Meeting the challenge

International Board member, Joy Lumbag, reports on her visit to one of ECLOF's partners in the USA.

In 2001, the Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA) resolved that all dioceses should allocate 0.7% of their budgets for international development work, and choose ECLOF to be its partner in the area of microcredit. Since then the existing links between the two groups have grown even stronger.

Unfortunately, as Sandra Swan, President of ECUSA's Episcopal Relief and Development (ERDF) told me during the church's recent General Convention meeting in Minneapolis, the response to the 0.7% challenge has been much less than expected.

However, ECUSA has honoured its commitment to ECLOF. In 2001/2, we received US$250,000, and the following year US$150,000.

Sandra Swan assured me that ERDF would be sending a further US$150,000 to ECLOF this year. Future contributions, she explained, would depend on the support of the dioceses, but ECLOF would definitely receive a share of whatever money came in.

Five Talents International, an Anglican initiative to combat poverty in developing countries though micro-enterprise development, was behind the original 0.7% resolution, which ECLOF strongly backed. Indeed, I was present during the debate and one of those who answered questions raised from the floor.

This year's General Convention added some teeth to the original resolution by calling for the monitoring and accountability of the dioceses to the 0.7% scheme.

Sandra Swan and I discussed various ways in which ECLOF could also provide further support in order to increase the response. Certainly, ECLOF will need to have a strong visible presence at ECUSA gatherings, including, of course, the next General Convention in 2006.

Before that, however, we shall have to take other decisive action. I told Sandra Swan that ECLOF, through its network and friends, could visit or write to bishops or other key people in US dioceses to explain the 0.7% challenge. A person-to-person contact is best but not always possible. However, a letter plus ECLOF materials could still be effective. ECLOF was very visible during the recent convention so our name should ring a bell when letters arrive.

To date, contributions to ECUSA's 0.7% challenge have gone to national ECLOF committees in Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the Philippines. Thousands of lives have been changed as a result.

ECLOF must do all that it can to help our Anglican partners in the USA make their 0.7% scheme the resounding success it deserves, and needs to be.

ECLOF is doing a wonderful ministry among its clients, especially among the non bankable sectors of our society. It changes their lives for the better. ECLOF is really the difference in their lives. I pray that God bless ECLOF more and more so that that it can serve more and more.

We thank God that we have a member in the ECLOF Board in your person and we pray that you are useful and contributing to ECLOF.

At your service,

Ignacio Soliba

Prime Bishop

Joy Lumbag (front) with Sandra
Swan and Archbishop Ignacio
Soliba of the Episcopal Church in
the Philippines, who co-authored
the 0.7% development resolution
passed by his US colleagues.