Background
Family farming and ranching traditionally have provided family livelihood, self-supporting local economies and enhanced environmental sustainability. However, local food production and consumption of locally-grown food continues to decline and be undermined by multinational corporations, harming farmers both in the United States and throughout the world. This primarily is due to the continued support and protection of corporate monopolies at all levels by current United States trade laws. However, there is hope for change, including a slowly developing regional trend toward supporting local markets and products.

Biblical/Theological Dimensions
What does the New Testament say about:

1. justice for workers
2. being a good neighbor
3. valuing the land and not damaging God's creation
4. exploitation
5. greed
6. excessive profit?

PC(USA)'s Position on This Issue
The 214th General Assembly (Columbus, Ohio, 2002) approved the report, We Are What We Eat, which calls on the whole Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) "... to participate in the current agricultural revolution that which is affecting everyone who produces and consumes food." The report points out, "The interdependence between food producer and consumer is significant, although it is a linkage we often don't acknowledge." The report urges, "Now, we have a unique opportunity to witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ through our daily food production and consumption decisions that will support sustainability, stewardship, compassion and community of all God's creation."

Powerhouse of Potential

By Kathryn Baker

We Are What We Eat outlines the current agricultural revolution and how it affects rural communities and small churches across the country. In the report, Presbyterians are called to action—to be advocates and to be responsible consumers and to support family farms as they struggle to stay in business. God promises us, "... peace within your borders" and satisfaction "with the finest of wheat" (Psalm 147:14), but peace cannot come in agricultural communities when there is injustice in the food industry.

Presbyterian Women is responding. One of the recipients of a 2004 Thank Offering grant was Powerhouse of Potential, a new ministry of North Dakota's Rural Response Coalition.

In the last 10 years, North Dakota has experienced at least 11 disasters. Floods, windstorms, hail and severe drought have devastated crops and livestock. Low commodity prices have compounded problems for farmers and ranchers, leaving them struggling to make ends meet. This, in turn, has affected agriculture-related and small-town businesses. Significant emigration, consolidation of rural schools and churches, and business closings have all taken their toll on the well-being of rural North Dakota.

Communication between extended family members, parents and children has been stressed as people strive to hold on to their heritage yet respond to economic realities. In rural areas, multiple generations of families or large extended families may all be farmers in the same town or community. Consequently, personal problems can become community problems. Surveys conducted by the Rural Response Coalition reflect high levels of hopelessness, fatigue and frustration.

A $30,000 Thank Offering grant from Presbyterian Women in 2004 has helped North Dakota's Rural Response Coalition develop Powerhouse of Potential, an interactive facilitation process that provides a safe environment for farmers, ranchers, congregations and community members to come together to honestly and openly discuss challenges they are facing, build on community strengths, seek solutions, identify possible resources, and develop action plans.

Presbyterian women in North Dakota are being called to learn about rural issues, challenge public policies that are leading to the demise of independent family farms, become educated and responsible consumers and pray for all aspects of agriculture and for the hungry.

What Can PW Do?

Engage in positive actions that support and nurture people and the environment:

• Pray for courage, discernment, change and to challenge oneself and others.
• Pray for family farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers—farm workers and workers in food processing plants. Consider them when blessing your meals.
• Keep abreast of media reports pertaining to agricultural issues, including trade agreements and food safety issues.
• Support General Assembly approved boycotts such as that of Taco Bell.
• Whenever possible, buy food at farmers' markets. Eat produce that is in season.

For more information, visit Taco Bell Boycott

Receive information about rural and food crises from Diana Stephen, associate for network support: Rural and Small Church Ministries, (888) 728-7228 or email. Contact local, state and federal legislators, expressing your views on pending legislation, with a view to supporting family owned and family-operated farms and ranches. Find your U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators.

Web Sites

Presbyterian Rural Ministry Network, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), providing resources, news and information for and about rural PC(USA) congregations.

The Center for Theology and Land is a ministry of the University of Dubuque Seminary and Wartburg Theological Seminary. CTL's mission is to strengthen rural churches and their communities through resources, conferences and training, including the Certificate in Town and Country Church Leadership program.

Bread for the World is a Christian citizens' movement to eliminate hunger through advocacy.

The National Farm Worker Ministry is an interfaith organization supporting farm workers as they organize for justice.

The Rural Response Coalition's Powerhouse of Potential offers facilitation and workshops to discuss challenges and solutions of farming in difficult times.

Read the PC(USA)'s National Health Ministries article on health care issues and access to care in rural areas.

Just Trade provides information about the PC(USA)'s position on trade issues and suggestions for actions on global trade issues.

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, are copyrighted © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.

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