Christian Organizations That Work On The Issue Of Sustainability
During the past decade many of this country’s religious bodies have awakened to their responsibility to the well being of the Earth. Much of the impetus has come from “An Open Letter to the Religious Community” that was issued in January, 1990, by 32 internationally eminent scientists such as Carl Sagan, Peter Raven, and James Hansen. Alarmed at the threat of ecological catastrophe, these scientists called for religious communities to join with them in common cause to preserve the Earth. “What is regarded as sacred is more likely to be treated with care and respect.”
Influential Catholic, Orthodox, Mainline Protestant, Evangelical Protestant, and Jewish religious leaders accepted this summons. In May 1992, 150 religious heads and prominent scientists joined together across historic antagonisms with “The Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment.”
Shortly thereafter The National Religious Partnership On The Environment was formed. The NRPE is the coordinating body for four constituencies: Roman Catholic, Jewish, Mainline Protestant, and Evangelical Protestant bodies. Operating as a federation, these four groups are able to maintain their specific theological and doctrinal identities while joining together in common faith and cause to protect the Earth.
Essentially all major denominations have established offices and published position papers that call for sustainable care of the Earth. Several of the larger relief and development missions have undertaken measures to bring low impact technology to developing countries. Finally, numerous ecumenical faith-based organizations have sprung up on the local and national scene.
The following list contains many of the more visible religious organizations involved with care of the Earth:
National Religious Partnership for the Environment
1047 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, New York 10025
212-316-7441
212-316-7547 fax
nrpe@nrpe.org
The NRPE is the coordinating body for four constituent groups (listed following this section): The US Catholic Conference; The National Council of Churches of Christ; The Coalition on Environment and Jewish Life; The Evangelical Environmental Network. The Partnership’s faith groups sent resource kits to 135,000 congregations each year for three successive years: every Catholic parish; virtually every synagogue; 40,000 mainline Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches; 35,000 evangelical congregations. These materials included sermons for clergy; energy conservation tips for building managers; creation care lessons for Sunday school teachers; and contacts with local environmental organizations for social action directors.
The Partnership has identified thousands of diverse congregation-based projects.
Jesus People Against Pollution in Columbia, Mississippi, has surveyed 20,000 citizens affected by chemical dioxins, built a coalition of 165 community organizations, and forced government Superfund clean-ups.
“Redwood Rabbis” in Northern California have fought to protect the last old growth redwood forest by publishing open letters to Headwaters’ forest owner Charles Hurwitz proclaiming Jewish teachings on preserving trees and undertaking stockholder action at his Maxxam Corporation.
Episcopal Power and Light in California is working with churches to take advantage of utility deregulation and choose “green power.”
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and the city’s Jewish Community Federation have prepared environmental curriculum for 7th grade students, finding common ground in their traditions’ teachings on care for creation.
The Hamburg Presbyterian Church in upstate New York adopted the nearby Eighteen Mile Creek, monitored pH levels, and won state designation as a protected habitat.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart in Detroit, Michigan, have turned a former crack cocaine house into a community garden and cleared 120 more lots for planting trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Environmental Ministries in Southern California has worked to prevent Native American land in the Mojave Desert from becoming a nuclear dumpsite.
Temple Beth El in East Amherst, New York, has organized legislative testimony in support of pesticide registry because of concern about breast cancer.
The Promised Land Network in Hereford, Texas has established the “Hormiguero” (anthill) project to teach sustainable development micro-enterprise to Mexican-Americans in unincorporated agrarian villages.
The Partnership undertook local and national public policy initiatives. In so doing, it brought before government an established, powerful mainstream advocate beyond the “environmental movement.”
· Working through policy networks that distribute action alerts to tens of thousands of activists (e.g., 70,000 study guides on environmental health in l998), faith groups addressed major policy issues separately and collectively.
· Evangelical Christians were widely credited for having helped prevent rollback of the Endangered Species Act.
· Catholic bishops testified against “Takings” legislation in the US Senate, and helped defeat referenda in three states.
· The Jewish community focused on deforestation.
· Mainline Protestants provided action alerts for 50,000 congregations to pressure the Administration to sign a strong climate treaty and has begun statewide campaigns to help win ratification.
· The entire Partnership began to raise issues of children’s environmental health in l997. With assured access to members of Congress from their own states, annual delegations of senior leaders traveled to Washington to demonstrate new breadth of support from the American heartland for bold policy.
· Through its Catholic and evangelical partners, the Partnership has been able to engage conservative elected officials usually beyond the reach of the environmental movement.
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
443 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
212-684-6950, ext. 210
www.coejl.org
The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life was founded in 1993 to promote environmental education, scholarship, advocacy, and action in the American Jewish community. COEJL is sponsored by a broad coalition of national Jewish organizations and has organized regional affiliates in communities across North America. COEJL is the Jewish member of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.
National Council of Churches of Christ
475 Riverside Drive, #812 New York,
New York 10115
(212) 870-2385/2386 Fax: (212) 870-2265
www.webofcreation.org/ncc/Workgrp.html
The Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches provides an opportunity for the national bodies of member Protestant and Orthodox denominations to work together to protect and restore God’s creation.
The Climate Change Information and Strategy Packet includes information for individuals and congregations on the effects of climate change, governmental policies toward the issue, and strategies for action.
The Energy Stewardship Congregations Program has information on saving energy in one’s church as a practice of faith and the steps to make the adjustment.
The Black Church Environment Justice Program supports the seven historic black denominations which belong to the National Council of Churches of Christ as they address environmental justice issues. Studies have shown that contaminating facilities are more likely to be located in communities where poor people and people of color live.
