Food and Faith

Food is perhaps our most fundamental connection to the earth. How we gather, produce, and share food is perhaps our most fundamental connection to one another. The creation stories of Genesis speak of the abundance of the earth and the perils of ignoring its limits. Jesus used meals as an opportunity to teach by example of who is welcome at the table and how food is distributed in the realm he preached.

Food is a direct connection between how well we care for the earth and how well we care for ourselves.  Food distribution in the modern world is a direct connection between our basic individual needs and the global systems that connect us all.

Here are some of the ways we're working to connect the common ground of our faith principles with the common good of food production and distribution:

Be a Good Apple!

Local Foods Covenant Project

Several years ago the Environmental Justice Program launched a congregation-based pledge project, inviting households within congregations to pledge to purchase at least $10 of Maine food per week. We continue to develop resources and materials that will assist members of the faith community and others to access and use local food products year-round.

We initiated this project as an outgrowth of our work to address the moral challenge of our time undefined global warming, which disproportionately will affect the most vulnerable of our neighbors undefined children, the elderly, the sick, the poor, and the non-human family. The project addresses the Maine Council of Churches’ mission to build an economically and environmentally just society, free from poverty and oppression.

The average plate of food in Maine has traveled more than 1800 miles. Most foods today are produced on large, highly mechanized farms, using toxic petroleum-based herbicides and pesticides and employing underpaid and poor workers for some of the harvesting and processing. Fossil fuel consumption in the production, packaging, and transportation of food contributes significantly to global warming. Here in Maine, buying local foods and supporting our neighbor farmers are significant contributions we can make to curb global warming and air pollution.

We were pleased that over 50 congregations are part of this effort.  Won’t you join us?  Posters, pledge cards, and ideas for implementation will be sent to you at no charge. Contact us at Maine Council of Churches at 207-772-1918.

Uniting Faith, Farming, and Fishing Communities

We are working with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance to link local congregations to their neighbor farming and fishing families and food producers, who have come together to offer one-stop shopping for a household’s weekly food purchases. MCC is identifying and working with congregations to become “markets” for local farms and fishing communities. MOFGA is identifying Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms and providing technical assistance and business planning support to veteran and new farmers. NAMA is working with fishing cooperatives to build Community-Supported Fisheries (CSF). Tthe first CSF became active during the 2007-2008 shrimp season and has moved onto whole fish for the summer 2008.  Bath & Brunswick area congregations are exploring a CSF with local seafood harvesters. This is the beginning of creating food security and independence for Maine communities…a model for the future. For MOFGA’s most up-to-date CSA directory go to www.mofga.org. Contact MCC for more information about our CSA and CSF projects.

Communion with Local Elements

We invite Maine congregations to participate in a Communion Sunday initiative that brings us together in spirit and provides a connection between our body and soul, our food and faith. We invite you to use locally produced wine, juice, grapes, or cider; and local bread or flour for the elements of your Communion celebration. We invite congregations of faith traditions that do not celebrate communion to join their liturgical sisters and brothers by offering locally produced products during their fellowship time. Maine Department of Agriculture has  information about where local breads, flours, wines and juices can be obtained. We also offer a free packet of worship materials, activities, and resources that coplement this special communion celebration.

Here are some questions we are considering. We invite you to also reflect on them:

• What is the connection between food and faith?

• How intentionally and gratefully do we approach the food we purchase and consume?

• Is the availability, quantity, and quality of food something we take time to think about?

• What is a mindful approach to truly enjoying food and the sustenance it provides?

• How do we move beyond calorie counting and dieting trends to identify exciting, pleasurable and beneficial ways to eat?

• Instead of focusing on quantity of food portions, why aren’t we asking questions about the quality of the food we consume?

• Do we know who grew our food, who harvested it, who processed it?

• What is the connection between the way food is grown and delivered to us and the environmental impacts our choices can make?

• What economic impact does the way food is grown and shipped have on our local communities?

• What is the link between ingredients in our food and our overall health?

• How can each person make three eating choices every day that will make a difference to the environment and economic well-being of our community?

For more information, contact Anne D. (Andy) Burt, Environmental Justice Program Consultant, 19 Pleasant Ave., Portland, ME 04103. Call 772-1918 or email adburt@gwi.net.