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Voting members to the synod assembly had two opportunities to “go deeper” in the ways hunger and poverty are being addressed, both locally and globally. Nine workshops presented assembly participants with a variety of ways to learn more about hunger and its effects. Charla Irwin-Buncher, Communication and Development Director for the Channel One Food Bank, along with Agency Relations Coordinator Scott Carpenter, helped educate attendees to the reality of those struggling to meet their daily needs. No matter where we live or worship, these folk are our neighbors. Channel One is a regional resource which feeds people, solicits and distributes food products, reduces food waste, and provides public education for 14 counties in Southeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Another way to learn about hunger is to walk with them. Rev. Nick Fisher-Broin outlined a process by which congregations can plan and prepare mission trips for this purpose. This is especially important as congregations build better relationships with partner synods and congregations. In perhaps the most innovative workshop, “Minnesota Hunger 101©,” attendees really were participants as each person assumed the role of someone in Minnesota who is hungry. The experience was designed to help participants understand the complex issues surrounding poverty, develop compassion for those under-served and motivate them to act on their behalf. “Lutheran World Relief: Walking the Jericho Road” presented the opportunity to walk in a bit different fashion. Daniel J. Lee, LWR Communication Project Coordinator, led a discussion in how LWR’s efforts are reaching beyond relief into self-directed development, and how our communities of faith can help. Using the stories of Jesus’ encounters with the blind man and Zacchaeus on the road to Jericho, Lee stressed the importance of accompaniment as the guiding principle for working with people to end poverty. In a bit different but well attended workshop, Mary Jo Forbord discussed “Food, Agriculture, Health and Hunger: Making the Sustainable connection. Forbord, Executive Director of the Sustainable Farmer Association of America, impressed the voting members with her expertise and knowledge on a variety of topics related to sustainability. Sustainability focuses on fostering a sustainable food system for all people. “Bread for the World” was not only the title of a workshop but also its subject. Led by Tammy Walhof, Senior Regional Organizer of Bread for the World, recapped the work of the organization, a collective Christian voice of advocacy for the poor. One of their activities is to work toward the Millennial Development Goals, which seek to cut poverty in half by the year 2015. Andrew Genzler, Director of the ELCA Washington Office, explained the concept of advocacy and thus connected the national work of the ELCA with the local work of congregations. Advocacy, said Genzler, is merely listening to one person and then sharing what you’ve heard with another. Paraphrasing former Speaker of the House, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, Genzler said, “All advocacy is local.” In the workshop “ELCA World Hunger” voting members learned how the ELCA works with several groups collaboratively to end hunger and poverty, also using the principle of accompaniment, walking with people. Chris Carpenter, Program Associate, acquainted the attendees with important resources such as “God’s Global Barnyard” and “Caring Connections.” “Church World Service,” best known for the CROP Walk program (“we walk so that others don’t have to”), introduced participants to its other programs, such as “Tools and Blankets” and “CWS Kits.” Debra Braun provided a variety of information for congregations and communities to be involved in working together to meet the needs of those in poverty while fostering self-reliance. The workshops were a powerful way to help voting members understand the issues of poverty while providing them with concrete ways they can be involved. There many conversations about these topics at the dinner table, an appropriate venue. |
