Every spring, I look forward to playing outside all summer (some people call it yard work). In among the flowers and trees in my little backyard playground, I grow a few herbs — basil, oregano, sage, chives, thyme and parsley — and, of course, a tomato plant. Last summer’s parsley plant actually survived the winter, much to my surprise, and it’s a lovely dark green lacy ball in the midst of my perennials. The chives put up cheerful little purple pom-poms in early summer, and the glossy bright green of the basil looks sleek and sophisticated next to the white-streaked leaves of the variegated coralbells. They’re all as beautiful in my garden as they are tasty in our salads.

Hyacinth or herb?

Didn’t a poet write something about how if you have only two loaves of bread left, you should sell one and buy hyacinths to feed your soul?  I think the poet was hinting at how the whole person needs to be nourished — both body and soul.

The office building where I work has a spot outside the parking garage with a few tables and chairs where people enjoy their lunch outside.  A pair of big planters make the concrete patio a little friendlier, especially since the management puts some care into their seasonal plantings.  A couple of summers ago, the planters were overflowing with colorful foliage — and a closer look revealed that this riot of color and texture came from a variety of lettuces and other leafy vegetables. I thought that was a terrific idea, but one of my colleagues was appalled. Edible plants as ornamentals? What a waste, he growled; it’s a crime.

Last summer, the Hunger Leaders’ Gathering in Florida visited an organic hydroponic farm in Florida, and I saw more planters overflowing with gorgeous foliage. (The county extension agent complimented the farmer on his lovely ruffly red leaf lettuce, and he answered, “Thank you. I come out and curl them myself every morning.”) They really were spectacular — lettuces, bell peppers, tomatoes, strawberries — all kinds of beautiful and fragrant plants cascading out of their tiers of planters.

A backyard gardener who admires the beauty of her herbs and then puts them in her salads. A building manager who made a patio more pleasant with planters filled with leafy vegetables instead of flowers. An organic farmer whose fragrant and well-tended crops glow with color and texture.

Hyacinths? Herbs?

The experiment that inspires Year of Plenty is one that grows out of a frustration with consumerism as well as a hunger for a sense of connectedness to place and people. Through an accessible and self-aware narrative, Craig Goodwin sketches his family’s year-long journey in sustainable living. Goodwin weaves personal experience with theological reflection (most of which is inspired by Wendell Berry)—an approach that leads him to articulate a rule for living the Christian faith in the midst of a culture and theology that has accommodated consumerism. As Goodwin explains, the rule is less a hard boundary and is more accurately seen as a reorientation to the kingdom of God present in our world. Against this backdrop the family’s explorations into the homegrown, the local, the used and the homemade offer a glimpse at the convergence of theology and practice.

 As a result of both style and content, the book lends itself well to small group study and discussion. The author’s intent is to make a case for a Christian voice in issues of consumption and creation care by means of personal experiment and reflection rather than theological treatise. This does not preclude the author from exploring a “theology of plenty”, where his reflections eventually lead. The book seems to read better as a personal commentary with theological reflection on hyper-consumption rather than the development of a theology. Its strength is in demonstrating a relationship between reflection, theology, and practice through a personal narrative. But as far as developing a theology, Year of Plenty lacks depth for those who cannot tear up their lawn and turn it into a garden or build a chicken coop in their backyard.

As it is, a distinct conversation about hunger, the effects of climate change, or food justice issues is simply beyond the scope of this book. The passing references to these issues serve as a means for understanding how faith is integrated with this personal journey of sustainable living. This strategy works in the author’s favor by making the book more accessible than if it were just a theological project. On the other hand, Year of Plenty illustrates a sense of urgency in the author’s personal life, but is not forceful enough in articulating a sense of urgency for the church. Goodwin offers a critique of traditional dualist theology and advocates for a more holistic one, but this is done in the context of his personal reflections on his family’s experiment. This has the advantage of allowing the reader to make his/her own connections. It has the disadvantage of not being able to speak to a variety of entry points into the sustainability conversation and the urgency required for the church to engage in a deeper theology.

Yet Goodwin reaches a conclusion that is accessible as any for his audience—our decisions and practices, both economic and personal, are matters of faith. Because these are matters of faith the importance of making connections among sustainability and hunger, climate change and food justice are necessary and crucial to the development of a deeper theology in a world of plenty.              

Goodwin’s blog: www.yearofplenty.org

BOOK REVIEW

Year of Plenty 

 Craig L. Goodwin

2011 Augsburg Fortress

Christian Life/Biography

ISBN: 978-1-4514-0074-8

I love things that are good. This gets complicated when one may ask when something is good, is it right? Another may say, who cares if it is good, we want it to be the best!

During the last few weeks in April, I had the chance to travel in Texas with ELCA World Hunger Director Dan Rift visiting pastors, congregations and donors. My travel lasted nearly two weeks from Austin to Fredericksburg to Houston to San Antonio and Dallas. (I drove this route and will have to consider reconciling the carbon footprint left there). 

Popular topics during our visits:

• Issues of water during times of flooding and drought (remember Texas had 100 days of 100+ degree temperatures last year)
• An abundance of wild game in Texas as a possible source of food
• Accompaniment with the companion churches in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone
• Issues related to immigrants and refugees in areas of the US and Mexico border
• Supporting women and girls for employment and education
• Celebrating the multi-cultural mission of the ELCA and new congregations such as Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria de Guadalupe inIrving
• When all are fed, how do we care for the capacity of the earth?

It’s all good!

It is so great to work for ELCA World Hunger, to be in conversation with many individuals and groups about the issues of hunger and poverty in the US and around the world and to encourage how we live and what we can do to make a difference. There is power when we can work together to discuss topics and provide opportunities for engagement. ELCA World Hunger then relies on the leadership of our pastors and synod hunger leaders to keep these issues in front of ELCA members and to understand that we organize a response and action through our church. The financial support and giving that result provide the energy and funding for action and partnership through programs in nearly 60 countries on an annual basis.

But is it right?

There is an incredible dynamic in how each of us is at a different point in our lives and at a different place in learning – in particular about and around the issues we promote through ELCA World Hunger. It is easiest to come together as a group with shared values and interests and giving to similar organizations, but it is a strange ideal. We all have different experiences and strengths, and it is those differences that allow us to bring unique leadership, ideas and understanding when joining a cause or movement.

Our priorities for programs and grants through ELCA congregations and synods, companion churches and partners rely on local, in-country leadership, relationship and expertise. We model our efforts according to accompaniment. ELCA World Hunger funds support local economies. Project requests come to us from the communities that are served.  This methodology is not always perfect, but relationships move forward to the primary objective of sustainable development for the livelihood of communities out of hunger and poverty. ELCA World Hunger is a program of learning, action, and giving to make a difference in so many ways. All are invited into this experience and journey.

We want to be the best!

The ELCA emphasized World Malaria Day on April 25 and is well into the ELCA Malaria Campaign to support essential malaria health services and practices in 11 countries through our companion church relationships.  The campaign aims to raise a minimum $15 million to support these country plans and dramatically reduce occurrence and death by malaria by 2015. Not everyone agrees on our explanation or methodology or program scope or financial goals, but the encouragement is that so many are listening, voicing points of view, and considering how they will act. This is such a poignant moment in the life of our church, for each of us in the ways we live our faith, and in the ways we are active within our world. 

Jesus told us to feed the hungry, give to the poor, befriend the stranger and love our neighbor.  This is the personal, compassionate and very doable call to each of us, and I especially love it when the call brings us back to this center.

Good, Right and Best – participating in these efforts through ELCA World Hunger creates a lot of opportunities and experiences for each of us.  Thank you for your efforts and encouragement.

Peace!

Sharon Magnuson, Associate Director — ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

Q: Do you want to learn more about the global communion of churches we, ELCA members, are part of– the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)? Q: Do you find global settings to be life-giving to your work and ministry? Q: Do you love to hear about new ideas and ways of thinking from different contexts?

A: If you answered “yes” to any of the above, this great online conference opportunity is a “must!”

“LWF Virtual Conference: Green & Just”

Saturday, 12 May 2012

*6:00 a.m. Central Time

Online Format

http://blogs.lutheranworld.org/wordpress/greenandjust/ 

REGISTER NOW

*This is an international, online, virtual event– Please note the time really is 6:00 a.m. (in the morning) central time.

Target group: Church leaders, people active in sustainable development, interested pastors and lay leaders, youth leaders.

