Churches Toolkit

Ideas for Churches to get involved in the Global Month of Action

14 September – 17 October
Stand Up Against Poverty!

In 2005, churches around the UK took part in the Make Poverty History campaign as part of their mission to live out love of God and neighbour.

This autumn the Global Month of Action will see campaigners in over 80 countries around the world joined together again by the white band, the symbol of the global fight to end poverty. They will be calling for governments to eradicate poverty, dramatically lessen inequality, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals through:

Trade justice
A major increase in the quantity and quality of aid and financing for development
Debt cancellation
Public accountability, just governance and the fulfillment of human rights

Once again, the campaign offers Christians a chance to stand in solidarity with brothers and sisters around the world, and to renew our commitment to facing the challenge of loving our neighbours as ourselves.

To help your church take part, you can

use some of the worship materials in this Toolkit for a “Stand Up” service and participate in the record-breaking “Stand Up” event on 15th October
plan a “white band” event for your congregation,
encourage your congregation to write your MP or take part in email or postcard actions,
take part in large events -- either Christian Aid’s “The Beat Goes On,” which launches the month in London on September 14th (see www.christian-aid.org for details) or other events held around the country.

A list of possible actions is in the fourth section of the Chuches Toolkit, and you can find still more in the general Toolkit.

The campaign particularly invites churches to join in the “Stand Up Against Poverty” world record attempt on October 15th/16th. This is an attempt to get as many people as possible to take a symbolic “Stand” against poverty. The more people who participate, the clearer the message to governments will be that poverty is still an issue, and we are still concerned.

The world record attempt will be held in a 24 hour window from 11:00am BST on Sunday 15 October to 11:00am BST on Monday 16 October. This gives church congregations an ideal opportunity to combine prayer and action – bringing the issues before God and taking a symbolic action to show our concern and resolve, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world.

The Churches Toolkit contains
1. Information about taking part in the “Stand Up” World Record Event
2. Worship materials for a “Stand Up Against Poverty” service
3. Stories for sermon illustrations and church magazine articles
4. Suggestions for actions in the service and beyond

General Toolkit home page