Blogs

Through the Bible, the cornerstone of our faith, we know the stories of God's efforts to communicate with creation and of creation's response. God communicates through rainbows and burning bush, through earthquakes and fire, and through the still small voice. We pray that God will speak through us as we tell new stories of the faith, life and mission found in Christ's church.

Recent Posts

  • Enjoying Breast Milk Ice Cream: Questioning your Food Beliefs from Food and Faith

    May 21, 2013 by Ilana Barach

    I apologize in advance for ruining your lunch or latte or whatever dairy confection you are enjoying. No, I’m not going to go into gruesome detail PETA style about how your milk is produced, although there may be a few nuggets of information you would prefer not to know. Actually, the purpose of this blog is to encourage you to question your food-related assumptions and beliefs. I mean, it would be great if you eat less conventional dairy (dairy coming from mass-production factories which are not pretty places), or alternatively it would be nice if you at least gave ...

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  • Hold Sudanese Human Rights Violators Accountable! from Swords into plowshares

    May 16, 2013 by Mark Koenig

    From our colleagues in the Office of Public Witness

    Ask the State Department to Deny Entry to Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie
     In 1989, Farouk Mohammed Ibrahim, a former science professor at the University of Khartoum, was arrested for his outspoken criticism of the Sudanese government. For twelve days, he was held in one of Sudan’s notorious “ghost houses,” where he was interrogated and tortured. “I was tortured, beaten and flogged in his presence,” Ibrahim toldLA Times reporter Edmund Sanders in 2008. “He was administering the whole thing. He did it all in such a cool manner, as if ...

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  • US remarks at high-level talks on trafficking from Swords into plowshares

    May 16, 2013 by Ryan Smith

    Remarks by Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the high-level meeting on the Appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

    AS DELIVERED

    Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I’m pleased to join so many partners and stakeholders today to discuss progress and the path forward on our shared commitment to combat modern slavery, what we also call trafficking in persons. We’re here today because modern slavery is a crime that hurts our countries and communities. It rips families apart, undermines the rule of law, creates instability ...

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  • Three Prayer Concerns - May 16 from Swords into plowshares

    May 15, 2013 by Mark Koenig

    Pibor town, South Sudan
    Pray for the people of Pibor town in Jonglei State of South Sudan where violence, looting, and displacement are increasing. Pray for the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations Mission of South Sudan as they seek to address the situation. Learn about Presbyterian partners in South Sudan.

    Families
    On the International Day of Families, give thanks for your family. Pray for strength and all that families need for the living of these days.

    Religious Freedom
    Pray that all people in might have the opportunity to practice their faith in freedom.

    What prayers do you ...

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  • Food Justice Fellows Explained... App available (the old kind) from Food and Faith

    May 15, 2013 by Andrew Kang Bartlett

    What it is: Food Justice Fellows are a cohort of spirit-based organizers connected to the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP). They are young or young-at-heart folks working to build local food economies that are sustainable and just, and people who make connections (and help others do so) between local food and hunger issues and related global concerns.

    PHP will arrange for at least one training/networking opportunity for the Fellows. Small support grants from PHP (given through the presbytery, a congregation or local organization) may also be available to help the Fellows with food justice/local food economy events they may organize in their region. PHP will correspond with and do conference calls with the Fellows regularly (currently 2nd and 4th Mondays at 4:00 pm (eastern time)) to exchange ideas, share best practices, discuss readings and provide updates on the U.S. and global food sovereignty movement and related work inside and outside the church.  The Presbyterian Hunger Program staff and Food Justice Fellows will provide each other with mutual support, accountability and camaraderie. Hunger Action Enablers, Mission Advocates and other leaders throughout the PCUSA are potential resources and connectors.

    Why it is: The purpose is to connect Presbyterians to the agrarian roots and lessons of the Bible to inspire and equip them – together with their congregations and communities – to fight hunger and poverty by rebuilding local food economies here in the U.S. and to support the same overseas through advocacy and campaigns.

    Application process: Interested individuals should send their completed applications to Andrew Kang Bartlett andrew.kangbartlett@pcusa.org.  Application forms can be downloaded HERE.

    If you are selected, work plans will then be developed for the year in consultation with PHP. Call Andrew at 502.569.5388 for additional information.

    Alison Cohen and Food Justice Fellow Blain Snipstal at assembly in Oakland

    Frequently Asked Questions
    Actual questions asked by real people...

    1) Is this only for Presbyterians?
    * Presbyterians and persons of other faiths are invited to apply. The majority are Presbyterians (so you must be able to tolerate them), but we have other faiths represented as well. That said, Fellows must be currently doing or be willing/planning to collaborate with Presbyterians and Presbyterian congregations in their food justice/local food economy building work.

    2) I am wondering about the work/job component. Can the applicants have any job in the food industry?
    * If the Fellow is employed, the job doesn't have to be food-related, but they would need to also be doing food justice/sustainable ag-related work (either paid or unpaid) as part of their life.
    3) Does the fellowship come with a stipend so I can look for internships? 
    * There is no stipend. There is some funding available for events or activities that the FJF coordinates or is active leading around food justice, i.e. a program with community, churches, presbytery, government, etc. (for example, the Fellow organzes a county-wide Food Justice Teach-In with a tour of local farms, 'food deserts', a processing plant and city hall to talk with government officials about starting a Food Policy Council.  PHP could provide a matching grant of $1000 or so to help make that possible.)
    4) Can I be located anywhere in the U.S.?  
    * Yes.
    5) Where and when would the face-to-face gathering be for the Fellows? 
    *  We will meet face-to-face at least once a year as part of the Food Justice Fellows Program. The 2013 gathering was in DC at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference on Food Justice in April. The 2014 gathering has not been determined yet. Participation in this gathering is very important for the Fellowship.

    6) Would you provide funding for transportation to this gathering?  
    * There are scholarships available based on need, but we will expect the Fellow to raise some funds. The lack of personal funds will not limit participation.
    7) Is the fellowship a year long program?  
    * We will do annual work plans, but those that wish to and who are in good standing would continue on year after year if so desired.

     

     

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