Number of participants: 400-600

Format: green&just will be a virtual event. Interactions are in real time on the Internet. Most content will be shown in video. Questions can be asked in real time using text chat. There will be keynote addresses, Bible studies, webinar workshops and a “lounge,” where you can meet other global participants!

Languages: Sessions will be offered in all four official languages of the LWF, English, French, German and Spanish.

Technical requirements: A Computer with Internet connection and speakers/earphones.

Program: Click HERE for the full program.

ELCA World Hunger special suggestions:

• 6:00 a.m. CT Greeting with LWF General Secretary Martin Junge.
• 10:30 a.m. Bible Study with Dr. Barbara Rossing who was with us as theologian in residence in Florida at the 2012 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering.
• Check out the webinar (workshop) slates– they all look great!

REGISTER NOW

Please feel free to invite your congregations, hunger team members, youth groups and youth leaders and other interest parties. If you do participate, write us and let us know what you think.

Happy virtual conferencing!

Mikka serves as program director for constituent engagement and interpretation with ELCA World Hunger. To join the network and for more information on how you can get involved, write us at hunger@elca.org.

The last few weeks I’ve been working with our database people, pulling out figures and figuring out the facts behind them. Sounds boring, doesn’t it? Actually, it’s been fascinating. And inspiring.

The figures add up to a wonderful fact: ELCA Lutherans are dedicated to making the world a better place. ELCA Lutherans are devoted to Christ’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves — and they act on it. ELCA Lutherans are so very, very generous.

There are volunteers who travel all over their synods, spreading the word about ELCA World Hunger wherever they go. There are congregations that gather up offerings for ELCA World Hunger four times a year — six times a year — every month. There are individuals who give once a year and individuals who give every month. There are people who give online with a credit card, and there are people who give by mail with a check. There are synods that make giving to ELCA World Hunger an item in their annual budget. There are Sunday School children who collect thousands of dollars in noisy offerings, youth groups who work to raise funds for the 100 Wells Challenge, women’s groups who organize Good Gifts Fairs for ELCA World Hunger. There are people who surprise us by leaving a gift for ELCA World Hunger in their will. There are others who plan with our Foundation to make ELCA World Hunger part of their estate. And there are hundreds and hundreds of pastors, bishops, and other leaders who work hard to make sure that the people of this church have every possible opportunity to hear and answer the gospel call. 

Without the generosity and dedication of all these people and so many more, ELCA World Hunger wouldn’t be able to carry on the life-changing work that we’re able to do. Thanks to you, together, we’re able to make a difference in the lives of people all over the world.

Thank you.

Audrey Riley is a member of the fundraising staff of ELCA World Hunger.

Just last week in my local high school’s cafeteria, eager young volunteers stationed themselves with scales in front of garbage cans. Weighing and examining every item about to be thrown away, they came up with a gross tonnage of discards and determined that only 5% of the “garbage” needed to go to the landfill. The other 95% could be recycled or composted.

While some of the compostable items were napkins and paper plates, most of it was food.

Food tossed into the cafeteria garbage can is considered food waste— food wasted at the level of consumption, that we prepare and eat in our homes, stores, and high schools, the ELCA Churchwide Office, our congregations, offices, and countless other  institutions.

Food loss, on the other hand, takes place at the level of production. Failed crops are a good example. So are shortages triggered by hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, war and violence, and diseases like potato blight or wheat rust.

Through ELCA World Hunger, we’re all committed to addressing food loss. But the food waste that takes place in our own kitchens? Invisible, unchallenged, it’s our dirty little secret. Some might defend it as a privilege of our prosperity! Food loss happens everywhere. Food waste happens in high-income regions. Although this chart is a little hard to see, just look at the proportion of red to blue. Blue is food loss. Red is food waste. We North Americans have the biggest red chunk. (To see a larger chart, go to a cool blog called Discard Studies: Exploring Throw-Away Culture, also my source for the food loss/food waste distinction.)

So, fellow hunger advocates. What’s the plan for making our food waste as visible—and as reprehensible—as the world’s food loss?

For including our own shame in campaigns that focus on the world’s shame?

For adding a photo of our excess to the gallery of photos of other people’s lack?

For including our own practices in the hunger equation?

For looking at ourselves?

