The Auckland Anglican Social Justice Council has joined Micah Challenge as an Associate Member. David Hall, a member of the Council writes about their decision to support Micah Challenge:

The Auckland Diocese has a number of sector Councils to reflect the Anglican Communion’s fivefold marks of Mission as follows:

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
• To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
• To respond to human need by loving service
• To seek to transform unjust structures of society
• To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

The Social Justice Council was established to seek to transform unjust structures of society. The remit of the Council covers both domestic issues of social justice as well as world-wide issues in particular poverty.

Late in 2009 the council reviewed its specific tasks and goals and to focus on a few specific issues. For 2010 and the immediate future the Council is focusing on Child Poverty in New Zealand and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals internationally. The Council’s support for the Micah Challenge is linked to the attainment of the MDGs and the need to

• To encourage the Church within the Diocese of Auckland to take a strong prophetic stance for justice as a Gospel imperative;
• To educate and support ministry units in the Diocese of Auckland to reflect theologically and take action on specific issues;

The Council will be encouraging Anglican Parishes in the Diocese to support the Micah Challenge and the MDGs with special services and events on and around 10 -10- 10 marking two thirds to 2015.