COLUMBUS, Ohio (ELCA) -- Lutherans striving to end hunger in
the world were encouraged to take the "Food Stamp Challenge" at
the 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World
Hunger Synod Leadership Gathering held this summer at The Ohio
State University here. The gathering brought together about 140
leaders from across the church's 65 synods to discuss world
hunger and related topics under the theme, "Stirring the Waters."
The "Food Stamp Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for
members of ELCA congregations (and synods), campus ministries and
outdoor ministries to understand what it means to live on food
stamps in the United States," said Christopher Carpenter, program
associate, ELCA World Hunger Program. "The challenge (calls for)
each member of the church to live for one week on the national
average allowance or benefit for food stamps, which is $1 per
meal, per person."
Carpenter said that would amount to a $21 food budget for a
week for one person. "That is the challenge. Can $1 really curb
your hunger? That's the reality for 25 million Americans, who
are living on food stamps in the United States," he said.
Participants also considered the advocacy component of the
Food Stamp Challenge. "The first step is to take the challenge.
The second is to advocate among members of U.S. Congress to raise
the minimum allowance for Food Stamps," Carpenter said.
The topic of food stamps is directly tied to U.S. Farm Bill
legislation that is being debated by Congress, he said. A third
component is to make a contribution to the ELCA World Hunger
Appeal. And finally, the third step is to build awareness of
those who live in poverty and encounter hunger -- pray for people
and take action, he said.
The event included workshops on topics ranging from reducing
hunger in Ohio to the Farm Bill and hunger education, and from
scarcity of water resources to global warming. Plenary speakers
included Priscilla Singh, executive secretary, Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) Women in Church and Society, and various ELCA
World Hunger staff. The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive
director, ELCA Global Mission, Chicago, led vespers, and the Rev.
George S. Johnson, San Marcos, Calif., author of the book,
"Intersections, Following Jesus: Encouragement from the
Beatitudes for a Troubled World," led a devotion.
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Information about the 2007 World Hunger Synod Leadership
Gathering and the Food Stamp Challenge is at
http://www.ELCA.org/hunger and http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy on
the ELCA Web site.
A video news release about the gathering is available at
http://www.ELCA.org/news/video.html on the Web site.
*Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech
communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
This summer she was in intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
