 Religious Working
Group on the Farm Bill Statement of Principles
APRIL 25, 2007
Read the press release of
the Religious Working Group on the Farm Bill
From God’s initial command to be good stewards of creation to
the Prophets’ call for justice among governments and nations,
people of faith in every age are called together to work for the
common good. Inspired by Jesus’ command to care for poor and
hungry people, we join together to support policies that promote
economic justice, strengthen rural communities at home and
around the world, care for the land as God’s creation, foster
right relations among nations and achieve an end to hunger.
Broad reform of U.S. food and farm policy, including
adjustments to the commodity payment programs, is important to
progress against hunger and poverty in this country and around
the world. The current system should be changed in ways that
would strengthen communities in rural America, ensure all
Americans an adequate, nutritious diet, provide better and more
targeted support for U.S. farm families of modest means, and
conserve the land for present and future generations. In
addition, such changes are necessary to unlock the ability of
small-holder farmers in developing countries, who comprise the
majority of the world’s hungry people, to improve their
livelihoods and escape poverty.
The Working Group will urge Congress to take the opportunity
presented by the reauthorization of the Farm Bill to prioritize
policies that reduce hunger and poverty in the United States and
around the world. To this end we support the following
principles for the 2007 farm bill.
Principles
The 2007 farm bill should:
- Increase investments that combat rural poverty and
strengthen rural communities
- Strengthen and expand programs that reduce hunger and
improve nutrition in the United States
- Strengthen and increase investment in policies that
promote conservation and good stewardship of the land
- Provide transitions for farmers to alternative forms of
support that are more equitable and do not distort trade in
ways that fuel hunger and poverty
- Protect the health and safety of farmworkers
- Expand research related to alternative and renewable forms
of energy
- Improve and expand international food aid in ways that
encourage local food security
Bread for the World
Church World Service
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
National Council of Churches
The Episcopal Church
Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Read the press release of
the Religious Working Group on the Farm Bill |
