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Exodus From Hunger: We Are Called to Change thePolitics of HungerFaculty book review by Ray Pickett, professor of New TestamentDavid Beckmann’s latest book, Exodus From Hunger:We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger(Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010)engages the challenges of hunger in a global contextthat is both personal and political. Most importantly,it is a book that is hopeful because it buildson the enormous progress that has been madeagainst hunger and poverty in recent years, andinspiring because it recounts and suggests practicalways that individuals and communities have animpact on reducing hunger.Personal involvement and progressDavid Beckmann (1974, Christ Seminary-Seminex,M.Div.) is an ELCA pastor and an economist whohas devoted his life to these issues. After workingon poverty reduction activities for the World Bankfor 15 years, he has been president of Bread for theWorld since 1991. In 2010 he won the World FoodPrize. Although Beckmann tells the story of his owninvolvement in the fight against hunger that includescameo appearances by the likes of Bono, Bill Gates,and a handful of politicians, the featured characters inthis compelling account of the politics of hunger areordinary people who got involved.Beckmann begins the book by describing the challengesand affirming the progress that has been made.The number of people living in extreme poverty indeveloping countries—living on less than $1.25 aday—dropped from 1.9 billion in 1980 to 1.4 billion in2005. It is easy to be overwhelmed even paralyzed bythe staggering amount of suffering and death causedby malnutrition across the globe, but the focus of thebook is on programs and strategies that have improvedthe quality of life for millions of people. Lest readersthink that hunger is a problem only in developingcountries, it is worth pointing out that nearly onein four children in the United States—22.5% as ofDecember 2008—lives in a food-insecure household.Successful strategies to reduce global povertyand hungerThe crux of Exodus From Hunger is the call to engagethe politics of hunger. The United States has developeda massive system of charitable feeding, and thereligious community has been a driving force. YetBeckmann underlines the fact that all the food providedby all the charities in the country amounts to about6% of the amount of food poor people receive fromfederal food programs. Americans tend to think thatgovernment programs are inefficient and to distrustpoliticians, and there are good reasons for this jaundicedview of government. Nonetheless, Beckmannmaintains that the most effective way to address globalpoverty and hunger is to hold governments and politiciansaccountable through political advocacy.At the center of the book’s argument for the possibilityof dramatically reducing global hunger are theMillennium Development Goals approved by most ofthe nations of the world in 2000. Beckmann providesa variety of examples of countries that have successfullyemployed different strategies to address issuesof poverty and hunger. But the main message of thebook is that people of faith can make a differencethrough political advocacy. The book is sprinkledwith accounts of politicians whose consciences werepricked to champion policies that would benefitpeople living in poverty because they received lettersfrom constituents imploring them to do so.Practical suggestions for individuals andcongregationsExodus from Hunger would be an excellent book for congregationalstudy. It is grounded in a biblical vision ofjustice and compassion andpredicated on the convictionthat God moves throughthose of us who are willingto act on our faith. It is fullof practical suggestions forhow communities involvedin local efforts to addressissues of poverty and hungercan make a differenceby political engagementthrough organizations likeBread for the World andwriting letters to Congress.To purchase Exodus From Hunger visitwww.exodusfromhunger.org/.Learn how you can take action to alleviate hunger andpoverty at www.bread.org/.14
Visionary Leaders Scholarships award merit,alleviate student debtPastor David Spong and his family understand thechallenges new pastors face when they graduatefrom seminary with student loan debt.“My daughter is a seminary graduate who is payingoff student loans. It can be difficult. We knowthat no one gets rich on a pastor’s salary. That iswhy we’re concerned about others graduating fromseminary with debt,” Pastor Spong said.When the family sought a way to honor PastorSpong’s parents, Bernard (Augustana, class of 1939)and Doris, they decided to fund two of LSTC’s newVisionary Leaders Scholarships. Using a gift fromhis parents’ estate, Pastor Spong and his family arefunding a half-tuition Dean’s Scholarship and aone-quarter tuition Servant Scholarship for first yearM.Div students at LSTC.Helping students choose LSTCEleven first-year, three Ph.D., and three doctor ofministry LSTC students are receiving VisionaryLeaders Scholarships for the 2011-2012 academicyear. LSTC has, historically, provided a large numberof need-based scholarships. What’s new about theVisionary Leaders Scholarships is that they are meritscholarships awarded to students whose gifts andgoals make them a particularly good match for thetype of ministry formation LSTC provides.Alleviating debtStudent loan debt carried by seminary graduates hasbeen a growing problem over the last 15–20 years.LSTC has long been aware of graduates sometimesturning down a call because of financial reasons.Several years ago, the admissions staff discoveredthat some of the prospective students who were veryinterested in LSTC decided to go to other seminariesbecause those other schools were able to offerthe students a better scholarship package, alleviatingtheir need to borrow money for seminary.Mark Van Scharrel, vice president for advancement,proposed creating the Visionary LeadersScholarships to provide several levels of merit- andneed-based support for students based on merit. Hewas also aware of two studies related to student debtshowing that students of color graduate from ELCAseminaries with 50% more debt than the average ELCAseminary graduate. The Advancement Office createdthe Hope Scholarships specifically for students of color.“We wanted to remove as many financial barriersas possible for prospective students who feltLSTC was the best seminary for them,” Van Scharrelsays. “We worked closely with our colleagues inadmissions to find out how many scholarships theythought would make a difference and then we testedthe idea with some of LSTC’s donors. The responsefrom donors was truly amazing. Everyone we talkedto understood the need and many of them are providingscholarships for students this year.”Hope ScholarshipsMany students of color in ELCA seminaries willbecome the first in their family to be a Lutheranpastor. “Seminary students who come from familieswith pastors seem to have a better network of financialsupport from their congregation or throughother Lutheran organizations and that reduces theirKatherine Tuttle, receiveda Dean’s ScholarshipRuby Burwell-Lee received aHope ScholarshipElizabeth Lowry received aDean’s ScholarshipAngela Storer, Justin Tigerman and Rachel Brockerreceived Presidential Scholarships15
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