Happy UN Day!

"Friend of Peace" by Vasko Taskovski
hangs at UN Headquarters in New York

Today is the 76th anniversary of the formal United Nations Charter entering into action, and the ongoing commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Across the world, across ages, we are connected through a common agenda of peace, dignity, and well-being; both now and for the future.

This year, as the world continues in the pandemic (with hope that the end is near!) the theme has been “Building Back Together for Peace and Prosperity,” celebrated with an annual concert, art exhibit, speeches, and more. Around the world people are participating in events and celebrations that are designed to foster unity, collaboration, and hope. A hashtag was developed #TheWorldWeWant to encourage people to explore and share their experiences of this!

The Anglican Communion has a long history of involvement at the United Nations; we have representatives that support education, advocacy, and action at both the New York and Geneva offices. As Anglicans are a global faith presence, these UN folks carry the message of our faithful commitment and collaboration to the common agenda. We, as Anglicans, are well-served with their work!

But the movement of making this world, God’s world, as the ‘world we want’ is not merely done by other people, somewhere else, on a grand scale. The reality is that changing the world for the better is also about us examining our own world - our homes, our neighbourhoods, our communities – and seeking ways to make these spaces the world we want.

We, as the baptised, have vowed to work for peace, to celebrate human dignity, to sustain all life on earth.

We, as Gospel-bearers, are privileged to carry Christ’s message of love for all, and of the promises of salvation.

We, as the faithful, are committed to community, seeing our neighbours as ourselves, as desiring the very best for everyone (in thought, word, and deed).

The World We Want is possible: when we come together and make the effort. So what is the world we want – and how will we be intentional (this week and beyond) to bring that dream to a reality?