From the Crop and Shop to the Congregations Organizing in Faith Communities: From the Crop and Shop to the Congregations Organizing in Faith Communities


From the Crop and Shop to the Congregations Organizing in Faith Communities: From the Crop and Shop to the Congregations Organizing in Faith Communities Andrew Kang Bartlett, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Church (USA) Sarah Leiber Church, Kosher Clothes Campaign, Progressive Jewish Alliance Janet Martin, Justice Ministry Program, Church on the Edge, Edgewater, NJ :


Scriptural Context: Scriptural Context


Faith and Justice: Faith and Justice Amos 8 4 “Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,   5 saying, When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"— skimping the measure,   boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales,  6 buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals,  selling even the sweepings with the wheat.   7 The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: "I will never forget anything they have done” .


Faith and Justice: Faith and Justice “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger… You must pay him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets… else he will cry to God against you and you will incur guilt.” (Deuteronomy 24:14-25).  


Faith and Justice: Faith and Justice Matthew 25 42 “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink” 43 “I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.‘ 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me”


Practical Context: Practical Context


Justice MinistryPeople of faith speaking out against local, national and global trade and social injustice: Justice Ministry People of faith speaking out against local, national and global trade and social injustice Saying ‘YES’ all the time, not just when it is convenient to everyone’s right to Dignity and freedom from racism and inequity Food and shelter Water and sanitation Healthcare Livelihood of fair wages and safe conditions Education and gender equity Environmental conservation


Justice Ministry “Conservation, Disciple and Servant”: Justice Ministry “Conservation, Disciple and Servant” Change our thinking of how we live Making changes that create big differences in the lives of others Justice Ministry to agitate, advocate and activate to eliminate economic and social injustice


Justice Ministry In Service We Think Differently: Justice Ministry In Service We Think Differently Movie grossed $290 million equals 2.6 million viewers spent $11 per ticket and could have provided either 29,000 families $10,000 poverty incomes or 3,867 Habitat $75,000 homes after Katrina or 116,000 in Nicaragua at $2,500


Justice Ministry In Service We Think Differently : Justice Ministry In Service We Think Differently Daily $4 latte or lunch during the work week could have provided $20 for Malaria prevention for one family in Africa Prevent Vitamin A deficiency in 240 children Drip irrigation kit for water or a blanket Over the month, the $100 would have Immunized 4 children or purchased 2 desks Two wells or 60 jerry cans to carry water Share of a Heifer Souces: World Vision, UNICEF, Heifer


Living ScriptureIn Service We Think Differently: Living Scripture In Service We Think Differently In America the waters in our sanitary systems are cleaner than drinking water in Nicaragua Some communities have only one 55 gallon recycled pesticide drum to hold all water until the next month’s delivery This is equal to the amount of water used in 3 showers in the average American home The average American home uses 69.3 gallons of water per day Source: American Water Works Association


Living Scripture In Service We Think Differently : Living Scripture In Service We Think Differently Or 8 loaves of bread or 24 plates or spaghetti Destroyed plants by rainforest beef Water could have produced more than 50 pounds of fruits and vegetables Source: PCUSA


Justice Ministry Ways to Serve in the World: Justice Ministry Ways to Serve in the World Change our living and buying habits to make a difference Support Justice Programs for Housing, Hunger relief, Literacy, Sanitation, Conservation, Fair-Trade Adopt stores to sell fair-trade products Purchase ‘fair-trade’ and ‘sweat-free’ products Producers and manufacturers earn a living wage Work in safe conditions Alternative gifts support self-sufficiency Hand-crafted items Sponsor a child, community, medicines, education Farm animals, trees and seeds Sweat-Free T-shirts made by collectives for camps, school events


Justice Ministry : Justice Ministry Head Hands Heart Health Humanity Habitat Heifer Hunger Homelessness Human rights


JP Alliance: JP Alliance


No Shvitz: Your One-Stop Guide to Fighting Sweatshops : No Shvitz: Your One-Stop Guide to Fighting Sweatshops No Shvitz is an interdisciplinary book about garment industry sweatshops that draws on Jewish tradition, American history, the global economy and current world events to provide a holistic look at one of the most serious injustices afflicting contemporary society


Low Wage Worker Campaign: Low Wage Worker Campaign


SWEATFREE: SWEATFREE


Presbyterian Hunger Program: Presbyterian Hunger Program


As a congregant, how do I help my organization go Sweatfree?: As a congregant, how do I help my organization go Sweatfree? Decide where to begin Form a core group and seek out allies Discuss the connections to your tradition and texts Define the scope and do research Make your case and educate Create the policy (together with your institution) Implement & monitor your policy


P: P Sweat Free Pledge     No forced labor, no child labor, no discrimination The right to organize and bargain collectively Wages that meet at least basic needs Safe and healthy working conditions No abusive treatment Public disclosure of factory locations Independent verification of compliance with Codes of Conduct and Local Laws Commitment by companies to work with suppliers to achieve compliance


Church On The Edge: Church On The Edge


Justice Ministry: Justice Ministry JAN: Living wages FEB: Criminal justice, race relations MAR: Self and health   APR: Sweat-free; Earth Day MAY Trade (coffee) JUN: Bazaar JUL: Immigration AUG: Education SEPT: Peace/housing OCT: World food day NOV. World Communion DEC. Human Rights


