Stand Up and Take Action
On the weekend of October 16th to 18th, your church is invited to join millions of people around the world to ask for urgent action on poverty and climate change.
Stand Up and Take Action is a global movement supported by the United Nations Millennium Campaign, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (the White Band organisation) and Micah Challenge, the international Christian campaign against poverty. Each October since 2004, in locations from Australia to Peru to Zimbabwe, millions of people “stand up” and commit to fight poverty. Then they take action to request that their leaders do the same. Last year over 100 million people took part world wide.
Every person standing up makes a difference locally. And taken together, the millions of people standing make a powerful statement globally. This year, the numbers Standing Up and Taking Action will be given to world leaders at the vital climate negotiations coming up at Copenhagen in December and the Millennium Development Goal review in 2010.
For many Christians, the Stand Up campaign offers an opportunity to live and witness to our faith. To bring the needs of the world to God in prayer. To renew our commitment to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. To stand in solidarity with brothers and sisters around the world. To offer a symbol of Christ's care for the poor. And to strengthen ourselves to keep speaking and acting - not just because the needs of the world demand it, but because a righteous and loving God cries out that his people stand up for justice and peace.
You can participate in this year's Stand Up by:
- Joining "The Great Persuasion," a lobby of MPs on climate and poverty issues. Agencies (including CAFOD, CCOW, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Tearfund and World Vision) and local groups are organising lobbies around the country. Contact CCOW to find about those in the three counties (Berks, Bucks and Oxon) or campaigns@bond.org.uk to find out about lobbies being organised in other locations.
- Making "Stand Up and Take Action" a part of your church service. Could members of your church "stand up and take action" during your services for the weekend of 16 to 18 October? If so, register your service as a Stand Up event at the global website, http://www.standagainstpoverty.org. Suggested worship materials and actions for a Stand Up service will be available shortly.
- Making “Stand Up” a part of your Micah Sunday or One World Week celebrations
Micah Sunday serves as an annual opportunity for churches to renew their commitment to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.” Many churches will celebrate it on 18 October, and this year's Micah Sunday campaign action is Stand Up. One World Week also begins on the 18th of October: a “Stand Up” would be a great way to stand in solidarity with and show your concern for our “one world.”
How to Stand and Be Counted
(1) To pre-register, go to www.standagainstpoverty.org and click on the button that says “Are you planning an event.” Fill in the registration form.
(2) At the event, ask everyone to stand.*The group, or a leader, can then read a pledge or prayer of commitment, and take whatever action you have decided on. Count the number of participants. If possible, take a picture of everyone involved.
(3) Immediately after the event, go back to the Stand Up website and upload your numbers and any pictures you wish to. Only materials uploaded by the end of 18 October can be counted, so speed is of the essence.
* For those of us for whom the act of physically standing is difficult, if not impossible, the symbolic act of Standing Up is interchangeable with other symbolic gestures such as raising a hand or holding up a banner with the Stand Up and Take Action message on it. It's the shared commitment that matters.
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| Final Stand Up Leaflet 2.pdf | 921.47 KB |