Tuesday, October 23, 9 pm EDT, 8 CDT, 7 MDT, 6 PDT, 5 AKDT Participants: Penny Phillips; Elaine Thomas ; Leslee Sandberg ; Char Mills; Tim Baer; Joyce Wilkinson; Stephanie Schultz; Mike Kinman; Marguy McVey. Here are the highlights: *The EGR blog -- www.e4gr.blogspot.com -- will be re-launched on November 1. There will be new content every day and we've recruited an excellent group of bloggers from around the world. *A lot of diocesan conventions are featuring the MDGs. Please report any MDG happenings at your diocesan convention to us so we can keep track. *Ann Finch is looking for submissions for an MDG Advent calender -- you can email them to her at aocfinch@yahoo.com Christ's peace, Mike+

II. Prayer, Readings and Reflection - see below

III. Movement update from EGR - Mike Kinman, et. Al.

a. Website/Blog update
These are being updated frequently, as needed, including adding and paring information and reformatting. Gradually each of the MDGs will have their own page on the site. Each page will include basic information, scriptural references and specific examples of What One Can Do ... and anything else that fits (for example, recent information about conferences, etc.). Also there will be a general info page about the MDGs, why we should care about them as Christians and what the Episcopal Church has done so far. The aim for completing these MDG pages is the end of the year. Mike's presently working on a page for Children, Youth and Young Adults.

The blog will be re-launched on November 1. We have more than 20 bloggers recruited - eventually we'll have 30, each writing once a month, so we'll have new content every day. The bloggers are from around the world and skew younger Please help us continue to recruit more writers, encourage people you know to write and consider writing entries yourselves. Our focus is especially to find blog writers who are living or who have lived outside the U.S..

b. Diocesan Conventions update
Please continue to let us know what help you need for your dioceses conventions and what dioceses are doing regarding the MDGs! Many recent diocesan conventions have highlighted the MDGs. Trudie Smither, our EGR contact person in Dallas, reported that the MDG resolution failed there largely because the MDGs were seen as too liberal, thus, unfavorable. An associate of Trudie's wrote up a piece suggesting ways to help engage people with the MDGs in areas where they are being tagged as too liberal. Mike will edit it and make it available on the website.

A discussion ensued about the cultural backlash against the MDG aims of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, including issues of Reproductive Health, and of combating HIV/Aids. Mike suggested if and when we perceive contests on these issues we, perhaps, should spend MORE time, not less, talking about why empowering women is key to resolving many problems targeted by the MDGs, including those of poverty, disease, education and more. Addressing oppositional views is more challenging to do because education is clearly needed when such conflicts are expressed by others. Yet, addressing them with care and humility is essential. For example, the terms "Reproductive Health", are viewed by some to be code-words for "abortion". Yet, because we want to stay true to scripture, such challenging perspectives can help us be true to the mission, by humbly listening to, examining and answering others' concerns - when possible, with scripture. Mike said when he gets the question posed asking why the lives of those in poverty are important to address yet abortion still exists, his response is to say that abortion is another issue: It's a diversion which will take our discussion away from the needs targeted by the MDGs. He also asks questioners for ideas on the scriptural passages they believe support each MDG, including those they question, and Mike refers, himself, to scriptural passages in answering such questions. The use of scripture is another way to clarify that the MDGs are not ‘some secular agenda', as some within the church have tried to claim. So, if we perceive a backlash, we can hit the subject harder and back it up as a scriptural imperative.

For more ideas on how to address challenging questions about the MDGs, Eleanor Braun has excellent peace and justice scripture passages available.

Overall, our focus in discussing the MDGs may be helped by incorporating the following:

- Clarification that the MDGs advocate a direction to go in, not specific organizations to which to contribute or which will administrate the MDG process and success. For example, some simply hear of the United Nations' involvement and react negatively. We can clarify that the MDGs were set by the member nations of the UN and the UN is uniquely able to monitor progress worldwide. But the UN is just a data gathering and monitoring agent, as are many others;
- Scriptural bases for addressing each MDG;
- Emphasizing of involvement with MDGs via. companion dioceses and downplaying the role of the National church structures.

IV. Open floor for storytelling, questions, problem-solving, resource-sharing, exploring partnerships, conversation
Char, in Spokane, just completed their convention. People there wrote what they were doing for the MDGs. One small church said they were already at 3% (donated to the MDGs) and were going for 10%. This remains very inspiring. Mike asked if someone from their congregation or diocese would write their story of this and send it to us for the website - preferably with photos.
Tim said the average attendance at his small church was 50% - 60%; that 20% of their budget is for "outreach", further, they're trying to get a line item for the 0.7% for the MDGs.
A question arose again about the Inspiration Fund and who, exactly, administrates it. Mike said he may email someone to get an answer to this.
Mike has already emailed our contact at Bread for the World to find out why the large world maps for global poverty are no longer available. He will also ask Carol Welch this.

Mike asked that we seek to find someone who would do online research to find the cheapest, large world map for this purpose. Alternately, we may be able to use something like Microsoft publisher to make a cheap map from an online copy.
Leslee noted EGR displays will be placed inside the main meeting room(s) at the Iowa convention, versus relegated to the hallway. A Popsicle cross is planned.

Tim inquired about Mike's travel schedule in coming weeks. Mike just returned from Arizona, will be in Michigan at week's end and in November will be active at the conventions in Iowa and Missouri.
Mike noted Ann Finch's suggestion and request, by email, to develop an Advent project. See below,

From Ann Finch: I think we need an MDG Advent calendar (a la 365 ways to save the
world). Perhaps one already exists? Anyone who'd care to submit pithy
items is welcome to do so. I'll do my best to compile it into a pdf
for wide - and fast! - distribution. aocfinch@yahoo.com

Leslee suggested one idea is to use the "Alternative Gifts International" catalogue, which she said is similar to the ERD catalogue. This option allows one to give half to local projects and half to international ones. It also helps avoid "donor fatigue" because efforts are spread among congregations. Leslee offered to send this information to all through the list serve, Googlegroups.

V. Closing Prayer and dismissal

Prayer, Readings and Reflection

Open with a moment of silence in memory of Ron Petersen, EGR diocesan contact from Nevada, who died this past month.

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 the Feast of James of Jerusalem
‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Silence - 30 seconds

A Collect for St. James of Jerusalem
Grant, O God, that following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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.