This month means “back to school” for many Fair Traders and is also crunch time to prepare for Fair Trade month in October. Faith based groups such as CRS are fortunate to have an array of allies who helped form the foundation of Fair Trade. Two of the largest Fair Trade organizations in the United States—Ten Thousand Villages and SERRV—have their roots in the Mennonite Central Committee and Church of the Brethren, respectively. More recently, Catholic institutions have bolstered the Fair Trade system in varied ways at home and abroad. In the highlands of western Guatemala, for example, the Catholic church was instrumental in establishing the APECAFORM cooperative, which sells its coffee to some of the companies that participate in the CRS Fair Trade Coffee project. In addition, the Adrian Dominican Sisters were among the first investors to provide financial support for the pioneering work of Root Capital, which provides low-interest loans to Fair Trade producers around the world.

Such “Fair Finance” is the theme of a new set of learning resources for church communities produced by Oikocredit, whose roots are in the World Council of Churches. With suggestions for supplementing liturgy, sermon talking points, a multi-lingual DVD, and promotional materials including cartoons and stickers, Oikocredit provides inspiring and entertaining insights into the role that fair financing plays in Fair Trade. The materials explore how low-interest loans and pre-payment of orders help associations invest in the equipment and materials they need to hand-craft and hand-harvest Fair Trade products we bring into our hearts and homes. To receive a free packet of materials for use by your congregation, contact Oikocredit by email at us.nos”at”oikocredit.org. While you wait for your mail to arrive, check out CRS Fair Trade dowloads….

…Or delve into to a new bible study on Fair Trade, from Partners for Just Trade, an initiative of Presbyterian Church (USA). Entitled Fair Trade: Using our Purchasing Power for Justice and Hope, the guide grounds Fair Trade principles in biblical teaching and provides resources for prayer, reflection and action. With tips for facilitators and questions for discussion, the guide is a great resource for study groups or Religious Education classes. In addition to sharing some background information on Fair Trade and organizations working in the movement, the guide focuses on artisan experiences in Peru to convey the realities and potential of Fair Trade. The guide costs $5 for individual copies, and there are discounts for bulk orders. Visit the PJT website to learn more.