Hunger Rumblings
ELCA World Hunger staff and associates write about root causes of hunger, current events, and anything else they find pertinent.
Twas the week before Christmas…
And I am at it again…
Unfortunately, this will not be a Christmas post. Click here or here for more seasonal commentary. Or just reflect for a moment on the lovely image of the holy family over there.
As I was looking through recent posts and comments I realized that I have been speaking about hunger and poverty very much in terms of personal decisions. Several of you in the comments rightly pushed back that systems and structures cannot be neglected–they often dictate the options that are presented to us. Moreover, our individual choices can only be as efficacious as the system allows. I can turn off lights when I leave the room, but what about the carbon and particulate emission and when I need to turn the lights on? I can support good work in Bangladesh, but the ~$487 million in annual tariffs that the U.S. imposes is really the bigger problem. I can support migrant worker rights, but that won’t fix our fundamentally flawed food and trade policies with Mexico. (Maybe you have a better example you would like to share in the comments…)
Here is the rub, and I mentioned this in comments on an earlier post, I am not convinced how well equipped the church (where I have most influence) is to address the systemic issues that perpetuate and exacerbate hunger and poverty. Some limiting factors:
1) There is no clear agreement on what the church should be. Theologians may make proposals, and I have made a few assertions (that are very convincing, if I do say so myself), but pastors and congregants ultimately define the direction of their congregation (this seems to me to be in line with the two most recent social statements released by the ELCA where the “bound conscience” of individuals, congregations, and synods play a large role in moral discernment). People participate in churches for personal solace, for community, for family programs, because they always have, etc. The church has become a place where individual piety and preference play an ever increasing role. Why this may be so is a topic for another day.
2) The church itself is a part of the system. The church often benefits from the same structures that keep people impoverished. My pension depends on companies performing well. Large gifts to the ELCA generally come from those who are beneficiaries of the system. Those of us employed by the church best not bite the metaphorical hand.
3) Related to points 1 and 2, the church creates its own system. Like any institution, the church exists to a certain degree for itself.
In light of these limitations, what can the church do? First, I think it is important (essential even) that the church be engaged in anti-hunger work. It is part of our identity and key to our public witness. Second, and related, we do have texts and traditions that present alternatives to the current system. We need to continue to lift these up and remind people (especially those who identify as Christian) of God’s vision for humanity. Third, I am convinced that the church is uniquely situated within the system to provide real relief and development. We are nimble, low to the ground, and work out of longstanding partnerships. Our accompaniment methodology is sound.
I’ve given you my thoughts, what are yours? Where is my thinking limited? How would you frame the issue? Let’s talk! (Oh, and happy holidays 
)
- David Creech
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on December 21st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
I agree with you, David, and not just because you are married to my niece. One of the things that I have found helpful in ministry has been to focus on the things that I can do. I can affect those within my sphere of influence through education, debate, giving of time, talents and treasures, encouragement, and so on. While it seems difficult to think about dealing with systemic issues that appear too large for my little brain to understand, I can write letters to church leaders, politicians, and others who have the power to do something. I can contribute to the Hunger Appeal, Bread for the World, Lutheran world relief, or Kids against Hunger knowing that these organizations can do a great job working on my behalf. Finally, when all seems hopeless, or when I am most frustrated, I remember who and whose I am, confess my own sinfulness, and know that our redeemer accompanies me on my own journey. This is grace for the struggle and motivation to keep at it. Thanks for what you do!
on December 21st, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. One of the few bible quotes I know. In my humble opinion work skills, job fairs and such are extremely viable. Lots of that going on here in the inner city.
