October 15, 2010

DES MOINES, Iowa – The 2010 World Food Prize is a testament to the "remarkable leadership" of the Rev. David Beckmann to mobilize citizens to advocate for public policies that help hungry people, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Hanson made the comment in a congratulatory letter to Beckmann, co-recipient of the 2010 World Food Prize with Jo Luck, chief executive officer of Heifer International, Little Rock, Ark. Beckmann is an ELCA pastor and president of Bread for the World, Washington, D.C.

Bread for the World works through the Christian community to call on political leaders to support policy changes that focus on long-term solutions to hunger.

Often compared to the Nobel Prize, the World Food Prize honors outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. The award was presented to both laureates Oct. 14 in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Countless families around the globe have been able to lift themselves out of poverty with the help of policies that give them real and equitable opportunities to obtain the basic necessities of life," Hanson wrote. "Your work through Bread for the World has led an antipoverty movement of people in the pews – faithful people who now know they can make a difference by speaking out and asking elected officials to remember the poor."

Hanson said the ELCA's partnership with Bread for the World is through the ELCA's advocacy ministries, ELCA World Hunger and the ELCA Foundation. He said the ELCA values Bread for the World's "thoughtful work" with churches, its scholarship in its reports, and access to key people in the federal government.

Hanson wrote that Beckmann has a significant commitment to the gospel message. "Anyone who hears you speak is inspired by your passion for God's work in the world. Clearly, the World Food Prize committee recognizes what the ELCA has heard for a long time – your faithful witness of God's prophetic message!" he added.

During the awards ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol, Beckmann told an audience of 900 people from 65 countries that the award honors people who volunteer their time to reduce hunger and poverty.

"The World Food Prize recognizes Bread for the World's network of people and churches across the country who have pushed and pushed, and have helped Congress and our government do some things that are really important for hungry and poor people," he said in his acceptance remarks.

Beckmann issued a challenge to elected officials, including those in attendance. "I do think that the binding constraint on our progress against hunger and poverty is weak political will," he said, adding that he is grateful for elected officials who work to reduce hunger and poverty.

While many people focus on hunger and poverty in other countries, there are now greater numbers of people in the United States who are unemployed, and as a result struggle with hunger and poverty, Beckmann said.

"We have very clear opportunities to get our own government and other governments to do some things to help people who are hungry work their way out of hunger," he said. "That's why it seems to me that God is calling us to change the politics of hunger."

Beckmann's share of the prize is a $125,000 cash award, which he said he will give to Bread for the World.

Former President Bill Clinton noted in a videotaped message shown at the awards ceremony that under Beckmann's leadership Bread for the World "has moved thousands of people to become involved in initiating change." Beckmann and Luck have contributed to making the world a better place, he said.

"Thank you for choosing them," Clinton added.

Information about the World Food Prize is at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service