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This working group is now the Program Unit on Local Economies and the Environment. Please change your bookmarks to http://www.kycouncilofchurches.org/EconomiesAndEnvironment.html |
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This working group is now the Program Unit on Local Economies and the Environment. Please change your bookmarks to http://www.kycouncilofchurches.org/EconomiesAndEnvironment.html |
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What is the Program Unit on Rural Life? It is an organizing and advocacy group that works in partnership with rural churches and farm organizations to seek justice and respect for the common good of rural and small town people and stewardship in the use of land and creation. |
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What does the program unit do? It has supported legislative programs which make credit more available to beginning farmers and families, actively promoted aspects of the Family Farm Bill, worked for voluntary mediation, questioned the ethics of some agricultural research at land grant universities, sponsored a Peer Listening Training program for family farmers, worked with groups providing ministry to migrants, and has sponsored Earth Stewardship Sabbath celebrations that also call attention to the plight of those in crisis in rural Kentucky. |
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Why are we concerned? Everyone is witnessing profound and disturbing changes in rural America. Land ownership is being restructured, agricultural production is becoming more heavily industrialized and concentrated in fewer hands. The earth is too frequently being subjected to harmful farming, mining, and development practices. Tobacco, the main crop of Kentucky farmers, is under attack. Such changes are adversely affecting our rural people, their way of life, and their land. The toll attributable to the crisis includes increased suicide, family violence, alcohol and other drug abuse. This level of human suffering is simply incompatible with our Christian commitment to social and economic justice. |
| We want to remind our fellow citizens that the consequences of past rural social and economic upheavals included massive out migration of rural refugees into urban areas. The dismemberment of rural society and the disappearance of the family farm adversely affect the interest of this Commonwealth and this nation. Our country has been built on the moral and ethical values inherent in a system of family farms. The destruction of this system also jeopardizes the base on which our urban centers are built. |
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Therefore we will continue to:
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| We call for rural-urban unity in the family farm struggle, and we resolve, as a community of faith, to work together with others at local, state, and national levels to find short and long-term political, economic, and public policy solutions to the crisis in rural America. |
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KENTUCKY COUNCIL OF CHURCHES Judeo-Christian scriptures give special sanctity to the land. They convey an understanding of land as a gift of God, a blessing bringing forth food for all creatures. There is no ethical way to use land and creation except as stewards seeking a responsible relationship with the ultimate owner and giver of life. We recognize that the bible and faith are about the future, and that growing in faith requires change. However, we are called to direct change, and to do this with hope. Passive acceptance of change in the past has brought us to the position where we must now engage in determining policies affecting rural America. People of faith should view present land ownership concentration with grave alarm. This radical change in land tenure runs contrary both to scriptural ideals and to our American heritage as expressed by Jefferson, who believed the small land owner to be "our most precious asset" and whose inspiration and idealism was carried into the foundation and structures of our government. The ancient prophets, Amos (9:13-15), Micah (2:2-5) and Isaiah (32:1-8) condemned land ownership concentration in their day. The same process is occurring in our midst, producing only a few crops for a volatile market place with a system of taxes and borrowing that favors the large producer and those who control capital. We are witnessing profound and disturbing changes in rural America. Land ownership is being restructured agricultural production is becoming more heavily industrialized and concentrated in fewer hands, and the earth all to frequently is being subjected to harmful farming, mining, and development practices. Such changes are adversely affecting our rural people, their way of life, their land, and the wider national and international communities which depend on them to satisfy their hunger. The toll attributable to the crisis includes increased suicide, family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and other indications of family and individual breakdown. This level of human suffering is simply incompatible with our commitment to social and economic justice. We remind our fellow citizens that the consequences of past rural social and economic upheavals included massive outmigration of rural refugees into urban areas. The disbursement of rural society and the disappearance of the family farm adversely serve the best interest of our Commonwealth and nation, for our country has been built on a strong belief in a Creator-God and on the moral and ethical values inherent in a system of family farms, such as, honesty, self sufficiency yet interdependence, mutual trust, hard work, and neighborliness. The destruction of this system also jeopardizes the base on which our urban centers are built. WE, THEREFORE, call for urban-rural unity in the family farm struggle, and we resolve as a community of faith, to work together with others at local, state and national levels to find short and long term political, economic and public policy solutions to the crisis in rural America. (1) Support a rural economy which does not harm people or the land and which provides for an appropriate return for those who work the land; (2) Encourage a viable agricultural system of family farming -- both supporting those still on the land and allowing for the establishment of more family farms; (3) Ensure proper stewardship of our precious soil and water resources for ourselves and for future generations; (4) Provide for adequate, affordable supply of quality food for all; (5) Enhance the quality of life for rural families and migrant workers and their families and support the ministry of rural churches as they reach out to the community that sustains them. This Policy Statement is based upon the following statements of the various Judicatories: THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciple of Christ) THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, USA THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH |