Praying and Preaching on Trade Issues
"I dare to pray: Lord, let the rules be changed,
for I long to see trade bring justice to the poor . . . "
Extract from the Trade Pledge Prayer by Peter Graystone, Christian Aid
Praying
There are several compilations of trade-related prayers. Three online sources are:
- The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance in Geneva which hosts a tremendously rich gathering of worship resources -- individual prayers, litanies and complete orders of service -- from around the world
- CAFOD 's worship section which offers prayers on trade and quotable quotes to spur reflection
- Traidcraft's "Prayers, Poems and Reflections" sheet which offers a short selection of useful material
In addition, Geoffrey Duncan has produced a variety of collections for Christian Aid which contain material on trade.
Preaching
In addition to its prayers, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has sermon themes and sample sermons.
Another invaluable resource is the linked lectionary entitled "Development Matters ," compiled quarterly by Dr. Elizabeth Perry and available on the Diocese of Bath and Wells' website. This resource takes the main lectionary readings for each week and links them with global-justice issues, providing facts, illustrations and quotes that preachers can use in their sermons.
If you want help reflecting theologically on trade issues before you preach, you might want to look at
- Trade Justice: A Christian Response to Global Poverty , the Christian Aid/Church of England report on the Trade Justice Campaign, which contains a section on the theological background,
- "Lifting the Burden, Weighting the Rules" the Christian Aid report on the faith foundations for trade justice campaigning, or
- Prof Dr Christoph Stuckelburger's "When Trade Serves God's Justice: Biblical and Ethical Flashlights and Considerations" in the Briefing Papers section of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance website