President's Blog

In all the recent coverage of the pirate activity off the coast of Somalia, an interesting detail struck me. The U.S. ship that the pirates attacked was carrying food aid from the United States to Africa. Did anyone else notice this?

Episcopal Relief & Development does not purchase and ship food commodities as part of its development work.

Our philosophy is to invest in supporting the development of local supply and demand and thus hopefully create a virtuous and self-sustaining cycle of economic development.

Last year CARE published a courageous and excellent white paper on US Food Aid Policy. It can be a bit heavy going, but the basic point is that

“Recent analysis has shown that under some circumstances food aid can harm local production and markets, undermining long-term food security. Studies have also shown that food aid is often not the most efficient use of resources for alleviating poverty.”

Care has decided drastically cut back and in some cases eliminate programs that deliver food commodities from the U.S. to Africa.

What do you think of CARE’s decision?

Once again I turn to Christina Rossetti to guide me through the journey of Holy Week.  I share this lovely poem, “St. Peter,” with you:

St. Peter once: ‘Lord, dost thou wash my feet?’—
    Much more I say: Lord, dost thou stand and I
    At my closed heart more rugged than a rock,
Bolted and barred, for thy soft touch unmeet,
Nor garnished nor in any wise made sweet?
    Owls roost within and dancing satyrs mock.
    Lord, I have heard the crowing of the cock
And have not wept: ah, Lord, though knowest it,
Yet still I hear thee knocking, still I hear:
    ‘Open to me, look on me eye to eye,
That I may wring thy heart and make it whole;
And teach thee love because I hold thee dear
    And sup with thee in gladness soul with soul,
And sup with thee in glory by and by.’

In what ways is the Lord knocking on our closed hearts?

When we open them we “sup” with Him in gladness.  Open your hearts this Holy Week and Eastertide.