Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams announced plans to include a mass walk of bishops and other faith leaders through central London during the Lambeth Conference as a demonstration of the Anglican Communion’s commitment to help end extreme poverty.
 
Archbishop Williams has invited more than 600 archbishops, bishops and their spouses to join with other faith leaders in the United Kingdom to participate in the walk through the heart of the capital, including Parliament Square. The march is to highlight work already being done by churches and other faith groups in support of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). On arrival at Lambeth Palace, the bishops and other guests will gather to hear brief remarks from special guests, led by Archbishop Williams.
 
“The walk will be a poignant public act of commitment by the Anglican Communion and other faith groups to continue to put pressure on those who have the power and the resources to help end extreme poverty across the globe,” Archbishop Williams said. “It will be about pledging, as a church, to play our part in continuing to develop lasting solutions. It will also be a walk where we will be in step with those who know at first hand the impact that the unfair distribution of the world’s resources can have on daily living and life opportunities.”
 
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already joined with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in recognizing 2008 as a critical year to renew efforts to achieve the MDGs. The Lambeth walk will form part of an international backdrop for a key U.N. meeting in September when Mr. Ki-Moon leads a special review on progress toward the MDGs and financial commitments from donor nations.
 
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