The Ecumenical Consultative Working Group on genetic engineering in agriculture held a three-day consultation on February 26–28, 2003 to discuss "Biotechnology and Agriculture: a Faith-Based Perspective."

The consultative forum took place in Chicago at the headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

This consultation was intended for a limited number of participants who are connected to Christian churches and faith–based organizations involved in ministry with farmers and rural communities around the world. The forum also invited individuals involved in international development assistance and emergency food relief programs.

This consultative forum was organized to help Christian denominations and agencies develop coherent and consistent policies regarding genetic engineering in agriculture. The forum participants examined the risks and potentials involved, and the ethical issues that need to be taken into consideration with respect to the life of rural communities, the future of farmers, and the use of foods containing GMOs in overseas food assistance.

The specific goals of this event were:

1. To further discuss the moral, ethical and practical issues related to the use of biotechnology in agriculture and food security/food sovereignty, with input from stakeholders resource persons.

2. To develop a policy framework relating to the use of GMOs that will guide the work of faith based development and relief organizations, based on ethical and theological principles.


• Panelists and presentations

Panel Session: "Taking An Ethical and Theological Perspective"
• Lisa Cahill, Boston College
• Leland Glenna, University of California-Davis
• David Magnus, Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
The panelists assisted the working group in identifying the moral and ethical issues related to agriculture, food and genetic engineering. They also discussed practical implications of applying bioethical principles to genetically engineered crops/foods.

Grassroot Representatives: "The View from Global Regions"
This session gave time to five representatives who reported on practical issues as experienced in Africa, Asia, South America, and North America. They addressed the questions: What are their experiences regarding GMO seeds/crops? How are these seeds and crops promoted and introduced? What are the realities that people face?


• Proceedings and outcome

A Conceptual Framework on a faith-based approach to genetic engineering in agriculture was developed as the outcome of this forum: Our Conceptual Framework.