The leader of a worldwide fight against international poverty will be speaking about the struggle in an annual peace talk in Coventry next month.

The Lord Mayor’s Peace Lecture will be delivered in St Mary’s Hall by Michael Taylor on 17 October.

As chair of Jubilee 2000 he has been involved with the international campaign against third world debt.

Religious leaders have joined in huge protests calling for the cancellation of the debt for developing countries.

Tens of thousands of people have flocked to register their concerns at meetings of world leaders.

Professor Taylor was a Baptist minister before becoming Principal of the Northern Baptist College (which became part of an Ecumenical Federation) in Manchester and lecturer in Ethics and Theology at Manchester University.

He was Director of Christian Aid from 1985-1997 and travelled widely to visit Christian Aid's partner organisations in most parts of the world.

Since 1976 he has been a member of two Commissions of the World Council of Churches: one relating to theological education and the other to development.

In August 1999 he became the Professor of Social Theology at the University of Birmingham, whilst retaining the post of Chief Executive of the Council of the Selly Oak Colleges, which he took on a year before.

He will be speaking about his role in the fight against poverty and on his time as the Chairman of Jubilee 2000.

Allen Edwards of the Lord Mayor’s Peace Committee said Professor Taylor’s passion was sure to come to fore in the talk.

He said:

“There is a long tradition of interest in this talk and this year should be no exception.”

The talk begins at 7.30pm.