Fair Trade Congregations

The Fair Trade Congregation campaign is meant to drive awareness and understanding of Fair Trade into the spiritual and community fabric of a place of worship. In addition, it is important to provide members of the congregation’s community with their purchases by providing Fair Trade products. There are three goals that a congregation must achieve to be designated as a Fair Trade Congregation as outlined below.

  1. Incorporate Fair Trade into the social teachings of the congregation

From drawing parallels to scripture and teachings, to demonstrating how Fair Trade ties into the core values of your faith, the first goal is to educate members of the congregation about how purchasing Fair Trade empowers them to live out their religious tradition. Use the multitude of pre-existing resources from many religious traditions, or develop the method that best speaks to your congregation.

  1. Replace goods purchased by the congregation with Fair Trade products where and when they are available

Consider both food and beverage items like coffee, tea, sugar, communion wine and kosher chocolate, as well as artisan and craft products such as teapots, kitchen items, worship vestments, decorative items and others.  The minimum number of products is two with a goal of adding more each year.

  1. Incorporate Fair Trade products into any pre-existing events

Events are a big part of most congregations (such as holiday sales and festivals). There are also opportunities to organize public events during Fair Trade Month (October) and on or around World Fair Trade Day (mid-May). By reaching outside of the congregation to the larger community you are able to inspire and motivate other consumers to make a difference!  The minimum number of events that include Fair Trade to complete this goal is two.

 Fair Trade Congregations Declared:

American Martyrs Church, Manhattan Beach

Holy Family Church, South Pasadena http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/holy-family-church-fair-trade-supporter/

Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Claremont http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/fair-trade-ola/

St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/st-mark-presbyterian-church/

St. Timothy’s Church, Los Angeles http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/st-timothy-catholic-church/

Launched:

Ascension Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/ascension-lutheran-church-thousand-oaks-ca/

Islamic Shura Council of Southern California http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/islamic-shura-council-of-southern-california/

Pacific Unitarian Church, Rancho Palos Verdes http://fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/fair-trade-pacific-unitarian-church/