R08-4 A resolution concerning ministries in sustainable agriculture and strengthening local food systems.
Resolved, that the Diocese of Southern Ohio, gathered in the 134th diocesan convention, commits itself to developing stronger local food systems, by encouraging people to purchase locally grown food, and be it further
Resolved, that all Southern Ohio Episcopalians, congregations of the diocese, and other diocesan entities who hold land (both in urban and rural places) be encouraged to cultivate it in an environmentally sustainable manner and to dedicate a fixed percentage of their acreage or crops to feeding the poor in their local community, and be it further
Resolved, that an electronic copy of this resolution be sent by the secretary of convention to all wardens and clergy of the diocese and that vestries and mission committees be asked to consider what they might do in response.
Presented by:
The Rev. R. William Carroll, Good Shepherd, Athens
Contact: gsrector@gmail.com
The Rev. Robert D. Hughes, non-parochial priest, The University of the South
The Rev. David McCoy, retired
The Rev. Richard Burnett, Trinity, Columbus
The Rev. Paula Jackson, Our Savior, Cincinnati
The Rev. John Paddock, Christ Church, Dayton
Appalachian Ministry Commission
Explanation:
The seventh of the Millennium Development Goals calls us to “promote environmental sustainability.” Further, General Convention Resolution D066 (2003) endorsed the statement of the Global Anglican Congress in Johannesburg, which among other things calls upon “secular and Church leaders, lay and ordained, in all parts of the Anglican Communion to place the planetary crisis at the highest level of their concerns” and for “public policies that reflect the principles of sustainable community.” Still further, the Diocese of Southern Ohio at our 133rd diocesan convention adopted R07-6, which calls for the development of principles of environmentally sustainable development with a special emphasis on “Appalachian communities, communities of color, and other vulnerable communities.”
Many of us help God feed the poor in our communities. We have noticed that there is a crisis as soaring food prices combine with a weak economy. This resolution calls us to take the further step of strengthening our local food systems, which refers to the economic system (including a system of labor) around the planting, growing, harvesting, production, marketing, distribution, and sale (or barter or gift) of food. Our current food system is petroleum-based, depending on massive, unsustainable inputs of energy from non-renewable sources in the form of oil for transportation and petrochemical fertilizers. This resolution calls on us to begin creating an alternative, which is both cheaper and in better agreement with our obligations to the earth and to future generations. It specifies both urban and rural places, because there are innovative efforts to start community gardens in the front yards of foreclosed homes.
Impact on God’s vision in the Diocese of Southern Ohio: This resolution further specifies what is stated in an abstract way in R07-6, adopted by the 133rd diocesan convention. Strong local food systems are a key component of any sustainable economy. This also helps us meet our baptismal obligations to those who lack their daily bread.
Budget Impact: There is no direct budget impact. There may be implied costs to shifting the use of parish and diocesan land toward local food production.
Program Impact: The program impact moves existing ministries dealing with hunger in the direction of a more systemic approach.
4 comments:
From the Dayton Deanery:
• The Rev. Dick Burnett described Resolutions 4 and 5 as challenges to the church community to provide its service to the poor in a more sustainable way.
• The resolutions owe much to the initiative of Paul Clever’s work in Appalachian communities and his interest in New Monasticism, which aims in part to link prayer, rule of life, and agriculture in a spiritually fulfilling way. Burnett expressed hope that these resolutions would help the diocese feel a stronger connection to the Appalachian communities in the southeast quadrant of the state.
• The following concerns were raised:
~ The resolutions don’t specify who would be responsible for seeing that directives of the resolutions would be successfully implemented. It was also suggested that, if passed, a report should be issued on what sustainability initiatives have and have not been accomplished. Burnett will raise these concerns with the presenters of the resolutions.
~ By way of clarifying the phrase “other diocesan entities who hold land” (Resolution 5), Bishop Price noted that this language represented the possibility of setting aside part of the Procter farm to support not just the camp but also food banks. This redirection of land would not impinge on current arrangements under which proceeds from farming contribute to operating expenses at the camp.
I'm encouraged by the prospects at Procter, because it might be an opportunity to involve children and youth in raising their own food for the length of camp. It would be possible to set aside 10 acres of the 1000 acres at Procter in the first year. I'm told that land in that area runs about $100/acre per year. In any event, that would be only 1% of the income lost. Presumably, in future years, we could do more, but there would still be plenty of income to support the work of Procter.
From the Northeast Deanery:
No questions but it was difficult to grasp intent.
November 8, 2008: Delegates pass this resolution.
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