I can’t wait to hear.

Anne Basye, Sustaining Simplicity

It’s that time of year when we celebrate the risen Christ who calls us into the world in service! It’s also the time of year when the April 15 deadline looms and many wonder, “What do I owe this year?” “Will I get a return, and if so, how much?” “Did I complete all the right forms and attach all the right documents?”

Women Thrive tweeted a very interesting whitehouse.gov resource last week called, “Your Federal Taxpayer Receipt.” This is a resource designed to help you understand how and where your tax dollars are being spent. Since you’ve got your tax info handy, simply enter your social security tax, Medicare tax and income tax amounts to calculate your receipt. (If you don’t have those handy, you can select a more generic income estimate, too.)

As I always wonder when I share my numbers with you all in these handy tools, can you trace it back to me somehow? Well, throwing caution to the wind, I can tell you all that I paid about an 18 percent tax rate in 2011 (My total income and payroll taxes on the calculator divided by my total income). Wowee. Let’s learn more.

Social Security and Medicare taxes make up about 20 percent of the taxes I paid, but the remainder of what you and I paid is on income, which go to a variety of services including:

• national defense (24.9%)
• health care (23.7%)
• job and family security (19.1%)
• education and job training (3.6%)
• veterans benefits (4.5%)
• natural resources, energy and environment (2.0%)
• international affairs (1.6%)
• science, space and technology programs (1.0%)
• immigration, law enforcement and administration of justice (2.0)
• agriculture (0.7%)
• community, area and regional development (0.5%)
• response to natural disasters (0.4%)
• additional government programs (7.9%)
• net interest (8.1%)

The percentages stay the same, but the receipt will give you the amount in dollars that your taxes were spent on in those categories. What do you think?

Mikka serves as program director for constituent engagement and interpretation with ELCA World Hunger. To join the network and for more information on how you can get involved, write us at hunger@elca.org.

Easter Monday Greetings, All! Occasionally, we feature guest blog entries, and today is one such occasion. Here is a reflection by Pastor Paul Ostrem, Assistant to the Bishop, Southeastern Iowa Synod and ELCA World Hunger leader. During the Lenten season, we read Psalm 107 and Pastor Paul was struck by that reading while worshiping at Gloria Dei in Iowa City. Here is his reflection.

I almost “zoned-out” after hearing verse 2:  “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”  I was abruptly though briefly (thankfully) taken back to the Our-Savior’s-Radcliffe-Haugean-piety days of my youth and perhaps to my equally pietistic days at Waldorf College.  “Speak up!  Tell people you are saved!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!”  So people got up and gave their testimonies, sounding more pious than many of us knew they were, and I suppose from time to time I tried to do the same.  And when the guitars came out, we sang with great enthusiasm in call and response fashion (at least through the first two lines)  “I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb!  I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb!  I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb, filled with the Holy Ghost I am!  All my sins are washed away, I am redeemed!”  It was true in its own right, I suppose, but last night I realized that Psalm 107 is about a whole lot more once we get past verse 2.

The Psalm is about God feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, bringing light to gloomy lives, freeing those in bondage, and delivering people from danger and even death.  The Psalm speaks, section by section, of all that God does for those wandering in desert wastes, hungry and thirsty, for those sitting in darkness and gloom, for prisoners in misery and in irons, for those on storm tossed seas.   Each section ends “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.”

I couldn’t help but think about ELCA World Hunger as we moved toward the end of the psalm, verse 35 and following where it speaks of how God “turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.”  The psalm says that God lets the hungry live there and that they establish a town to live in.  They plant fields and vineyards and get a harvest.  God “does not let their cattle decrease.”  (God’s Global Barnyard)  Here is a picture of God working with the hungry in a way that provides more than relief.  This is a picture of God in the work of development, creating a means of livelihood, even community with towns to live in.

