Fairtrade Church FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about point (i)

Q:What if some of our members don't like the taste of Fairtrade tea or coffee?

A: First question -- have they tasted it recently? Some people, when they think of Fairtrade coffee, are still thinking of the old "Campaign Coffee" . . . and even dedicated Fairtrade enthusiasts will agree that "Campaign Coffee" was pretty grim. But times have changed, and we now have hundreds of different Fairtrade coffees and teas, some of which have even won medals for their taste. If you organise a tasting, you're sure to find one that is generally pleasing. If people still hold out for particular non-Fairtrade brands, perhaps it is worth thinking whether there are legitimate reasons or whether individual preference is being pursued at the expense of justice.

Q: What if our church doesn't normally serve tea or coffee after the service?
A: That's fine -- just make sure that you use Fairtrade products whenever you do serve tea or coffee . . . say at a church fete, or when you have visitors during sponsored cycle rides.

Q: What about meetings in people's homes?
A: No one expects a church to mandate what people serve in their own homes. . . . so there's no need to schedule inspections of committee members' cupboards! But it's still good to encourage members of the congregation to use Fairtrade products at home, as well as in church. Some churches have voluntary pledge schemes for members -- people sign on to use tea and coffee, or to buy a certain number of Fairtrade products. The Abingdon Traidcraft Group offered the "2 x 2 Challenge": participants committed to buying £2 worth of Fairtrade products a month for 2 years. Going further, fairtrade@stmichaels and The Door newspaper have challenged people to eat at least 3 fairly traded products a day for a given period. It's not hard, actually, given the extended range. Perhaps someone in your church might even like to follow the example of Tearfund's Ben Clowney (aka Fairtrade Man), who ate ONLY fairly traded products during Lent 2007!

Q: We love the Fairtrade biscuits . . . but we need to serve more than 100 a week -- and that could get quite expensive. What should we do?
A: Firstly, take heart! Traidcraft has now brought out a new bulk chocolate chip biscuit that is quite affordable. But where there is a Fairtrade product that is beyond your budget to buy on a regular basis, note that the wording of point (ii) gives considerable flexibility. So perhaps try to use that product as often as you can, but don't worry if that's not every week. What matters is that you try to move forwards . . . assessing where you can make the switch and acting accordingly.

Q: Our local shops and supermarkets have Fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas -- but where can we find the other products?
A: National chains and many centrally supplied smaller stores now can offer -- in theory -- a wide range of products . . . but they don't necessarily show up on the shelves of every branch. Try a survey of church members to see if any have found a good local supplier. Or check the Fairtrade Foundation's website to see what products should be on offer . . . and if they aren't, ask for them. You can also try going to one of our local specialised Fair Trade shops, which often supply the widest range of products -- or order online or by mail.

Frequently Asked Questions about Point (iii)

Q:What does it mean to promote Fairtrade? Are we going to have to do massive stalls?

A: Some churches, particularly smaller ones, are quite concerned about point (iii) -- they fear that as tiny congregations they may be asked to undertake projects that are beyond their capabilities. But not to worry! What you do to promote Fairtrade really depends on what is appropriate given the size and nature of your church. In a small village church, a poster up at a Fairtrade coffee morning or a notice in the church magasine will form important contributions. Larger congregations can work on more ambitious projects. What matters is that you do what you can -- not what you can't. That said, never underestimate what a small group of enthusiastic people can do.