Free Culture, Free Food

Recently, I've been thinking about the free culture movement. Wikipedia aptly defines it as "a social movement that promotes the freedom to distribute and modify creative works in the form of free content by using the Internet and other forms of media." If you lay awake at night seething over copyright laws, you're probably a proponent of this movement. If you have a pulse, you've probably tasted its fruits.

Ever downloaded a lecture from iTunes U or taken advantage of a free weekly download? Do you show up at Sam's Club for free sample Saturday? Do you ever visit blogs or other sites where people provide free content? Is there a LimeWire icon sitting on your computer desktop (...shame on you)? Everywhere you look today it seems people are asking for and receiving free stuff.

The Church is typically late to any cultural conversation, so we might be a few years off from even realizing this cultural shift much less responding. But lately I've been wondering what this might mean for the Church in America? Will we raise money differently? Will we talk about tithing less? Will we creatively find ways to offer free products and programs to our parishoners? Will our products and programs look differently than they do now?

Reformed Church of Highland Park in New Jersey has responded to the free culture movement with a new creative ministry in their community. They've opened a community resaurant called A Better World Cafe where local patrons can eat as much as they want and pay whatever they can afford. The menu only lists suggested prices. Some visitors opt to pay more and cover those who opt to pay less. If someone is unable to pay anything, one can opt for the free daily selection or they are welcome to volunteer for one hour in the kitchen in exchange for another meal. 

I am inspired by this innovative pay-what-you-can model, especially in this economy, but I am also thrilled by their environmental ethic. The non-profit restaurant serves up to 125 customers per day using mostly locally grown produce from small gardens, farms, and markets. They compost leftovers and avoid using plastics and styrofoam.

Churches are always trying to think of good ways to think outside the ministerial box to meet the needs of a changing culture. This small church in New Jersey is an incredible example of what creative adaptation to cultural trends can accomplish when combined with a heart for ministering to people. They've implemented a courageous business model and responded to the needs of their community, and they've done it all in a way that highly values people and creation. Directors at A Better World Cafe say that groups all across the country have been inquiring about how to duplicate their model. Here's to hoping others do.

Where do you see signs of free culture in your own life? What do you think about the A Better Cafe model? How do you think your church would respond if you suggested starting something like this?

Interested in free culture? Check out  Free Culture: The Nature and Future of Creativity by Lawrence Lessig. Lessig is known as "the father of the free culture movement."

If you want to know more about this ministry and those who run it, see Who Is My Neighbor Inc, the Cafe's parent ministry at Reformed Church.

If you are interested in the A Better World Cafe model, check out One World, Everybody Eats. The founder of One World, Everybody Eats, Denisa Cerreta, pioneered the pay-what-you-can restaurant model.

EXTRA: This week, I reposted "Reuse or Recycle? Try Freecycling" at The Huffington Post.