THE LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
COFFEE PROJECT
Tanzanian Lutherans in crisis
Many Tanzanian Lutherans are coffee farmers, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) is feeling the effects of the coffee crisis. And as the coffee crisis worsens and the farmers are unable to cover their own living expenses, they also have little to put in the offering plate.
"The church depends on contributions from its members for ministry," said William Moshi, treasurer for the Northern Diocese of the ELCT, to a group from the Nebraska Synod, ELCA, that was visiting their companion synod. "As the income of the people declines, so does the income of the church."
One of the poorest countries in the world, Tanzania has little money to invest in community development programs. It relies on the church to contribute to the education and health of the entire community as well as the spiritual lives of the parishioners.
Some farmers are pulling up their coffee crops, unable to survive as small players in an unstable global commodities market. Others are seeing their children leave the family farm and migrate to cities in search of work, but often only finding greater despair.
"Development of churches and projects is slowing because the income from coffee provides the money to pay for them," said Veronica Swai, coordinator of the Women’s Department of the Northern Diocese.
Fair trade combats the effects of the coffee crisis Next>
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