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    United Methodist Committee Pushes “Fair Trade Chocolate” This Halloween

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    Not that fairly traded chocolate isn’t a good thing… but does it strike anyone but me to be kind of a weird right turn from some of the things the UM church SHOULD be doing?  Are some things not more vital than saving the whales (I love whales) or promoting free traded chocolate?  (And I love me some good, economically friendly chocolate). 

    Will this make a difference?  In the fairly traded chocolate market?  In the Kingdom?

    Would you consider starting a fairly traded chocolate ministry in your church?

    Am I crazy?

    Love to hear your thoughts…

    More here...

    Todd

    Get current updates from MMI and me here:  http://www.twitter.com/toddrhoades


    Fairly traded chocolate is all treat and no trick for United Methodists wanting to put their faith into action this Halloween.

    The United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Board of Church and Society are partnering with Equal Exchange, a Massachusetts-based cooperative operated on fair trade practices, to raise awareness about the topic this Oct. 31.

    Fairly traded products provide small-scale farmers a fair living wage and an opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty.

    OK... here's my question...

    Comments

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    1. Bruce on Thu, October 16, 2008

      It is not either or,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it is both. We are to be good stewards of the earth. We are act with mercy and justice. Concern about wages and welfare of poor farmers is a worthy goal. Am I my brother’s keeper? Our answer to that question determines how we view such things as fair trade, etc.


      IIf the standard is “will this make a difference?” we might as well shut down most Churches,


      Evangelicals tend to compartmentalize their faith. Instead we should have a holistic faith that embraces every facet of our humanity.

    2. Dave on Thu, October 16, 2008

      I understand your concern, but I can’t help but think of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus and the reaction of the disciples, whenever I hear the question, “Yeah, BUT wouldn’t it have been better if . . . “  Whether it is a church providing financial assistance for married couples to have a date night or a church participating in a fair trade of chocolate ministry - I say let the individual churches make these decisions of how they can best use the resources God has given them.  As long as they are within the boundaries of Scripture, let them give their married couples a chocolate bar to split on their date!

    3. James on Thu, October 16, 2008

      It’s not just that fair trade choc is ‘good’ (which it is!), it’s also that non fair trade ‘normal’ choc can often be very ‘bad’! 


      Have a look at: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/getInvolved/act/chocolate/chocolate.aspx


      from there: An estimated 12,000 children have been trafficked into cocoa farms in Cote D’Ivoire. When we buy chocolate we are being forced to be oppressors ourselves as we do not know that the chocolate we eat is ‘traffik free’.

    4. Brent H on Thu, October 16, 2008

      James - thanks for that link.  In light of that, I think the question posed here can be turned around to say - aren’t there some things (like fair trade and helping the oppressed) that are more vital than sermon sex series and leadership conferences?  In my opinion (and it’s just mine), buying fair trade and setting an example for the world in the way we buy our everyday things does more for the kingdom than either one of those things.


      Our American faith is so individualistic we can’t see past ourselves sometimes.


      Brent

    5. RevJeff on Thu, October 16, 2008

      I’m in the “as long as its chocolate” camp… I vote for chocolate!

    6. fishon on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Fairly traded products, fine and dandy. But how many of you will boycott a store or Corporation that contributes to sin by promoting it or giving financially to its cause?


      I sorry, but I think what the UM are doing is about publicity. If they were really concerned about issues that hurt, kill, and destroy lives, they would not allow and sanction sin that is taking place in their house.


      Buying and encouraging fair trade products will not cause God to overlook sin.


      fishon

    7. Peter Hamm on Thu, October 16, 2008

      fishon,


      We don’t often agree, do we. We do today, at least somewhat…

    8. Bruce on Thu, October 16, 2008

      The UMC does many things that show a social consciousness. They are to be commended for going good not trashed because the good they do is not enough or not the “right” kind.


      Not paying just wages is a sin…...........our buying products that enslave the workers or keep them in poverty could be considered sin. But I doubt that is the “sin” fishon is talking about,


      Evangelicals have their list of sins, abortion, homosexuality, women preachers, voting for Obama, and not tithing.


      Pretty much everything else is a OK. Who cares whether or not people are paid a fair wage, Let the free market decide, right?


      Mercy and justice are required of all of us. Our faith must encompass every aspect of life not just the Evangelical hotspots.

    9. fishon on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Hey Peter,


      And the World didn’t stop.


      MAKE IT a great day, brother.


      fishon

    10. fishon on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Bruce,


      There you go again! Assuming.


      YOU: Evangelicals have their list of sins, abortion, homosexuality, women preachers, voting for Obama, and not tithing.


      ———As for me, I only see ***2***on your list that is sin. Sorry I don’t live up to your expectations.


      YOU: Pretty much everything else is a OK.


      ———Bruce, now you have moved into the ridiculous.


      ———Funny how some Christians get all hot when someone brings up certain sins. They seem to think that people who mention abortion or practicing homosexuality as sin we can not also see other sins. Well, Bruce, some of us can walk and chew gum.


      By the way, Bruce, can you name me a Evangelical preacher who teaches and preaches: YOUR WORDS: “Pretty much everything else is a OK.” I WILL WAIT EXPECTANTLY FOR YOUR ANSWER.


      Bruce, you seem to be somewhat intolerant of people who don’t think like you or who point out certain sins.


      fishon

    11. Bruce on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Fishon,


      No assumptions. I have been a part of the Evangelical Church for almost 50 years.  I have heard thousands of sermons, preached thousands more, been to more conferences than I can count…..Probably attended services in over 200 different Evangelical Churches, either as a visitor or a speaker.


      When the Pharisee’s are thrown out of Evangelicalism then I might consider that things are different,,,,,,,,,,,,but as long as Focus on the Family, The Family Research Council, Creation Research Institute, etal continue to be the talking heads for the Evangelical Church then I suspect to hear the same old sorry, broken record. As long as Evangelicalism is a sub-species of the Republican party I suspect things will stay the same.


      Maybe your Church if different, Good. Glad to hear it. It is nice to hear of exceptions to the rule.


      Remember the discussion is about fair trade. My point of connection in all of this is that, in the main, Evangelicals are selective about the sins they call sin. Because Evangelicalism is a bedfellow with the Republicans, who are committed to free market capitalism, it comes as no surprise that issues of social justice (fair wages, trade, etc) are not addressed.


      Sermons are preached railing on homosexuals, who are not likely to be in the service, yet the pulpit is silent about loving our neighbor, who happens to be working in a sweatshop in China so I can have cheap material goods.


      Sin is transgression of God’s law. Sin is not our peculiar interpretation of God’s law or our cultural coloring of God’s law or our own personal convictions about a matter.


      I get email and anonymous letters from people who believe I am evil, or a non-Christian because I support Barack Obama or because I challenge the normal Evangelical discourse concerning abortion and homosexuality.One man told me to my face that a Democrat can’t be a Christian. (meaning I wasn’t a Christian)


      Let’s expose sin…..........but let’s begin with our own. I am waiting for a Dobson-like leader to stand up and say Evangelical support of the War in Iraq is sin. Not a political issue…........a moral one.


      But…it is far easier to just suggest those old liberal, mainline Methodists are doing this as a publicity stunt.

    12. fishon on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Bruce said: but as long as Focus on the Family, The Family Research Council, Creation Research Institute, etal continue to be the talking heads for the Evangelical Church then I suspect to hear the same old sorry, broken record.


      ———Dang if I didn’t think that Warren and Osteen were the spokesmen. My mistake.


      YOU: Sin is transgression of God’s law. Sin is not our peculiar interpretation of God’s law or our cultural coloring of God’s law or our own personal convictions about a matter.


      ———On that we can agree. Practicing homosexuality is sin and slave labor of children is sin.


            So we agree and do not let “our peculiar interpretation of God’s law or our cultural coloring of God’s law or our own personal convictions…” get in the way of standing for truth of God’s word.


      I’ll stop now, because it seems as if we can agree on some things. If I go father, then I start the debate again.


      MAKE IT a great tomorrow.


      fishon

    13. Sad on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Amen, Bruce.


      It’s a sad day when a group of Christians trying to do something good for the world are seen by other Christians as only being in it for the publicity.


      Personally, I am boycotting an organization that contributes to sin. I refuse to support the pro-war, pro-poverty, anti-health care Republican party.


      Incidentally, the UMC is officially against the war, for a living wage and for health care for all. 


      We are all sinners, and our American society is based on the sin of greed.  That’s the sin that ought to be foremost in our minds.

    14. fishon on Thu, October 16, 2008

      Sad wrote:::Personally, I am boycotting an organization that contributes to sin.


      ———I take it you boycott the Democrates too, then? That is of course, unless you think them not a part of the greed of American society that you pointed to. Yep, they are as pure as the driven snow.


            The truth is, you guys pick and choose just like we evangelical, Republicans.


            You indictment of us bites you in the butt too.


      fishon

    15. Ray Reavis on Mon, October 20, 2008

      I detest both sides of this argument for drawing an imaginary line and painting anyone they perceive to be on the other side with a broad brush.


      I happen to be a conservative evangelican UMC pastor who is proud of (most of ) the social justice issues such as our promotion of fair trade products.  Fishon can call it a publicity stunt if he chooses, but we’re called to witness to the world.  Jesus charged us all with the task of making disciples, and part of being a disciple is being a good steward of what God has given us, and treating others well.  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “ (Matthew 25:40, NIV)


      See, what some call a “publicity stunt” other consider “witnessing.”  But that’s okay, because in one of Jesus’ big “publicity stunts” when he climbed up on the mountainside to deliver the beatitudes, he concluded with “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,


          for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


      “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  (Matthew 5:10-12, NIV)


      Peace,


      Ray

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