Concern for the Family Farm

A Statement of The American Lutheran Church, 1980

Two resolutions adopted by the Ninth General Convention of The American Lutheran Church in 1978 (GC78.24.168, GC78.24.172) were reaffirmed by the Tenth General Convention in 1980 (GG8O.6.95).

Fair Public Policies (GC78.24..1 68)
Whereas, The American Lutheran Church believes that the family farm system is the keystone of American agriculture, of the stewardship of productive land and water resources, and of a healthy rural America; and

Whereas, the continued viability of the family farm system is dependent on agricultural trade, conservation and environmental, land ownership and land use, taxation, and other policies of federal, state, and local governments; therefore be it

Resolved, that The American Lutheran Church express its conviction that a strong and viable family farm system is crucial to the quality of American life and its contribution toward easing world hunger; and be it further

Resolved, The American Lutheran Church hereby underscores the urgency of federal, state, and local governments developing fair and equitable policies which will preserve and protect the family farm system and strength and stability of the towns and villages of rural America.

Absentee Ownership of Farmland (GC78.24.172)
Whereas, farm land frequently is purchased for investment or speculative or tax write-off purposes apart from agricultural productivity; and

Whereas, such farm land purchase typically brings about the indifference and neglect of community well-being generally characteristic of absentee ownership; therefore be it

Resolved, that The American Lutheran Church use its influence to impress upon those individuals and corporate bodies who acquire farm land for investment, speculative, tax write-off, or other purposes apart from agricultural productivity the urgency of considering the effects on quality of community life and the ecological impact their actions may generate; and be it further

Resolved, that we as church people exercise our civil right to influence Congress by writing personal letters to our legislators on this issues; and be it further

Resolved, that this resolution be shared with the members of The ALC through The Lutheran Standard.