Faithful Food: Social Justice and Food Production by Diana A. Stephen

As we sit down to enjoy a meal and offer thanks to God for the food and the people who prepared it, I’ve become increasingly aware of the need to remember the people who produce our food—the farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. Without them, food would never reach our tables.

As I listen to Presbyterian women across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), women who are engaged in farming, ranching and rural advocacy, I continue to learn about the complexities of our food system and the effect that consumers’ actions have on the lives of people who produce our food. This is especially true for the smaller, family-owned and -operated farms and ranches. Our actions ultimately affect the health and vitality of rural communities and churches.

Diana A. Stephen is a Presbyterian elder and rural ministry advocate, and former associate for network support in the National Ministries Division. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Photo courtesy of Rural Coalition

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Presbyterian Women will be focusing on agricultural justice issues in the 2006–2009 triennium—learn moe now and share it with others by reading the full text of this article in the November/December 2006 issue of Horizons.	Faithful Food: Social Justice and Food Production by Diana A. Stephen As we sit down to enjoy a meal and offer thanks to God for the food and the people who prepared it, I’ve become increasingly aware of the need to remember the people who produce our food—the farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. Without them, food would never reach our tables. As I listen to Presbyterian women across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), women who are engaged in farming, ranching and rural advocacy, I continue to learn about the complexities of our food system and the effect that consumers’ actions have on the lives of people who produce our food. This is especially true for the smaller, family-owned and -operated farms and ranches. Our actions ultimately affect the health and vitality of rural communities and churches. Diana A. Stephen is a Presbyterian elder and rural ministry advocate, and former associate for network support in the National Ministries Division. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Rural Coalition Other Articles Online This Issue Until Every Need Is Met Of the People, For the People Rebuilding Hope: One House at a Time Creating a Hospitable Community for Homeless Families Presbyterians and Gender Justice Faithful Food: Social Justice and Food Production Fellowship of the Least Coin 2006 Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Nurturing Our Faith Supporting Mission Health Connections Strengthening the PC(USA)	Current Issue Nov/Dec 2006 About This Issue Features PW Resources Departments FREE Resource Nov/Dec Index How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the November/December 2006 (HZN-06-250) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call 800/524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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