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GLOBAL SOUTH PRIMATES MEETING: 19-22 SEPTEMBER 2006, KIGALI, RWANDAGlobal South Economic Empowerment Track
Summary Statement
Greetings to all our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Provinces of the Global South.
The Global South represents areas of diverse economic environments, some in daily desperate need and some in abundance of economic blessing. In little or in plenty we have much to thank Almighty God and for the abundant life we inherit in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
As we met we firstly took the time to count our blessings. We recognize that God in his infinite wisdom has placed each one of us in unique situations to carry out His work of bringing the Gospel to a fallen world. We acknowledge that as we searched together that each one of us has been given resources to become that blessing and bearer of Good News.
We note with continuing despair that there are many parts of the Global South in great suffering and plagued by many issues including conflict, disease, and hunger. It is for us as a Body to help each other in whatever way we can and we looked specifically at a variety of economic and financial partnerships and strategies.
We studied some of the many international initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation and agreed that we should support appropriate initiatives through action at all levels in public and private sectors. The timely success of many of these initiatives will bring about improved standards for our people. We request our Bishops and Clergy in the Provinces which can do so, to challenge our members to not only become more aware of the need to become economically self sufficient but to immediately put this into action – to be ultimately givers and not just receivers. We ask all our lay members to actively seek ways to improve economic standards and harness the opportunities presented by the international initiatives. We desire wherever possible to accelerate initiatives to help those of our Provinces experiencing conflict, disease and hunger with the hope that they too will be well on the path to economic self sufficiency.
Our action steps from this initial meeting include:
1 Establish in each Province an Economic Empowerment Fund. The seed funding will come from our ownProvincial resources as our commitment toward economic self sufficiency.
2 Begin developing in each Province a sustainable Economic Empowerment strategy.
3 Create awareness-raising and implement biblically based teaching on Stewardship.
4 Enhance communication and allocate funding where necessary.
5 Where practical to actively harness international initiatives on Poverty alleviation.
6 Begin to actively develop inter Provincial economic partnerships.
7 Convene an Economic Empowerment consultation in 2007 with participation by every Global South Province.8 Increase active engagement of both public and private sectors in improving the economic livelihoods of ourpeople.
We believe that with concerted efforts, extreme poverty can be eliminated. We also believe that we are at a pointin history where we can and must collectively address the basic needs of our people.
We believe that the path to economic self sufficiency is achievable and we need to persevere in pushing thisforward.
We commend to our Global South Provinces the Ethical Economic and Financial Covenant adopted by theGlobal South Primates Meeting for action.
We would like to thank our Global South Primates for receiving and supporting our many recommended action steps and look to them for continuing support in this area of Economic Empowerment.
May we covet your continuing prayers as we in the Economic Empowerment Track move forward in our efforts to bring about sustainable economic improvement in our communities.
Economic Empowerment Track Committee
Mr Keith Chua (South-East Asia), ChairpersonMr Mushamuka Fidele (Congo)
Mr Philip Tse Rai Wai (Indian Ocean)
Rev. Augustin Ahimana (Rwanda)
Mrs. Harriet Baka (Sudan)
Rev. Fr. Anthony Eiwuley (West Africa)Canon Dr. Bill Atwood (Southern Cone)
Mr. Thomas Kanyuka (Central Africa)
Mr Joshua Kitakule (Uganda)
For further information or query on GSFA, please email secretariat@thegsfa.org
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