1978
78-5 Resolution on World Hunger
In 1977 the Legislative Assembly of the LSM-USA adopted a resolution on world hunger awareness. The resolution called upon LSM-USA students to increase their awareness of the world hunger situation and to help provide relief for the hungry in this country and abroad. It also called upon the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to coordinate a Holy Week fast day for interested campus ministry groups.
During the year, articles on hunger, Bread for the World, and fasting appeared in the LSM-USA Newsletter. A fast day resource packet had been printed and was distributed to the 300 full-time campus ministry sites in the United States. This packet is going to be published by the Division of Mission in North America of the Lutheran Church in America, which will help to increase its accessibility.
A nationwide fast day was held on Ash Wednesday (1978). Fourteen groups returned evaluation forms or letters reporting a total of $1,724.24 collected to benefit the hungry.
The world hunger situation has not improved in the last 12 months – there are still one/half billion or more people1 in this country and overseas who are malnourished, and this remains the cause of approximately one/half of the child deaths in the world2. Food production continues to lag behind population growth and food prices are higher than ever. This indicates the need for an on-going awareness and concern for the issue. Fasting provides the opportunity for the Community of Christ in LSM-USA to join in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters who don’t have enough to eat.
1) That LSM-USA continue their commitment to the world’s hungry through an annual Ash Wednesday fast coordinated by a local affiliated LSM-USA group.
2) That monies collected on the fast day through the elimination of meals or of certain foods (i.e. meat) and through the solicitation contributions from individuals be donated the Lutheran World Relief, CROP, or Oxfam America, for hunger relief projects. Care should be taken in selecting a relief agency to assure that maximum relief is provided to the hungry.
3) That the coordinating group shall submit articles on world hunger and related issues, including information on agencies which are established to help alleviate the world hunger situation (i.e. Bread for the World), to the LSM-USA newsletter.
4) That each year at the national conference and affiliated group be selected to coordinate the fast for the following year. Each coordinated group will be responsible for choosing its successor.
5) That follow up on this resolution should be sent to the coordinating group.
Reference 1: Bread for the World, 1977 Thanksgiving Offering of Letters Flyer.
Reference 2: LSM-USA Hunger Facts, 1977.
Note: For 1978-79, the fast day resource packet will be available to all interested groups from the coordination group given below:
UW-EC Lutheran Student Movement
c/o Ecumenical Religious Center
110 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701