Presbyterian World Mission Director Hunter Farrell, as well as mission co-workers Jed Koball (Peru), Chenoa Stock (Bolivia), and Kristin Van Nostran (El Salvador) will participate in the “Together for Justice” 2012 International Gathering August 13-15, 2012, sponsored by the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

Held at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, this conference will tell what the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is doing globally to address the root causes of poverty. Mission co-workers and global partners from Cameroon, Congo, Lesotho, Haiti, Peru, Bolivia, El Salvador, India, Sri Lanka, and Egypt will share their own advocacy and awareness campaign experiences.

Hunter Farrell will discuss the role and response of the church in dealing with root causes of poverty on Monday, August 13. In a world of increasing disparity of wealth and power—where congressional sub-committees and corporate boardrooms can declare feast or famine over entire nations, and at a time when “mission” has been reduced to short-term trips of Christian tourism or even voyeurism on the poor-- our partners around the world are urging us to go deeper and respond to the root causes of poverty rather than merely reacting to its consequences. Our global partners have identified three critical global issues to which they need us to respond with them, in order to make a lasting difference in God’s world:

  • Address the root causes of global poverty… especially as it impacts women and children;
  • Share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ…together with other members of Christ’s body;
  • Work for reconciliation amidst cultures of violence…including our own.

Farrell will share some reflections on how the Joining Hands program might become a major vehicle for the Church and its partners to accomplish this very thing.

You can register for one day, two days or all three depending upon their interest. There is a discount for students with valid student identification. Cost is $35/day ($20 for students). Register here.

In addition to Hunter Farrell’s address, the first day includes several workshop choices.

The second day will be a day-long training on the basics of organizing and effective advocacy that can be applied to any issue. The third day will bring together some well-known experts on land grab, extractives and trade (Anuradha Mittal, Oakland Institute; Tutu Alicante, EG Justice; and Manuel Perez Rocha, Institute for Policy Studies) who will speak directly to timely and significant issues that face our overseas partners. Partners will deepen the discussion with sharing what they are doing now and how our engagement in the U.S. can strengthen that work.

This event is designed to stimulate ministry connections for people engaged in mission networks. “Work locally and think globally” describes the strategic work we must do together to end poverty.