MCC Washington Office Seminar Links Faith and Farm Policy

By Bethany Spicher Schonberg

Three generations of growers and eaters gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss the politics of food and faith at the MCC Washington Office's annual Spring Seminar, March 5-7, 2006.

The seminar theme, "Voices Around the Table: Faith, Food and U.S. Farm Policy," was apt, as the nearly 50 participants included young farmers from South Dakota, an anti-hunger advocate from Pennsylvania and an urban gardener from Minneapolis.

Over snacks from a D.C. farmers market and meals prepared by local caterers, participants traded farm stories, discussed agriculture policy and challenged each other's perceptions of the current food and agriculture system.

Rebecca Steffy, a participant from Pennsylvania recalls some of the debates: "How should the United States respond to the World Trade Organization? What sorts of subsidies are appropriate? How can we make farming viable for young people? How can we connect rural growers to urban populations? Not surprisingly, we did not reach consensus in our two-day conference."

In addition to each other's voices, participants heard a variety of testimonies about the current food and agriculture system from organizations including Oxfam America, Community Harvest and Church World Service.

Farmer and seminarian Ray Epp of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary opened the seminar with a theological reflection on the history of agriculture. Mark Halverson, a top staffer for Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) shared a congressional perspective on the upcoming farm bill.

In addition, a panel discussion represented three perspectives on U.S. farm subsidies, and six workshops provided participants with a choice of topics from free trade agreements to genetically modified crops.

"It's definitely a complex topic," says Lora Steiner of the MCC Washington Office. "Still, we wanted participants to leave understanding the role that the government plays in the food system and also the fact that we make choices every day that can change that system. We're not powerless."