Mission Yearbook Minute for Mission: World Fair Trade Day

farmer seeds — Fair Trade empowers farmers by improving economic security and allows them to invest in their businesses and communities. Fair Trade also promotes better farming practice reduces the use of harmful agrochemicals and supports ustainable farming methods. (Nicole Bryant)

World Fair Trade Day, first celebrated in 2004, takes place on the second Saturday in May. But what is it? The World Fair Trade Organization set aside this day to commemorate progress made around the world regarding Fair Trade. This also includes issues such as poverty, climate change and many others targeted by this movement.

Many congregations may associate Fair Trade with their coffee hours or possibly even their palms for Palm Sunday, but it is so much more! It is a trading partnership that is concerned with the human rights of all those involved with the creation and distribution of a product, including people being paid a fair wage, ensuring that the product or the materials for the product are ethically sourced, as well as fighting against issues concerning the economy, gender, inequality and climate change.

Pausing to consider the deeper implications of our purchases is an important practice in considering how our economics are a way of practicing our faith.

Below is a Prayer for World Fair Trade Day, adapted from the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Jessica Maudlin, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Interim Unified Agency

Let us join in prayer for:

Michael Marrone, Vice President, Strategic Planning & Execution, Board of Pensions
Matty Marrow, Archive Fellow, Presbyterian Historical Society

Let us pray:

God of love and justice, we thank you for this world which you created, which you love, and which you are reconciling to yourself. In a world where unjust global trade laws and unrighteous western consumerism darken the plight of those without influence and without a voice, make us a holy people. We pray for those people around the world who produce the things we eat and buy. We pray that they get a fair price for the things we buy from them. We pray that we be reminded of the power of our support to these people by buying Fair Trade goods so that we can help create a better and more just world. We give thanks for the gifts planted in all of us. We remember the power we embody when we share these gifts: compassion and understanding, the fire and the vigor. We honor your Word living within us, inspiring people to protest at greed, to work for justice, to passionately share their resources and cherish all life. Yours is the outspoken love, yours is the outrageous hope, yours is the extravagant mercy. Amen.

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