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The Bishop's Journal
May 1999
GAINING MOMENTUM!
"So those do-good church types are at it again, you know, those preachy folks who are sometimes more blessed with ideals than common sense. And this time, an international church campaign called Jubilee 2000 is suggesting nothing less than writing off billions of dollars of debts that poor countries owe the world's rich nations. Well, as preposterous as it sounds, the idealists are completely right on this one. They know what they are talking about."
It's not often that Christian social teaching receives such hearty endorsement in the secular press. But there it was, in the lead editorial of our local newspaper.
The International Jubilee 2000 Campaign calling for the cancellation of the unpayable debts of the world's poorest 50 countries has gained incredible momentum and broad public support. The appeal is on behalf of the poorest of the poor and represents debt that can never be repaid; debt that condemns large portions of the global population to lives of poverty, illness and hopelessness. Jubilee 2000 Campaigns are now active in 39 countries including many countries in the South. The campaign has been endorsed by 30 major religious denominations and ecumenical groups in Canada. It has been endorsed by the Lutheran World Federation, Pope John Paul II, the Bishops of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, the World Council of Churches and our own ELCIC National Church Council.
A common feature of all the Jubilee 2000 campaigns in different countries is collecting signatures on a petition which is hoped will be the largest petition in world history. It will be presented to leaders of the G8 countries when they meet in Cologne, Germany in June. The Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative, of which the ELCIC is a member, reports that they hope to collect over 400,000 signatures by the end of April. (NOTE: If you have any signed petitions still in hand, please send them in immediately.)
Support for this initiative is amazingly widespread. Youth organizations around the globe participate by encouraging people to 'wear fair' in supporting industries that practice fair and just labour policies in the third world. In the UK, Jubilee 2000 calls for debt cancellation were the focus of the Brit Awards, the major British music industry awards. Pop musicians are encouraging one another to put "drop the debt" on all CD covers. Recently there have been rumors of another "Live Aid" type rock concert being organized on the eve of the G8 Summit beginning June 19. In Canada, activities ranging from prayer vigils to speaking tours by Third World partners, workshops and church services on the theme of Jubilee have generated media attention and heightened public awareness concerning the crippling effect of debt within Third World countries.
But even before the petitions are delivered to G8 leaders in June, public pressure is already being felt and the politicians are responding. Political leaders of G8 countries are already indicating through public statements that they are supportive of this initiative. The question now is not whether there will be some kind of debt cancellation initiative, but rather, how far it will go.
A global week of action on debt will take place in the week leading up to the summit in Cologne. Local churches are encouraged to begin thinking of activities and events that you might host in your community during that week. Possibilities include a potluck dinner with films or a speaker, a Jubilee community picnic, a special ecumenical service to pray for the upcoming Cologne meeting, or a media event briefing the local press on the debt campaign.
Participation in this campaign, provides the Christian community with an exciting opportunity to provide a bold, courageous and public witness. More and more people around the world are coming to the conclusion that debt forgiveness makes good moral and economic sense. I encourage you to give enthusiastic support to the Jubilee 2000 campaign. We have before us the opportunity to free millions of children and their families from the chains of unpayable debt.
Let the trumpets sound! The time of Jubilee is at hand!
The Rev. Michael J. Pryse,
Bishop
