Presiding Bishop Issues Food Day Proclamation
Episcopal News Service. May 15, 1986 [86106]
NEW YORK (DPS, May 15) -- Presiding Bishop Edmond Lee Browning has issued a proclamation encouraging Episcopalians to participate in World Food Day October 16. (Eds: text follows.)
The Food Day celebration, sponsored, since 1981, by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, falls this year at the start of the ecumenical Peace and Justice Week (Oct. 16-23). In pointing that out, Browning added, "Let us join together in witnessing on World Food Day to the right of all people to eat. Let us affirm this right which, with all other rights of God's family, leads to Peace with Justice."
To help Episcopalians in their preparations for the Food Day observance, the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief is preparing a packet of materials. Included in the packet are a cover letter, a copy of the Presiding Bishop's statement, General Convention resolution text and an order form for some of the Fund's materials. These latter include a revised version of the brochure "How Many Loaves Have You?," a new worship resource, "The Bread Which We Break," a lay reader's sermon and promotional materials produced by the Fund. Much of the planning for the Episcopal World Food Day observance grew out of the recent meeting here of the National Hunger Committee.
Dr. David Crean, staff officer for interpretation and network development for the Presiding Bishop's Fund, stressed the importance of maintaining people's awareness of the world food situation. Referring to the recent African famine, he said, "Although the imminent crisis is over, we are dealing with a continent the majority of whose inhabitants live in a permanent state of crisis." He added that one of the things that makes the Food Day celebration special is that "It affords an opportunity to lift up the plight of the hungry in a community setting."
The World Food Day packets will be sent to the Fund's three networks, bishops and diocesan editors in late May. Other interested persons may obtain the packet by writing to: The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.