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What is a Hunger Action Enabler?
The term Hunger Action Enabler (HAE) was coined by the Presbyterian Church U.S. in 1973 when the Women's Birthday Offering established a network of 14 Hunger Action Enablers to serve the synods and the General Assembly's Task Force on world Hunger. When the United Presbyterian Hunger Program was initiated in 1975, the General Assembly encouraged presbyteries to establish hunger task forces and/or Hunger Action Enabler positions. Unique among the denominations, the Presbyterian Hunger Action Enabler position became a model for the ecumenical WHEAT (World Hunger Education Action Together) enablers which flourished in the seventies.
Hunger Action Enablers are called to serve synods and presbyteries as educators, motivators, and facilitators of hunger action. Their goal is to enable congregations and other groups within the church to gain the knowledge and skills to sustain a long-term commitment to hunger action.
Hunger Action Enablers assist congregations and other groups to become engaged with the poor in their own communities and in other countries to address immediate needs and long-term solutions. They provide a link with a local, regional and national ecumenical agencies which address issues of direct hunger relief, hunger-related development assistance, public policy advocacy, education and interpretation about hunger and lifestyle issues, including environmental justice. As enablers of others, they provide a "switchboard" for these agencies and the national Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) to resource, alert, and mobilize Presbyterians for specific hunger action.
Hunger Action Enablers are accountable to the governing body which calls them. These governing bodies are expected to provide supervision and to conduct annual evaluation which, in the case of those receiving PHP Programs grants, are share with the PHP Advisory Committee.
Although HAE positions may be volunteer or paid; most are part-time, ranging from one-quarter to three-quarters time. Paid enablers receive a modest stipend. Financial support for these positions is a partnership arrangement between the sponsoring governing body(ies), the HAE and the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Application for funding for the coming year are due in the Louisville office by June 1 to be considered at the PHP funding meeting held in the fall.
Additional financial support is made available by the PHP for the resourcing of Hunger Action Enables. All enablers receive a bi-monthly resource packets. Training opportunities are provided through national and regional gatherings of HAE's
In 2002, there are 110 Hunger Action Enablers and Hunger Contacts serving 17 synods and 90 Presbyteries.
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