Church takes stand on "fair trade" coffee

By BRIAN FRAGA, Staff Writer April 12, 2003

SOUTHINGTON -- The First Congregational Church in Southington will once again demonstrate its social conscience Palm Sunday as Pastor Gordon Ellis will give a sermon entitled "Jesus, Bullies, Justice and Fair Trade."
Ellis will speak out on the fair trade issue, which has become a focal point of social activists nationwide. These activists allege American corporate entities exploit foreign workers in the age of globalization by paying them sub-standard wages for desired commodities in the United States.

The targeted commodity Sunday will be coffee, with worshippers being served "fair trade coffee" after worship. The Church Council recently voted to exclusively use the politically-conscious java, which is often organically grown by coffee farmers paid a minimum wage by fair trade organizations.

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