The Acts of Convention

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention affirm the work and projects being carried out across the Church in food ministry, including food pantries, feeding programs, community gardens, educational programs, and advocacy for programs that provide healthy, culturally appropriate food; and be it further

Resolved, that this Convention reaffirm and celebrate the continuing of Native and Indigenous Episcopalian communities in carrying out Asset-Based Community Development, including food ministry such as the project in Navajoland to teach the children to grow and prepare traditional Navajo food; and be it further

Resolved, That the 78th General Convention encourages the further development of Native and Indigenous community food programs, such as the program in Navajoland Area Mission that maintains and teaches traditional growing methods and food preparation techniques; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 78th General Convention call on dioceses, congregations, and all the baptized to deepen our understanding of the moral implications of how our, cultural, and environmental relationships associated with food systems works, through educational programs on food issues, looking at issues offocused on: sustainability, equity, cultural diversity, and accessibility of all people to healthy food; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention call on dioceses, congregations, and all the baptized to deepen our commitments as Christian communities to address food insecurity, food-related health issues, and food-related environmental effects in our communities and nations, through new and creative community, regional, and ecumenical projects, such as, but not limited to, school and community gardens, church garden tithing to food banks, involvement with migrant ministries, and farm-workerworker and farm worker ministries, and food-worker organizing; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention call on dioceses, congregations, and all the baptized to increase our involvement in advocacy on food issues, using the principles of sustainability, equity, and accessibility of healthy food for all peoplefor the development and maintenance of sustainable; equitable; culturally appropriate; and accessible food systems.

Resolved, That this Convention reaffirm this Church’s support for farm legislation that is based on the following principles (originally enumerated and affirmed by the Presbyterian Church, USA in its 220th General Assembly, 2012): "renewability, sustainability, resilience, minimized carbon emissions, participatory research and decision-making, revitalized rural communities, strong local food economies, security of food supply, ethical treatment of animals, and fair and dignified treatment of persons working throughout the food chain"; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention support public policies and laws that protect the health and safety of workers throughout the food system, from farms to distribution systems to stores to restaurants, which support the workers’ rights to organize; and which support a fair family wage for food workers throughout the system, from farm workers to warehouse workers to fast-food workers; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention support public policies and laws designed to protect our Earth’s natural environment and to protect humanity’s ability to produce food for generations to come, including restrictions on pesticide overuse, harmful industrial farming practices (e.g., overcrowding of livestock), and carbon emissions throughout the food system that threaten animal and human health, damage the soil, and threaten the climate for future generations; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention support public policies, laws, and programs designed to increase access to healthy food for all people, including support and development for farmers’ markets, policies permitting use of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at farmers’ markets, and the development of policies and agreements that encourage the siting of full-service grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods and communities; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention support policies and local school and community programs, such as school gardens, which support nutrition education for adults and children, recognizing that many people in recent generations are unaware of what is healthy food or how to prepare food; and to work with communities to help improve access to healthy and affordable food and places to be active; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention reaffirm support for full and adequate funding for public food programs for the poor and vulnerable, such as the National School Lunch Program, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, SNAP, senior center feeding programs, and summer feeding programs for children, so that families, elderly, children, disabled, unemployed, and others can meet their basic nutritional needs with food that is healthy.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #80)