Title: Minnesota Lutheran Bishops Issue Statement on Farm Crisis
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
June 10, 1999
MINNESOTA LUTHERAN BISHOPS ISSUE STATEMENT ON FARM CRISIS
99-157-LS**
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Six bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), all serving in Minnesota, acknowledged there is a farm
crisis in the state and called for action from policy makers, religious
leaders and all residents of Minnesota. A bishop heads each of the
ELCA's 65 synods.
The bishops released the document, "Lutheran Bishops' Statement on
the Farm Crisis," at a news conference May 12 at a meeting of the
Minnesota Council of Churches, said the Rev. E. Peter Strommen, bishop
of the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod. The statement has been
printed in several Minnesota synod newsletters.
The statement arose from a growing concern about the situation of
farming in Minnesota, Strommen said. "The Minnesota Council of Churches
met to give a united voice over deep concerns we have about what's
happening," he said. Strommen said the Lutheran bishops "felt it was
important to release a statement."
The Lutheran bishops added their support to that of Roman Catholic
bishops in Minnesota who had released a similar statement prior to the
May meeting of the Council of Churches, Strommen said.
"We acknowledge the profound transformation taking place in the
social and economic foundation of Minnesota's agricultural industry,"
the statement said. It was signed by Strommen, the Rev. Glenn Nycklemoe,
bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod; the Rev. Stanley N. Olson,
bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod; the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod; the Rev. David W. Olson, bishop of
the Minneapolis Area Synod; and the Rev. Arlen D. Hermodson, bishop of
the Northwestern Minnesota Synod. They cited greater concentration in
production and distribution, globalization of the economy and the
deterioration of land, air and water as some of the reasons for change
in the industry.
The bishops said they have several specific concerns, including
historically low farm prices, consolidations of farms, the exodus of
farm families from the land, the decline of rural communities,
environmental degradation and increasing rates of rural poverty.
"These are issues which affect all Minnesotans -- regardless of
their economic status or the region of the state or type of community in
which they live," the bishops said.
The bishops affirmed farming as a vocation that sustains the lives
of people across the United States and throughout the world. The
statement asked all consumers to consider the "moral and ethical
implications of the high levels of risk and low prices faced by farmers
coupled with the consumer demand for abundant and low cost food."
The bishops encouraged all residents of Minnesota to support
farmers by becoming educated on the issues, providing neighborly care to
farm families facing dislocation and praying for farmers and their
families.
The statement asked religious leaders to collaborate and call upon
public officials to make changes in policies that would ensure fair
prices for farmers, promote sustainable agricultural practices and
encourage preservation of the land. It also advocated assistance for
beginning farmers and job training for those who wish to leave farming.
The ELCA bishops underscored the need to recognize the farm crisis
in the Christian tradition of respecting human life and dignity.
"Farming is not only about production, marketing, and supply and
demand. It is also about land, people and a way of life," the bishops
said.
[**Lisa Smith is graduate of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, interning
with the ELCA Department for Communication.]
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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