Anglican Communion News Service

From the Anglican Communion Office, London

Date of Event: September 25, 2008

St John the Divine Cathedral, Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, New York USA

Anglican Act of Witness in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Senior Anglican Officials to be present in New York
Archbishop of York, John Sentamu to preach in Cathedral service
Presiding Bishop and Primate Katharine Jefferts Schori to officiate at the service

The Anglican Observer at the United Nations, Dr Hellen Wangusa will be available for interviews

This act of witness follows on the successful show of witness in London in July during the Anglican Communion Lambeth Conference when some 700 marched in witness from Parliament to Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Press and Media welcome and Photo Journalists can be accommodated

International Contact: The Revd Canon Jim Rosenthal +44 780 389 4751

Cathedral contact: Jonathan Korzen: +1 212 316 7490

Notes to editors: Details of the day

September 25th - “A Day for Recommitment and Witness to the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals”

Sponsored by the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations.

"The Provinces of the Communion call for a day of prayer and fasting and witness on 25th September 2008 when there is a special session of the United Nations to discuss the Millennium Development Goals." (2008 Lambeth Conference Reflections Document)

25th September - Opening of the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGAss) and activities of the day in New York

12-1.30 pm: Walk of Witness – A Walk and Prayerful Witness in support of the MDGs

A "walk" and "prayerful witness" at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. The walk will begin at the Church Center at Noon; to 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue.

4.30-5.30 pm: A Rally and Teach-in: Press are most welcome at this

A "rally" and "teach-in" on the steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

6 pm: A Service of Recommitment and Witness of the Achievement of the MDGs

Service at The Cathedral of St John the Divine – with participation from other faiths

The Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Officiant. The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd and Rt Honorable Dr. John Sentamu, Preacher.

The events of the day will be followed in the evening by a Reception with government and church figures to highlight the role of the faith groups in meeting MDGs. The purpose of this is to re-energise the church, politicians and civil society to show what can be done. The Archbishop of York and the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church will attend several events on 25th. Here the hope from Church leaders is to achieve awareness in the global communities of faith and wider society about the lack of progress on MDGs.

RSVP is necessary for this Reception. Martha Gardner is staff contact at the Anglican Observer Office: +1 212 716-6262

For Press Contact:

Jonathan Korzen: +1 212 316 7490, email: jkorzen@stjohndivine.org

Canon Jim Rosenthal: +44 7803894751, email: jim.rosenthal@aco.org

For information on all the various events in New York please visit: http://www.e4gr.org/sept25.html

The Walk of Witness in London, 24 July 2008

Archbishop of Canterbury
leads 650 Bishops through Parliament
Square during the July Lambeth Conference as an act of witness to
support the UN MDGs

Photo Credit: Tumilty/ACNS