And the Psalm pictures a God who holds those in authority, those in government, accountable to the needs of the poor.  Verses 39-41:  “When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; but he raises up the needy out of distress, and makes their families like flocks.”  This Psalm includes the responsibility of civil leaders in a comprehensive vision of caring for the needs of those who live on the edge and whose very livelihood is threatened.  Therefore, the work of advocacy accompanies the ministries of relief and development in being a part of God’s mission to the poor and hungry in the world.  “The upright see it and are glad!” (verse 42)

The Psalm ends “Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”  Being wise has something to do with another component of ELCA World Hunger, namely education.  Part of that wisdom comes from telling stories of how God is at work even through our efforts in relief, development, and advocacy to care for those most vulnerable among us, how God uses human ingenuity, inventiveness and persuasiveness for the good of hungry people.  This is how the steadfast love of the Lord becomes visible in the world, and we are wise if we give heed to it and see it.

Psalm 107 illustrates the acronym READ as a description of the comprehensive work of ELCA World Hunger:  Relief, Education, Advocacy, and Development.  “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.”

Thank you to Pastor Paul for this great reflection. Do you want to contribute to Hunger Rumblings? Write and let us know!

Just getting up in the morning can be a struggle. Seeking justice, championing a world in which people flourish, trying to discern God’s will and live into God’s culture in our (or any) times? Exhausting, and often discouraging. But then comes Easter. Refreshed, we start anew!

To celebrate, this wonderful poem by Ronald Wallace:

Blessings

occur.
Some days I find myself
putting my foot in
the same stream twice;
leading a horse to water
and making him drink.
I have a clue.
I can see the forest
for the trees.

All around me people
are making silk purses
out of sows’ ears,
getting blood from turnips,
building Rome in a day.
There’s a business
like show business.
There’s something new
under the sun.

Some days misery
no longer loves company;
it puts itself out of its.
There’s rest for the weary.
There’s turning back.
There are guarantees.
I can be serious.
I can mean that.
You can quite
put your finger on it.

Some days I know
I am long for this world.
I can go home again.
And when I go
I can
take it with me
***

May the Easter season infuse us with hope and renew our commitment to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our Lord all the days of our lives. He is risen indeed!

Anne Basye, Sustaining Simplicity

The 10^th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice was held in Washington D.C., March 23-26, 2012. About 800 people of faith, including at least five ELCA World Hunger Leaders (see below), were present to strengthen our Christian voice and mobilize for advocacy.

This year’s priority theme was “Is This the Fast I Seek? Economy, Livelihood and Our National Priorities.” Based on the text from Isaiah 58: 1-12, and from our first keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer from the Interdenominational Theological Center, we were encouraged to “Cry justice! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!”

The ask that we as participants made to elected leaders was based on the Faithful Budget Campaign:

“As people of faith, we urge you to defend people struggling to live in dignity by funding programs that protect vulnerable populations here and abroad. Enact a faithful federal budget that serves the common good, provides robust funding for people struggling to overcome poverty and exercises proper care of the earth.”

As we sat together during Lent around this theme of fasting, I was particularly moved by the imagery. Our speakers challenged us that fasting from food makes no difference if we only do it for ourselves without thought for others. We were reminded that as people of faith gathered at the nation’s capitol, the fast week seek is the fast God seeks, from Isaiah:

“⁶Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin.”

So, as children of the living God wander in the streets, through desserts and by sea—what is the fast we seek? In a country where 1.46 million household with 2.8 million children live on less than $2 per day (Elaine Nissenbaum, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities), what is the fast we seek?

For those of you who know me well, you may know that in my next life, I hope to be a movie score composer. Music is the way that my heart calls justice and at EAD, the perfect song was the answer that called to my heart.

“For Everyone Born” (Text Shirley Erena Murray, Tune Brian Mann)

For everyone born, a place at the table,
For everyone born, clean water and bread;
A shelter a space, a safe place for growing,
For everyone born, a star overhead.

Chorus:

And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace;
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy.

For young and for old, a place at the table,
A voice to be heard, a part in the song,
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
For young and for old, the right to belong. [Chorus]

For just and unjust a place at the table,
The user, the used with need to forgive,
In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
For just and unjust a new way to live. [Chorus]

For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be,
To work, to speak out to witness and worship,
For everyone born, the right to be free. [Chorus]

Lent is coming to a close, but the fast we seek is not an easy or time bound, church season kind of thing. Just as we are called to this fast in Isaiah 58, we are reminded in the same book that we are also called by name (Isaiah 43:1). For everyone born, called to the fast, called by name.

Are we ready to answer that call? Cry justice!

P.S. Guess the ELCA World Hunger Leaders pictured below!