As Churches Together in Britain Ireland (CTBI) opened its annual assembly yesterday in Swanwick, Derbyshire, churches of all denominations have been challenged to take part in anti-poverty action in support of the UK-based campaign Make Poverty History.

Dr David Goodbourn, General Secretary of CTBI told the 300 church representatives from Britain and Ireland, "Tackling poverty is Christians talking the language of ordinary people."

A working group of CTBI, led by the Catholic author and commentator, Clifford Longley, has produced a document entitled, "Prosperity with a Purpose - Christians and the Ethics of Affluence" in an attempt encourage affluent UK people to reflect on how they can find ways to share their wealth more justly. The group has been commissioned by major denominations.

The document will be launched officially on Monday 28th February in Westminster. The report working group "was asked to take seriously the context of globalisation, the persistence of terrible worldwide poverty, and the impact that our new riches have on the environment," says Dr Goodbourn in his foreword.

On the assembly, Dr Goodbourn called on churches to participant in the annual Christian Aid week running from 15th - 21st May. It is the biggest ecumenical event in the UK and raised £15 million for anti-poverty work across the world last year.

Christian Aid is the development arm of 40 UK churches driven by the Gospel and an associate of CTBI. With a dream of a new earth where all people can secure a better and more just future, its purpose is to expose the scandal of poverty and to contribute to its eradication.