As promised, I am going to write a brief bit about two exciting new resources coming your way!

Two weekends ago, members of the ELCA World Hunger staff and a few knowledgeable and spirited hunger leaders from around the country met at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center in picturesque, upstate New York for a creative retreat. The retreat was held to brainstorm content for two new ELCA World Hunger resources—the name, which I’m sure will be catchy, is yet to be determined. I had the opportunity to attend as a participant and as the (ever-faithful and diligent) note taker!

Here’s a picture of the group!

The two resources are meant to provide an adaptable, practical, easy-to-use, intergenerational, answer to the question:

“I’ve been asked to present for [insert your amount of time here] about world hunger to [insert your audience here]. What can or should I do?”

As concerned advocates for poverty ministries and world hunger, many of us are asked to present for an allotted amount of time to many differing audiences, be it the church youth group or at an adult forum during coffee hour. These two resources will be designed to help you organize that time! The resources will be unveiled at the upcoming ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering in Lakewood, Colorado, July 31-August 3, 2008.

Now that I’ve sold you on the purpose, you might be asking, “What topics are these resources going to address?” These first two, which will most likely be part of a series, will address two important topics:

What is ELCA World Hunger?
What is the connection between climate change and world hunger?

The first is fairly self-explanatory. It will help you to articulate key facts about world hunger and the work that ELCA World Hunger is doing with a “take away” to truly inspire your audience. The second resource will begin to address some of the important connections between climate change and world hunger.

To begin familiarizing yourself on connections between climate change, hunger, and poverty, please see the links below.

“Summary for Policy Makers,” by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Work Group II.
http://www.ipcc-wg2.org/

“Adaptation 101: How climate change hurts poor communities– and how we can help,” by Oxfam America.
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/publications/briefing_papers/adaptation-101/Adaptation-101.pdf

Happy learning!

Two nights ago, CNN aired coverage of former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore’s endorsement speech of Sen. Barack Obama in Detroit, Michigan. Given Gore’s involvement in climate change work, he spent some time building the case that, indeed, “we need to change our policies on climate change.” He focused on what future generations might say when they look back and review our actions. Mr. Gore is quoted,

“I want [future generations] to look back on this historic year and ask: how did Americans in 2008 find the moral courage to rise and successfully solve a crisis that so many said was impossible to solve? How did they find the strength to change?”

I think it is interesting to consider a simple change from “Americans” to “Lutherans” or “Christians” or maybe even “Peoples of Faith.” In ELCA World Hunger and the ELCA Washington Office, we accept the scientific data that the Earth’s temperature is rising. We realize that people living in poverty, who may also be located in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries, are already seeing substantial impacts from global warming. We recognize that there are concrete connections between hunger, poverty, and climate change.

In a time such as this, I think we, as citizens, are fortunate because we have two, mainstream party presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, who both recognize and care about climate change. The candidates have different approaches to working against the problem, but both are thinking about it!

Similarly, I think we, as ELCA Lutherans, are blessed to have a church that is actively engaged in the discussion about climate change. We are blessed to have a prophetically concerned voice in Bishop Mark S. Hanson, who, in his April 2007 Earth Day statement said, “The poor and hungry of the earth are most vulnerable to rising sea levels, the spread of infectious disease, extending areas of drought, and other impacts of rising temperatures, many of which are already occurring.”

Perhaps, when the 7th or the 1000th generation looks back to our time, they will see intentional care for God’s creation and all of God’s children. Change will not be easy or quick, but it certainly seems to be dawning on the horizon. It is an exciting time to be alive and engaged in God’s good work and in God’s world!

Stay tuned for next week when I “reveal” exciting information about a new ELCA World Hunger resource, relating to climate change and hunger, for all of you hunger leaders and peace and justice workers out there!

For more information:

The ELCA Washington Office Advocacy Page on Environment
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Advocacy/Issues/Environment-and-Energy.aspx

Sen. John McCain’s Climate Change Site
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/da151a1c-733a-4dc1-9cd3-f9ca5caba1de.htm

Sen. Barack Obama’s Energy and Environment Site
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy/