posted Jul 31, 2013, 3:57 AM by Pastor Russ Crouthamel
[
updated Jul 31, 2013, 4:03 AM
]
From
July 11-14, I attended the World Hunger Leadership Gathering in Des Moines,
Iowa. This was the third leadership gathering I attended since I began my
call at the Punxsutawney Lutheran Parish (I went to one in Mexico City in 2009
and another in Detroit, Michigan in 2010). These events always give me
new perspectives on issues related to hunger and poverty and steps we can take
to combat these issues. I wanted to share with you some of the highlights
of my recent leadership gathering.
- Toured facilities
that are committed to developing sustainable agriculture; genetic discoveries
that offer insights into plant potential; food and human nutrition research;
biomass production and processing; preservation of natural resources; and much
more. The facilities we toured were Syngenta, Iowa State University
BioCentury Research Farm, and Iowa State University – College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences. At Iowa State, we were also privileged to hear from
Ambassador Dr. Kenneth M. Quinn, a former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of
Cambodia and a leader of the World Food Prize Foundation.
- Watched the movie
A Place at the Table, a documentary dealing with hunger and poverty in
the U.S. We then had the opportunity to hear from Barbie Izquierdo – one
of the individuals featured in the movie – on the topic of “Multiplying the
Message.”
- Presentations by
presiding bishop of the ELCA, Bishop Mark Hanson, on “Multiplying the Mission;”
Rev. Stephen Bouman, Executive Director of the Congregational and Synodical
Mission Unit, on “Multiplying through Congregations;” Brad Wood, Director of
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry – Colorado, on “Multiplying through Advocacy;” and
many more.
- “Talkshops”
focusing on hunger and hunger-related issues. The two I attended were
Hunger & Disaster and Hunger & Advocacy.
- Worked with
fellow hunger leaders of Region 8 to discuss ways we could develop future goals
to educate, advocate, and fundraise for World Hunger and its companion
ministries.
Now,
some of you might be wondering, ‘What will you do with all this information and
learning?’ Well, during the regional work group time, all participants
wrote out individual commitments for their future work in hunger
ministry. My three were:
- Show the
documentary A Place at the Table in my congregation and coordinate
showings in other congregations of my synod. Then, work with these
congregations to “multiply the movement” so we can move closer to the goal of
ending hunger in our country.
- Use my voice to
advocate for hunger and poverty related issues. I committed to contacting
my elected officials to express my views. I also would like to take
occasions throughout the year to take up an offering of letters to our elected
officials.
- Work on
developing a network that addresses the needs and “not needs” when disasters
strike. Many people want to help during these times, but sometimes their
efforts are not needed when other resources could be utilized.
Finally,
I want to lift up thanks to God for giving me another opportunity to attend
this gathering and for returning me safely home. I also want to give
thanks to all of you who have joined me in our call to “tend and feed Christ’s
sheep.”
In Christ – Pastor Maureen |
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