Food and Faith
What does it mean to eat as a Christian? For us, eating is a spiritual act because food is sacred. Both the Old and New Testaments are full of stories and teachings about food. The Eucharist is a key part of our faith, but it's more than a Sunday ritual. For early Christians, bread was broken at every meal. Eating was an expression of their faith. We modern Christians are called to re-establish right relationship with food. To be mindful of where our food comes from, who has been involved, and how its production and distribution fulfills God's vision of justice — or not.
As Wendell Berry reminds us, "Eating is an agricultural act." The very first laws the Israelites were given after they escaped from slavery were related to food, agriculture and faith – to share food evenly, save some for those in need, and not to stockpile or concentrate the control of food into the hands of a few people. Our modern food system is in conflict with our faith.
- Learn about current issues by following the Food and Faith Blog.
- Sign up for Food Justice email alerts.
- Study the Just Eating? Practicing our Faith at the Table curriculum.
- Create a community garden or other faith-based initiative using the Food Sovereignty for All Handbook for guidance.
- Read and share with others in your congregation Food and Faith Practices: Learn, Live, Lead handout.
- Consider becoming a Let’s Move congregation.
- Help end hunger by giving to the Global Food Crisis fund.
Participate in Learning Calls
Participate in monthly Food Justice Learning Calls. Time: 12 noon (Eastern); 11am (Central); 10am (Mountain); 9am (Pacific) Call: 1- 424-203-8075 and Enter 180305#.
Upcoming topics include:
July 8: How Do Trade Agreements Determine What's On Your Plate?
Presenters: Karen Hansen-Kuhn (Inst. For Trade & Ag Policy) and Kathy Ozer (National Family Farm Coalition) - invited
August 12: GMOs: The “Facts”
Presenter: Jeffrey Smith (invited)
September 9: Coalition of Immokalee & and the Campaign for Fair Food
Presenters: Noelle Damico and Gerardo Reyes- Chávez (invited)
Food Movements Unite!
New! PHP’s "Food Movements Unite! Companion Bible Study" accompanies Food Movements Unite! a new book, from Food First, that is full of strategies to transform our food systems. Discussion questions arranged by the themes of head, heart, hands, biblical and transformational provide the basis for adult book study groups to do four- or six-week studies. Download or order Food Movements Unite! for half price.
Visit the FoodFirst website to download a chapter of Food Movements Unite written by Lucas Benitez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a long time partner of PHP.
Food Movements Unite! Companion Bible Study
Participate in the Churches Week of Action on Food
With almost one billion people facing chronic hunger and food price shocks causing further crisis in vulnerable communities, churches and individuals around the world are asked to set aside World Food Day (Oct. 16) and this week in October for special reflection and action on food.
Dedicate October 14-21, 2012 to worship, study, and take action to promote positive change in the food system. This year’s Food Week Action & Resource Guide highlights the promise of agro-ecological farming to feed the world! Actions are in support of hungry people and the critical people working in the food chain.
- Download for free the Food Week of Action Guide and other materials at pcusa.org/foodweek
- Explore the theological connections by reading In the Beginning: A theological reflection on agro-ecological farming, by Rev. Werner Fuchs, National Council for Food Security of Brazil (CONSEA)
- Share a Meal during the week (or anytime throughout the year)! Order 'Share a Meal' placemats them by calling 800.297.1516 or download the placemats for church or home meals.
The Presbyterian Hunger Program helps the church look at the intersection of our faith and our food as one way to understand the root causes of hunger and to find ways we can work together to end hunger once and for all. Find out more about what we do.
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Thanks for coming by to check us out! We are sorry that you experienced difficulty with the text color. I'll be sure to pass along your feedback to our web design folks here. We apreciate your feedback.
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This month's Pres. magazine had good articles about food/faith connection; got your website there. Also, for those with lower vision, the gray-blue print on this site is harder to read.