Justice MinistryService by Giving Time, Treasure, Talent: Justice Ministry Service by Giving Time, Treasure, Talent Sponsor awareness Justice Events Gift Bazaar and Volunteer Mission Fair Build homes with Habitat and Bridges to Community Fair Trade, Sweat Free and Social Justice Inter-faith and community purchases of Fair trade coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate Sweat-free clothing Handicrafts from SERRV and Ten Thousand Bridges Shares of animals and equipment from Heifer and World Vision


Justice MinistryIn Service We Think Differently Sign Justice Covenants: Justice Ministry In Service We Think Differently Sign Justice Covenants Sign an Energy covenant pledge “To Go Green, Take Energy audit and Conserve” Sign a Fair-Trade covenant pledge “Trade for people, not people for trade” Sign a Sweat-Free covenant pledge “Agree with sweat-free products and practices”


Justice MinistryHow We Participate: Justice Ministry How We Participate Fair Traded Items Bazaar Promotes socio-economic progress Volunteer and Fellowship opportunities Market for fair-traded and sweat free Handicrafts Coffee, Tea, Cocoa and Chocolate Shares of Animals, Equipment Opportunities include SERRV Equal Exchange Heifer International Habitat for Humanity Church World Services Edgewater Multi-cultural Center


Habitat For Humanity: Habitat For Humanity Nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 175, 000 houses,  Shelter for nearly 900,000 people in 100 countries Building a house every 26 minutes. Now sheltering 1 million people. Local Habitat affiliates coordinate house building and select partner families.


Church World Service: Church World Service CROPWALK Have a Heart Kits Hunger and Development Peace and Justice Seeds and Water Build A Village Tools and Blankets


Presbyterian Coffee Project : Presbyterian Coffee Project Launched in 2001 with 450 churches by year end Churches purchase fair traded coffee/tea Growers receive ‘fair’ price Equal exchange contributes to PC(USA) Congregation fellowship can help others


Equal Exchange Model: Equal Exchange Model Equal Exchange pays a fair price Cuts out ‘middleman’ Equal Exchange works with cooperatives Development assistance Community empowerment Buys directly from the farmers Provides credit to farmers Encourages ecologically sustainable farming


Justice MinistryInterfaith Cup of Cheerwith milk, sugar and social justice: Justice Ministry Interfaith Cup of Cheer with milk, sugar and social justice Combines fellowship and mission outreach Equal Exchange supports growers of coffee, tea, cocoa PC(USA) receives funds for mission $0.15 cents/pound to Small Farmers Fund Costs $0.05 per cup Supports mission and social justice


Fairness in FlowersInternational Labor Rights Fund: Fairness in Flowers International Labor Rights Fund Be an educated consumer and ask questions about the products you purchase. Encourage your local flower sellers to get educated on Transfair USA's upcoming fair trade flower certification standards. Be informed on the impacts of US Trade policies. Participate in the International Labor Right Fund Fairness in Flowers campaign


Questions to Ask The Florist: Questions to Ask The Florist In what country were your flowers produced? Are you aware of the working conditions on the plantations in that country? Do the workers on the plantation have the right to organize and bargain collectively for their rights? Does the plantation produce its flowers organically? If not, do workers have access to protective equipment? Do workers get paid for overtime especially around peak seasons like Valentine's Day?


Fairness in FlowersInternational Labor Rights Fund: Fairness in Flowers International Labor Rights Fund Graduations Weddings Joys and Sorrows Meetings Services


More Opportunities: More Opportunities


Justice MinistryCongregational and Community Events: Justice Ministry Congregational and Community Events Weekend Events to Agitate, Advocate and Activate Supports Denomination Hunger and Justice Programs Enables Inter-generational Partnerships with area and cluster churches Learn about volunteer opportunities Raise congregation and community awareness Hunger and poverty Fair Trade Sweat Free Alternative gifts Food and Faith Alternative gift giving and gift bazaar of fair trade products


World Fair Trade Day May 12, 2007: World Fair Trade Day May 12, 2007 Internationally celebrated in over 70 countries Promotes awareness of trade justice Order toolkit from www.wftd.org


Bread for the World: Bread for the World Sowing Seeds Conference June 9-12, 2007 in Washington, DC Food, Faith and Farms


Global Week of Trade Action: Global Week of Trade Action Interdenominational and international Week of activities on trade justice Worship and Action guides Raise critical issues Encourages action Programs and resources for all ages First observed April 10-16, 2005 October 2007


Justice Ministry : Justice Ministry JUSTICE Faith in Action Join Unity Solidarity Time, treasure, talent Intelligent choices Community Education


What’s On Your Mind?: What’s On Your Mind? Cases Studies and Questions


Contacts and Sources: Contacts and Sources Heifer International: www.heifer.org Fair Trade: www.ifat.org Equal Exchange: www.equalexchange.org SERRV: www.serrv.org PCUSA: ww.pcusa.org Ecumenical Adocacy Allicance: www.e-alliance.ch Habitat For Humanity: www.habitat.org Church World Service: www.churchworldservice.org