Rob Radtke

One of the giants of faith-based relief and development, Ruth Messinger, is retiring at the end of June. As the President of American Jewish World Service, it is hard to overstate Ruth’s contribution to the fight for lives of dignity and prosperity around the world. Her powerful voice will be sorely missed. Her witness and unstinting advocacy for those whose voices don’t always get the attention they should have been an inspiration.

As I write this blog rescue operations are underway in Japan and Ecuador following powerful earthquakes that caused massive damage to property and loss of life. These events remind us of our vulnerability and as the story unfolds they will underscore the critical importance of preparedness, response and long-term recovery. As it happens, over the last several weeks I have had occasion to travel to three countries, Nepal, Japanand Haiti, to observe and assess the long-term work being done to recover from similar events in the past.

 My time at Holy Cross is for prayer, reflection and reading. Long walks in the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary enable me to reflect on the glory of God in nature. 

Episcopal Relief & Development president Rob Radtke reflects on the pursuit of true gender equality and ask the question, what is men’s role in the process?

Our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, calls us to “Be not afraid.” I take his words to heart in these tense times.  Terrorism is not an abstract risk around the world and certainly not in New York City where I live with my family. If you let it, fear can paralyze you.  However

Today, Friday, September 25th, the General Assembly is expected to adopt a post-2015 development agenda, otherwise known as the “Sustainable Development Goals” or SDGs. These 17 goals succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that conclude at the end of 2015.