Church World Service launches “Sow Justice” campaign to reform farm policy

"Sow Justice" Publication PDF (1.59 mb) • Postcard PDF (587 kb) • Order Free Online

October 31, 2006

CWS Board members join Board Chair Betty Voskuil (l) in the Sow Justice campaign. Photo: CWS

Church World Service launched a farm policy reform campaign at its October Board meeting in Cleveland, OH.

Sow Justice, an education and advocacy campaign, calls for policy changes that will help family farmers in the U.S. and around the world save their farms, feed their families, and educate their children. The campaign focuses on the opening presented by the upcoming Farm Bill legislation to alleviate hunger and poverty in the U.S. and globally.

The goal is a new Farm Bill that supports sustainable agriculture, rural development, and nutrition programs.

Board members signed the Sow Justice postcard which accompanies the educational publication Sowing justice for family farmers everywhere. The postcards—along with several thousands expected in the mail—will enable CWS to empower public policy advocates to represent the voices of family farmers and global partners.

CWS Executive Director John L. McCullough (l) and Board member Gary Cook sign Sow Justice postcards. Photo: CWS

"I appreciate CWS leadership in bringing out a faith-based publication addressing issues of hunger,” said Johncy Itty of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Itty is chair of the Education and Advocacy Program Committee of Church World Service.

Phillip Jones of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office also reviewed a draft of the publication at the Committee’s recent meeting in New York. He said its focus on family farms would help connect rural communities to the Capitol.

"It will help open doors,” Rev. Jones said. “I look forward to the Church of the Brethren using this publication.”

By calling for broad reform of U.S. food and farm policy, Church World Service opens a new front in addressing the root causes of hunger.

With Sow Justice, CWS joins historic partners Bread for the World and National Catholic Rural Life Conference and new partners like Oxfam America to promote policies that alleviate hunger and poverty everywhere.

CWS Board members join CWS Executive Director John L. McCullough (center) in the Sow Justice campaign. Photo: CWS

Humanitarian assistance by CWS and self-help development partnerships around the world are strengthened by agricultural and food policies that support family farms and families here and around the globe.

This campaign rests on the policy adopted by Church World Service following a North American consultation on globalization it convened with the Canadian Council of Churches in 2004. Churches that took part declared:

“‘What does God require of us? To act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God.’ Our peoples need policies that restore right relationships, preserve responsible communities, shrink economic inequalities, and allow space for all of creation to flourish in its diversity.” (from What Does God Require of Us? A Declaration for Just Trade in the Service of an Economy of Life, January 2004)