From the "How-to" Files: Beans & Rice Ministry
By the Rev. Bill King, Trinity Episcopal Church, Clanton, Ala.
On Friday evening, September 17th, in Alabaster, Alabama, members of eight parishes gathered together for a beans and rice dinner and to celebrate what has come to be known as the "Beans and Rice" ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. The conversation was about the best practices of this exciting grass roots based food sharing ministry that is quickly spreading throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.
In the fall of 2006, a member of the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church in Clanton, Al. made a comment, "Trinity should be known for something other than just being another church in Clanton." A few days later, the rector was talking with his brother John King in Fayetteville, Arkansas who has served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in nearby Prairie Grove. John mentioned that his parish had been operating a "Beans and Rice" foood sharing ministry for 30 years and that once a month on a Saturday morning, uncooked beans and rice and sometimes other food items like peanut butter and canned vegetables were distributed to anyone in need with no questions asked. Out of those two conversations began the beans and rice ministry in Alabama.
By the summer of 2010, there were seven "Beans and Rice" parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama with one more beginning before the end of this September and another hoping to begin before the end of the year. It is estimated that this cluster of food sharing ministries will distribute over 40 tons of food in Alabama during the next 12 months.
Read more tips for setting up a beans and rice ministry here.