This Fragile Earth, Our Island Home
"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9:6)
Taking responsibility for the stewardship of what God has created is a direct command from God to the community of the Jews, Christians and Muslims since they share this philosophy through their common sources of scripture in the Torah, the Bible and the Koran. Many other religions share a very similar outlook on creation care.
Our belief is that God created Earth and mankind and that God loves, sustains and cherishes his creation. We are part of his creative image and therefore expected to respect and uphold everything he has made. Unfortunately we have fallen incredibly short in fulfilling this command.
As the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer so perfectly states:
“At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. By your will they were created and have their being.
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race,
and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us
the rulers of creation.
But we turned against you, and betrayed
your trust; and we turned against one another.
Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.”
Climate change worsens poverty in many already impoverished places of the world. When it takes 2,400 gallons of water to raise cattle for just one single hamburger, how are we going to justify using 90% of the resources just for our ‘needs’ in the Western hemisphere.
Scientists warn that if we don’t act within the next 10 years we have a climate catastrophe at hand that will make all our combined warfares look like a stroll in the park.
We have the technology but do we have the will to love his creation as much as he loves it?
May God give us wisdom to discern what is best for this fragile earth, our island home.
All over the world, churches, synagogues and many other faiths are seeking a religious response to global warming. They have initiated true and valid conversations among their congregations and parishes and some of them have gone the extra mile to prove that energy efficiency and conservation need to be promoted hand in hand with the Gospel.
The fact is:
Places of worship use a lot of energy
- Cut the energy use of over 300,000 churches, synagogues and other faith based institutions by 10% and we could save almost $200 million each year.
- Most congregations could cut they energy costs by 30% according to the Energy Star web site. How: Strategically invest in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and proper maintenance.
- More importantly it would prevent 2 million tons of greenhouse gases to be released. That is the same as 400,000 polluting cars.
- Buildings, the center of worship are the ‘low hanging fruit’. Buildings use more than 30% of the total energy and more than 60% of the electricity in the U.S.A. Add the 5 billion gallons of potable water going down the drain daily to flush our toilets and you get the picture.
How can your congregation be a role model to the rest of the world?
Making changes to the existing building in addition with teaching good stewardship that your members can transfer to their homes and workplaces. Here are examples of how we can do our part.
- This is a really great tool and starting point if you are just beginning to investigate about becoming a green community. Even if you have ongoing questions or need more well rounded resources. This is the place to start.
Download a Congregations guidebook, stewardship mini posters or an energy stewardship action list. Browse their technical support or their ‘How-to’ guide for analyzing and upgrading your facility. It’s a multitude of wonderful hands-on resources.
The Regeneration Project and the
InterfaithPower and Light campaign
- The San Francisco based interfaith ministry is devoted to deepening the connection between ecology and faith.
Their efforts began in 1998 at the Grace Cathedral as a unique coalition of Episcopal churches came together to purchase renewable energy. Their cause encompasses 26 states with over 4000 congregations. You will find many opportunities to share the news on creation care and to get involved no matter where you live.
Their president, The Rev. Sally Bingham, was installed Canon for Environmental Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of California in January 2008.
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
- A St. Louis based organization that ignites and fuels a movement of spiritual transformation by meeting Christ in our sisters and brothers in extreme poverty. The temporary structure for their movement are the Millennium Development Goals.
These MDG’s are eight goals agreed to in 2000 by 189 heads of state and governments that address poverty, education, equality, environmental sustainability, child mortality, maternal health, fighting diseases and the creation of global partnership.
Evangelical Environmental Network
- The EEN is a non profit organization that tries to educate, inspire, and mobilize Christians to care for God’s creation.
With their main office in Georgia, EEN publishes a quarterly journal that you can sign up for through the internet. In their lesson resource suggestions, youth ministry for example helps teens through studies of how to change the world with 15 lessons on creation care.
Presbyterians For Restoring Creation
- PRC is a nationwide network of people of faith who care for God’s creation. Since 1990 the policy report Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice calls Presbyterians to focus on caring for creation as a central concern.
PRC has hosted four national conferences for eco-justice training, education, networking and spiritual renewal. It produces quarterly newsletters and presents annual awards to honor individuals and groups for ‘restoring creation’ work.
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