About Alternatives

Table of Contents

ALTERNATIVES*

• Mission Statement
• About Alternatives
• Alternatives’ Honorary Board of Directors

ALTERNATIVES*

Mission: Equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly

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About Alternatives*

Organized in 1973 as a protest against the commercialization of Christmas, Alternatives encourages people of faith to examine and challenge our consumer society. The alluring and seductive yet empty promises of advertising and strong cultural pressures at Christmas and throughout the year lead many to live and celebrate in ways that are neither fulfilling nor joyful.

We proclaim that celebrations and living can indeed be what we hope for. Joy to the World need not be an empty promise.

We welcome people to join us in our efforts by becoming members. See pages 28-31 for information on some of our resources. Contact us for a free copy of our catalog, about membership, about our nationwide volunteer network of speakers, and about our extensive web site.

Once a non-profit organization, Alternatives works with numerous Protestant denominations and Catholic dioceses to provide and distribute materials on responsible living, social justice and peace. In addition to this annual, we offer Christmas resources for church and home; Lenten materials; videos on responsibly celebrating Christmas and challenging consumerism; a wedding packet; a toolbook for activists shy or bold; two collections of graphics and quotations; and books of ideas for celebrations throughout the year. Many of our resources are available on CD or DVD. Once a mail-order service, Alternatives' resources for individuals, church leaders and groups are available for free online; hard copies at nominal cost from ELCA Archives.

*Alternatives was known as Alternatives for Simple Living, 1995-2011, since then as Simple Living Works!

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Alternatives’ Former Honorary Board of Directors

• David Beckman, President, Bread for the World
• Walter Brueggemann, Professor, Columbia Theological Seminary
• Shane Claiborne, author, speaker, activist, The Simple Way Community
• Tony Campolo, author, speaker, educator Eastern University; founder EAPE and Red Letter Christians
• Millard Fuller (deceased), Founder, Habitat For Humanity International; Founder, Fuller Center for Housing
• Alisa Gravitz Executive Director, Green America (publisher of The National Green Pages)
• John McConnell, founder of Earthday
• Vicki Robin, author of Your Money or Your Life; Convenor of The Simplicity Forum
• Ronald J Sider, President, Evangelicals For Social Action
• Betsy Taylor, former President, Center for a New American Dream
• Jim Wallis, Executive Director, Sojourners Magazine; Convener, Call to Renewal

Simple Living Works! * SimpleLivingWorks@Yahoo.com
BLOG: SimpleLivingWorks.WordPress.com | Blog INDEX
PODCAST | Podcast INDEX
VIDEOS: YouTube.com/SimpleLivingWorks
MISSION: Equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly // An all volunteer educational organization.