Food, Farms, Faith

Food is a basic need. Students and teachers need to eat, as do senior citizens and day-care children. Republicans and Democrats need to eat. Veterans and construction workers, insurance agents and journalists need to eat.

Food not only sustains our bodies, but so much of the economy relates to the processes by which we grow, harvest, transport, cook, bake, package, distribute, sell and buy what we eat. "Give us this day our daily bread."

To explain this part of the Lord's Prayer, Martin Luther commented on the provision of "daily bread" by describing the ability of a farmer not only to grow wheat but to plant in peaceful fields and bring crops to a fair market. There is a system involving the production and consumption of food that needs people to consider it comprehensively if it is to work well.

Healthy Food and Food Systems

Federal farm programs support the farmers who grow our food and the systems that move the food from farms to our communities. | more

Vibrant Farms and Rural Communities

When modern farm policy was created, millions of people depended upon farming and ranching for their livelihoods. | more

ELCA members are involved in every point in this system from planting seeds to selling food, and from their own experiences, ELCA advocates care about public policies that affect every part of this process, from supporting growers to concern for all who rely on this country's food supply.

These policies come together in a legislative package known as the farm bill, which addresses agricultural practices, rural and farm economies, food systems, hunger volunteering, nutrition and conservation.

On these pages of the ELCA website, you'll find priorities and programs regarding food, hunger and rural development lifted up by the ELCA advocacy network.

Learn about strong farm economies and rural development, jobs and energy; about networks of farms, schools and farmers’ markets; about healthy eating and programs to assist families with food and congregations and communities with feeding programs.

Taken together, these farm bill priorities can make us a healthier, stronger and more productive country, especially in our rural counties and small towns. As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus’ name throughout the world. If we can work together, we might be able to sit down and eat together.