October 3 - 5, 2008
To discuss and explore how growing, processing, and eating food are practical expressions of Christian discipleship and therefore can bring glory to God by supporting the care of creation and the care of people.
Food. Does anything engage our humanity more deeply or thoroughly? Necessary for physical sustenance, food is also vital for livelihoods, hospitality, and culture. However, food is often the source of conflict. For some, contemporary Western food systems are triumphs of technology that offer freedoms and opportunities previously unknown. For others, these same practices are symptoms of pervasive ecological, economic, social, and relational brokenness.
As followers of Jesus called to love God, love people, and care for creation, what should we do? Enmeshed as we are in global structures, cultural practices, and economic limitations, how can we promote health within human and ecological communities at home and abroad with every bite we take? What do Christians have to offer when the Creator’s generous abundance results in divisive scarcity rather than sustainable prosperity?
This conference will explore how growing, processing, and eating food are practical expressions of Christian discipleship that can bring glory to God by supporting the care of creation and the care of people. We seek understanding and transformation and to this end we will listen and learn from faithful believers directly involved in various dimensions of food.
Featured Speakers
* Will Braun, Editor, Geez Magazine
* Cathy Campbell, Rector, St Matthews Anglican Church
* Stuart Clark, Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Foodgrains Bank
* Don Kroeker, Vice Chair and Director of Investments and Strategic Planning, Kroeker Farms
* Len Penner, President, Cargill Limited
* Mary Beth Sanate, Rural Women's Upliftment Society, Manipur, North East India
* Stacey Toews, Community Engagement and Human Resources, Level Ground Trading
* Nettie Wiebe, Past President, National Farmer's Union
* Loren and Mary Ruth Wilkinson, professors, Regent College