on December 24th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Writing from New York City, my take on what the “church” could do is as follows. You don’t need to be religious to understand -and embrace- the idea that “Whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” But many of the 1%, in blind greed and endless schemes, have forgotten this. They have closed their eyes to what the word “society” should really mean, what it can mean. But due to Occupy Wall Street, we are finally talking less about CUTS and more about BLEEDING. Instead of demanding m-o-r-e budget cuts -to be borne by the middle class and poor- we are FINALLY focusing on the shameful bleeding that the poor and middle class has endured, for all too long. Instead of talking about even m-o-r-e cuts in the taxes of millionaires….we are now talking about fairness and justice – about an economy and a political system that is increasingly run for the rich, and by the rich. Instead of talking about LESS government, we are talking about a government that WORKS FOR ALL OF US, not just a favored few. Thank you OWS, for reminding us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter, and for helping open our eyes to what’s going on in this country, and why. The attempt by OWS to occupy Duarte Square (the empty lot owned by Trinity Church) is much more than a plea for sanctuary. For like Zuccotti Park, it’s an attempt to carve out a protected space, a living conscience for the city, amid the repression. A refuge…in a city where control-freaks would sweep us under the rug, and out of the way. In a city where they would pen us in, and permit us to death. In a city that tells us to “move on, move on”….. you don’t belong, you don’t count, you don’t have a right to be here…don’t assemble, don’t block the street, don’t trespass, don’t EXIST! They would deny us, deny our lives, deny our very futures. IF WE LET THEM. But OWS responds, both in word and in DEED: it says we’ve had ENOUGH – we BELONG, we STAND our ground, and we DO matter! This IS our land, and we want it BACK! The word OCCUPY…says it all! That’s why OWS has captured our imagination. That’s why a living breathing OCCUPIED public space is important for OWS. Like Lady Liberty’s never extinguished torch that burns in our harbor, OWS needs to have a concrete, persistent, in-your-face presence.. ..to continually remind us of what we’ve lost, of what we are, and what we can be; a protected place to affirm, to illuminate, to defy…and to inspire. Trinity Church, with its oft-proclaimed ideals (and its huge land holdings), should look deep into its collective soul, do the right thing, and help OWS secure a sanctuary. Not merely a space of refuge, but one of hope, non-violent change, and compassion. And dare I say: a space of love – love of country, love of your fellow man and woman, love for the poor and oppressed. Can thoughtful Christians argue with these simple Christian / human values? For if Christ were physically with us today, as He was 2000 years ago, He would be among the FIRST to climb those fences, and occupy Trinity’s Duarte Square. Of this I am certain. Let us pray that Trinity Church -and others -hear the call, and respond. For the old ways are not working…
on December 27th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Perhaps I need more context to fully understand it, David, but I disagree with your statement, “I am not convinced how well equipped the church (where I have most influence) is to address the systemic issues that perpetuate and exacerbate hunger and poverty.” Perhaps we are unable to “eradicate” systemic issues leading to hunger/poverty, but I do believe that God gives us everything the church needs to “address” the systemic issues. Namely, we have Jesus Christ himself in the eucharist and the liturgy’s sending of us into the world that equips us to address hunger and poverty. I assume we’re in agreement, it’s just an issue of semantics.
You raise the question, “What can the church do?,” and then propose three items. I don’t have anything to add at this point, but I want to elevate your second recommendation, which is that we lift up the texts and traditions that offer alternatives to the current system. The church should be known for its imaginative and creative ways of living out the New Creation (i.e. God’s kingdom/reign) in the world today, which is a result of being fed by those aforementioned texts and traditions. These texts and traditions are ways in which God equips us to address the issues of hunger and poverty. Yet, the church in our context seems to continually struggle with how to read these texts (e.g. we’re often afraid of them). Therefore those texts hardly ever are fuel for our living creatively within this system. Once we begin to recover these texts and traditions, the church will be more creative and abundant with its unique situation within the system (your third recommendation).
on January 3rd, 2012 at 5:50 pm
David, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Systems are in place that are unjust, and it IS the responsibility of Christians to oppose injustice. But how do we find consensus among Christians on even the definition of injustice, much less the causes and solutions? It’s easy to convince most church members that the church should be engaged in feeding the hungry, but many would not agree that U.S. trade policies are actually causing hunger. Perhaps it is more a lack of understanding. I know that my eyes were opened by reading the book “Enough”, and seeing the photos of grain rotting in an Ethiopian farmer’s storage barn because cheap, subsidized grain from U.S. farmers sent as “food aid” flooded the market and drove prices down. I am also beginning to doubt the effectiveness of our advocacy efforts when we address specific policy issues but do not focus on advocating for changes to the political and economic systems that are at the root of most of our continuing challenges.