ANTH 4701/5700 Faith-Based Organizations

World Faiths Development Dialogue World bank partnerships with international faith-based organizations: Women, Faith and Development Alliance Initially: US-based interest group: Goals: exploring the core teachings of religious faiths, improving the lives of women and girls, and reducing worldwide poverty Now: Partnership between international development, faith, and women’s organizations committed to dialogue and advocacy on issues of gender equity. Receives support of more than 70 organizations WFDA’s goals: “bridge chasms that have existed between faith, development, and women’s organizations active in parallel and complementary areas “form a coalition to advocate for concerted financial commitment and policy on gender issues” stress importance of incorporating gender into development initiatives Outcomes of summit: WFDA put out a Call for Commitments to faith communities, multilateral organizations, foundations, and development and women’s NGOs, asking them to commit to new programming, and/or advocacy to advance women and girls worldwide. The 73 combined commitments from more than 90 WFDA partners totaled over U.S. $1.4 billion and represented the richness and diversity of the WFDA. The commitments pledged to draw on new resources, employ creative approaches and partnerships, and to have achievable and sustainable results.

World Faiths Development Dialogue World Council of Churches Claims: “broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement, a movement whose goal is Christian unity” Representing over 500 million Christians 110 countries and territories Orthodox, Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches 345 member churches bulk of the WCC's founding churches were European and North America today most member churches are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific

World Faiths Development Dialogue GOALS: visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship promote common witness in work for mission and evangelism; engage in Christian service by serving human need, breaking down barriers between people, seeking justice and peace, and upholding the integrity of creation; and foster renewal in unity, worship, mission and service. ACTIONS: Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children Meeting with UNICEF and 20 of its major partners from the private sector and civil society to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.