the link to E4GR (which seems to be down this very hot minute).  One said - you Episcopalians really have this social justice thing down.  I smiled.

 

I was glad to see them encouraging advocacy - which is an area I think church members have a problem doing.  Do you have the same experience?

--
Eleanor Braun

Dio Virginia co-coordinator

[Ann]

Definitely in my parish. Others speak more with ONE voice, but my
parish is -- as I like to frame it -- "blessed with political
diversity." Even getting a letter writing campaign going there would
be tricky. If mission is where hope for communion lies (and I believe
it is), then I take joy in the fact that the MDGs are on display in
our nave, in our budget and in our Prayers of the People every Sunday.
Thanks for the encouraging news from ONE, Eleanor, I'll be on the
lookout for events in DC/MD.