Churches and governments must pursue partnerships to eradicate extreme poverty if the Millennium Declaration of 2000 is to meet its 2015 deadline concludes faith leaders who met at a two-day summit (September 11-13, 2005) at Washington National Cathedral.

Religious leaders from the Northern and Southern hemispheres representing a wide range of denominations, including Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Reformed, Methodists, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Greek Orthodox, and Seventh-day Adventists, crafted the communiqué outlining steps for governments and churches to take in building a global movement to help the poor. Today the document will be presented to officials at the United Nations on the eve of its 60th anniversary by a delegation representing the creators of the communiqué.

Faith leaders also declared: "In making these calls to governments, we know that the Churches themselves must be active partners in the work of development and building a just world economy. We affirm the work of countless Church communities and faith-based relief and development agencies that work for and with those living in extreme poverty. At its best, this work acknowledges the leadership of persons in poverty, engages poor communities as partners in human development, moves us to work across denominational and faith lines, and brings us into productive partnerships with governments and the private sector".

The communiqué also states: "In faith and obedience to God, and in humility, we are compelled to be agents of hope, doers of justice, and lovers of kindness. We believe the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved by 2015. These targets of basic material well-being can only be reached in the context of peace, human rights, environmental sustainability, and gender equity".

The Consultation of Religious Leaders on Global Poverty at Washington National Cathedral is an initiative of the Cathedral’s recently-established Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation. The center is directed by John L. Peterson, an Episcopal priest and former Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. The center forges collaborations within the Anglican Communion, among Christian denominations, and with interfaith partners, governments, NGOs, and the private sector.