Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) Blogs

Food and Faith

Waiting for life renewed!

The life-giving warmth of spring is almost upon us!  But still we wait for the new impulse coming our way… 1)  In Lent, we reflect on Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection. We slow down, take time, and examine our internal spiritual lives and the way we live out our Christian faith in the world around. This… Read more »

Why care about the Farm Bill?

One bill provides crop insurance to protect farmers hit by pests, drought, or flood. One bill supports communities as they develop their local and regional food systems. One bill provides research, credit, and support programs for farmers and ranchers. One bill enacts either strong or weak creation care policies. Agriculture is one of the foremost… Read more »

The Rise of Big Meat

chicken The PC(USA) passed a resolution in 2016 on Factory Farms (see webpage here) with three major concerns: Humane treatment of animals; Environmental concerns about animal agriculture, including the concerns of ‘fence line’ communities located near factory farms); Support for farmworkers and processing plant workers, people of color farmers, and family farmers and ranchers . The following webinar… Read more »

Really good news about inequality! And…

woman with child at rally The really good news:  Seventy-four percent of respondents (including 58 percent of Republicans) said they back boosting the minimum wage from its current level of $7.25 an hour to $9 over the course of two years, according to a poll this year. Another poll shows that 48% of Americans favor raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour…. Read more »

Parable of a Warming Planet: Fire Water & Air

kids holding hands and jumping ONCE UPON A TIME… a precious planet called Earth was tousled by ferocious disasters, more and more each year!  Epic fires, hurricanes, floods and droughts uprooted lives and destroyed nature along with the many edifices built by humans.  The faith of the religious was tested, as damage, deluges and death brought to mind the story in… Read more »

Food on everyone’s table!

graph of how children benefit after receiving SNAP The Senate is expected to vote on a regressive tax bill next week, and your voice advocating for a moral and compassionate budget is critical! For Presbyterians, the message is biblical and simple. Urge your Senators to say “no” on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, because it will make hunger and poverty worse and will further deepen… Read more »

Salmon named MVP! (Most Valuable Piscis)

Young husband and wife at vigil Salmon figured prominently at the Presbyterians for Earth Care Conference held along Oregon’s Columbia River in September. These beautiful creatures are the traditional and cultural heart of the Columbia River tribes. As the keystone species, salmon not only created the biologically-diverse ecosystems of the region, but they also form the economic foundation for the indigenous… Read more »

Why It Matters: Farm Bill 101

Should we rename the Farm Bill? This hard-working bill covers everything—from crop insurance to community food projects, from Meals on Wheels and SNAP (food stamps) to energy, conservation, and international food aid. Calling it the Food Bill would at least pique the curiosity of those that eat! No matter what it is called, though, as… Read more »

Responding to Famine in South Sudan

Boy carrying clothes Following years of war coupled with extreme drought, South Sudan is experiencing major disruptions in food production and supply resulting in extreme food shortages and malnutrition. In emergency disaster situations such as famine, we partner with the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and ACT Alliance to help address the current immediate need.  In South Sudan, PDA is also working with Presbyterian… Read more »

Hunger Action Congregations Covenant with instructions and links to resources

Hunger Action Congregation Resources Below are the instructions as well as webpage links for resources and more information, plus a link to the list of recommended books. * The covenant form to be filled out online is at bit.ly/hungeractionform The purpose of the Hunger Action Congregation process is to:  (1) acknowledge and celebrate the faithful work… Read more »