The Vocation of the Agricultural Leader (2016) is a faith-based reflection on modern agriculture and food production.

This 16-page document is freely available for download. Full color booklets are available at cost from Catholic Rural Life (scroll down to fourth item, “Faith Food and the Environment”.

Catholic Rural Life also leads presentations and workshops on the Vocation of the Agricultural Leader. To request a workshop in your area, please email Annie@CatholicRuralLife.org

The basic sections of The Vocation of the Agricultural Leader reflection are as follows:

The EXECUTIVE SUMMARY succinctly presents the major factors we see shaping modern agriculture today and questions if current practices of agricultural  production and control are sustainable in the long run. We ask agricultural leaders to reflect upon principles that emanate from Christian teachings and present a set of vocational guidelines for agriculture and food production.

The INTRODUCTION explains what we mean by “agricultural leader” and how the idea of “vocation” is an urgent and practical one in today’s world beset by economic, ecological and social challenges. We ask leaders to profess a preferential regard for families, farmworkers, women and peasant farmers who are often pushed to the side in the name of “efficient” and industrial-scale agriculture.

SEEING the World of Agriculture: This section highlights the challenges and opportunities facing modern agriculture: Globalization; Financialization, Research & Technology; Technocracy & Power; and Ecological Impacts.

PRINCIPLES for Assessment: This section relies on Catholic social teaching, but is meant to reflect moral thought and ethical behavior in our human actions and endeavors here on Earth.

ACTING: From Aspirations to Practice: This section is an outline for practically applying faith-based principles to modern agricultural production.

We welcome comments and reactions to this reflection. Your positive affirmations, along with constructive criticisms, will be helpful in improving and revising the next edition of The Vocation of the Agricultural Leader reflection.

Please send comments to info@CatholicRuralLife.org