American Baptist

Black Church Food Security Network

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The Black Church Food Security Network connects growers, especially Black farmers and urban growers, with historically African American congregations. Black churches have proven to be a strong-hold even in vulnerable communities, and the Black Church Food Security Network embraces the history and ability of the black church to make significant and lasting change in their communities. Their “Soil to Sanctuary” community markets work to provide and establish a cooperative partnership between growers and consumers. Currently they support the Mid-Atlantic region, but they are working to publish a guide to support those who want to start a garden at the local congregation level.

This organization was created by Rev. Dr. Heber M Brown.

To learn more about the Black Church Food Security Network click here.

Profile: Rev. Dr. Heber M Brown

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Rev. Dr. Heber M. Brown is a Baptist pastor in Baltimore, Maryland. Brown is committed to social development and has been instrumental in the creation of several programs in the Baltimore area. These include Orita’s Cross Freedom School, of which he is the founding director, and the Black Church Food Security Network. The latter works to support the accessibility of food by linking historically African American congregations with urban growers and Black farmers. Brown has received a number of awards recognizing his work, including the Ella Baker Freedom Fighter Award and the Food Justice Award from the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights.

To learn more about The Black Church Food Security Network click here.

To be taken to Brown’s personal website click here.

A Matter of Stewardship

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A Matter of Stewardship is a six-part eco-justice study from American Baptist Home Mission Societies. The study explores the call to stewardship and for Christians who seek to understand and be faithful within creation. To read A Matter of Stewardship, click here.

The Christian Century

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The Christian Century is a magazine published by the American Baptist Home Mission Societies. The magazine focuses on justice issues and aims to inform and shape mainline Christianity. They have an issue focused on ecojustice and hope for creation. To read this publication, click here.

Earth Keeping Summit: There is a Balm… Eco Justice, Renewal and Hope

 

The Earth Keeping Summit 2016 was held at the Ohio State University, School of Environment and Natural Resources. The summit went deeper than the importance of recycling, shutting off your lights and using less energy, and addressed questions of ecology, justice, and race. Dr. Melanie Harris was the keynote speaker of the event and also spoke on the importance of sharing stories. She is an Associate Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX.

Dr. Harris spoke of the importance of diversity in ecology and how social justice relates to the environmental movement. She talked about how sharing our stories and experiences plays a part in taking care of the environment and having a connection to the environment and to each other. In this environmental movement we must listen. We must reflect on our experiences. We must take race, class and gender very seriously. She gave the example of Eric Garner whose life was taken by police but before that he struggled with asthma. Melanie talked about our air and how the earth is barely breathing. When we heal our earth we will then heal ourselves.

Earth connection begins by sitting with difference. Sitting with nature and seeing things in a different kind of lens. You can hear Melanie’s powerful message here.

Environmental Statement – American Baptist Churches

According to the American Baptists, this planet was made in creation by God. We were, and still are, entrusted with its care. We must be stewards of our home and not abuse it if we wish to continue on as a species.

Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ American_Baptist_Churches_USA

All of the environmental problems that exists today have stemmed from humanity’s greed. Science and technology are being abused and threaten to make problems worse, even though they have the power to make things better. In order to fix what humans have caused, we are called to recognize and preserve the earth and natural resources we have.

To read the full statement by the American Baptists, follow this link.

To check out more from the American Baptist Church in general, follow click here.