By Siphiwe Sithole
Intern, Anglican Communion Communications, London
"The Anglican Church through the Anglican Consultative Council and the Peace and Justice Network can and should be major participants in the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance," said the Rt Rev Herbert Donovan, the Interim Anglican Observer.
The Alliance, which had its founding meeting in Geneva, Switzerland and has the primary objective to address the root causes of poverty, conflict and injustice, is hosted by the World Council of Churches but is separate from the WCC as a 'stand alone' agency.
Bishop Donovan said: "Our global structure and our resources have much to give, and we have much to benefit from this new venture. The Alliance exists solely for the purpose of addressing one or two agreed upon issues of advocacy."
Members sign on for issues as they wish and there is a built in three-year review of the process, the issues and the Alliance.
The Bishop said he is impressed with the very careful and deliberate process that led to the selection of advocacy issues, and with the significant of the issues themselves. "Global economic justice with specific focus on global trade, and Ethics of life with a specific focus on HIV/AIDS. They are narrow enough to be 'targetable' and broad enough to touch 'root cause'", he said.
An Anglican, the Revd Canon Clement Janda of the All Africa Conference of Churches is one of the ten members of the newly established Committee for the Alliance.