They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Isaiah 65:21
Photo: ACT
Guiding Principles
Biblical Principles - What We Proclaim!
We believe in a theology of action, in response to God's call, which strives to make a positive impact in a world of suffering.
We believe in the importance of cultivating hope and joy as an integral part of faith-based development work. Through our work, we strive to act as a leaven in the world, to lift up and promote something new and holy. Hence, our development work seeks both to affirm the glory of God's creation around us as well as to share the fruits of God's abundant love with others in all of its forms, both material and spiritual.
We believe that God's love, and the peace that flows from it, can only be found in community based upon right relations. Through our work, be it at the local, regional or global level, we seek to rebuild community by supporting and aligning with the poor and the oppressed in their struggle for justice, seeking to uphold God's inclusive call to promote the dignity of all human beings.
A) Development Principles - What We Denounce!
We denounce the chronic, systematic, and enforced nature of poverty and suffering in the world;
We denounce the concentration of power in the hands of the few, and the use of violence and human rights abuses as the means of retaining that power;
We denounce all forms of social marginalization in the world, including those based upon national or ethnic origin, race, class, religious identity, political persuasion, gender, sexual orientation or age;
We denounce development ideologies that promote abstract processes over human needs and desires;
We denounce allowing institutional preservation take precedence over our work to promote human freedom;
We denounce the greed that allows unceasing environmental degradation and the exploitative use of the Earth's finite resources;
We denounce ongoing and unresolved injustices in the world.
b)Development Principles - What We Support!
We base our work upon a set of practical ethical principles that guide both the goals we hope to achieve as well as how we go about achieving them.
First, there are five main principles around which our development work revolves, all aimed at attacking the root causes of poverty and violence and promoting the basic right to development:
- We provide basic necessities for all, especially those in situations of crisis and extreme marginalization;
- We promote human freedom that allows all people the right to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from their own development;
- We foster development processes consistent with preserving the integrity of creation and people's right to live in a safe and healthy environment;
- We work for the creation and strengthening of just and accountable social, economic, and political institutions and structures at the global level that facilitate the advancement of human freedom and respect for human rights;
- We advocate for changes to policies and practices of Canadian actors that contribute to the perpetuation of global injustices;
Second, we believe that there is a direct and positive relationship between how we work and development success. The principles, which guide our 'ways of working', are as follows:
- We recognize people as the authors of their own development;
- We commit to development processes that are inclusive, respectful of the other, and based upon a participatory approach;
- We base our work within a framework of socio-economic, cultural, civil, and political rights, respecting the principles of equality and non-discrimination;
- We strive to create development relationships based upon partnership, solidarity, and mutual exchange;
- We are open to partnerships that transcend denominational, religious and ideological divides while staying true to our own Christian and Anglican roots and principles;
- We pledge to maintain relationships and 'ways of working' that are accountable and transparent;
- We confront sources of injustice in non-violent ways.