Evangelical Environmental Network
10 East Lancaster Avenue
Wynnewood PA 19096-3495
1-800-650-6600
www.esa-online.org
The EEN works with 19 member constituencies operating under a theological declaration of care for creation which include these salient points: The sanctity of creation; the intrinsic value of all species and habitat; the ethical duty of stewardship; the inseparability of social justice and environmental sustainability; the responsibilities of private property as measured against the greater good of the common.
United States Catholic Conference
Office of Social Development & World Peace
National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000 www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/ejp/
The purpose of the USCC program is to help educate and motivate Catholics to a deeper respect for creation and to engage parishes in activities aimed at dealing with environmental problems, particularly as they affect the poor. The program offers a distinctively Catholic contribution reflecting Catholic teaching and values. Its foundation lies in Pope John Paul II's 1990 World Day of Peace Message, which calls the ecological crisis a moral problem, and the 1991 USCC statement, Renewing the Earth. Also available are three distinct parish education kits and two videos that provide a Catholic perspective on environmental issues.
The
National Catholic Rural Life Conference is a membership
organization grounded in a spiritual tradition that brings
together the Church, care of community and care of creation.
The North American Coalition for Christianity and Ecology (NACCE)
P.O. Box 40011, St. Paul MN 55104
612-698-0349
The NACCE is promoting the formation of Eco-Churches — small ecumenical groups of Christians whose mission is:
1. to change the prevailing world view: from humanity being above the rest of creation, to humanity as an integral part of creation;
2. to develop more active players in the spiritual-environmental revolution;
3. to organize a grassroots movement inspired by the love of every part of God's sacred creation.
These groups, while not in competition with other parts of the church universal, may well attract those who have left the traditional churches in search of a more Earth-centered Christian spirituality.
In all aspects of its life, the Eco-Church will re-establish the fundamental spiritual relationship of humans to Christ and to Earth with all its creatures. A basic tenet of its evangelism is found in II Corinthians 5:19: "God is reconciling the whole world — or cosmos — through Christ." Eco-church liturgies will include and combine celebrations of Earth and traditional church holy days. Its missional activities will include both advocacy and direct action for social justice and the integrity of creation, particularly within each group's own bioregion.
North American Coalition on Religion and Ecology
5 Thomas Circle,
N.W.
Washington DC 20005
Phone: 202-462-2591
The International Consortium on Religion and Ecology (ICORE) and its' North American network, the North American Coalition on Religion and Ecology (NACRE), are ecumenical and interfaith non-profit organizations which help individuals and interfaith-based organizations learn about and participate in the environmental movement. They accomplish this through a unique 5-step process called Caring for Creation. These efforts also support within the wider society the awareness of the religious and value dimensions of environmental issues.
Target Earth
National Office
3015-P Hopyard Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Phone (925)462-2439
www.targetearth.org
The mission of Target Earth is “Serving the Earth, Serving the Poor.” Focus is on those regions of the world that are most devastated by the mix of human suffering and the destruction of the earth. Devotion to God, who created and sustains all the world through Christ, calls us to work for a sustainable future where love and justice prevail; where all creation reflects the glory and extravagant handiwork of God; where our service to the earth addresses every form of ecosystem degradation; and where our service to the poor provides tangible hope to the children of future generations and dignity and justice to the oppressed of today.
Through the efforts of this movement's members, Target Earth is active in 15 countries with activities such as buying up endangered lands, protecting people, saving the jaguar, sharing the love of Jesus, feeding the hungry and reforesting ravaged terrain. Target Earth has an excellent track record of reaching out to college students and forming campus chapters.
Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation
409 Mendocino Avenue, Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707)573-3162
www.creationethics.org
The Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation represents a coalition of organizations joined in a common concern for forest conservation as a religious issue. The RCFC reflects a broad spectrum of religious and theological views joined together by a common concern that the utilitarian values and worldview that has shaped forest policy do not assess the values and worth of the forest. The RCFC holds that forests have intrinsic spiritual and non-economic values that soar beyond scientific, economic and other quantitative measurements which have been applied to assess forest worth.
Opening the Book of Nature
409 Mendocino Avenue, Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707)573-3162
www.creationethics.org
The
Scriptures, early Christians, the saints and the reformers are unanimous about
the ability of creation to provide deep and potent spiritual instruction. Unfortunately,
this legacy has largely been left in the past and most modern Christians have
lost touch with how God speaks through creation. Modern technology with its
hurried pace has separated people from the spiritual lessons in nature.
The 'Opening the Book of Nature' (OBN) program helps folks reconnect to the
Christian tradition of learning spiritual lessons from creation. OBN
weekend 'explorations' use periods of private prayer and reflection alternating
with group process to produce a blend of low key instruction, personal experience,
group discussion and sharing. A unique learning method emerges which helps
each person to share in the personal discoveries made by others, to learn
from one another's insights and experiences, and to go on into a more effective
ability to discern lessons in creation. As one progresses through the weekend,
the centrality of Jesus Christ and the importance of the Scriptures becomes
more obvious. This method works regardless of a person's background, educational
level, denomination or assumptions about religion.
Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat St.
Americus, GA 31709
USA
www.habitat.org/env/
Habitat
for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization
dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness. The Environmental Initiative embraces the concept of sustainable building: meeting the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. Materials conservation programs help Habitat affiliates
to save money while conserving natural resources. Through the efficient use
of new materials and the re-use of recyclable materials, these programs result
in less waste for disposal in landfills and lower costs for Habitat's partner
families.
Habitat's attention to resource efficiency starts at the beginning: house
designs. Habitat affiliates build simple, modestly sized houses which use
less raw materials than large houses, are cheaper to heat and cool, and create
less cut-off waste.
Materials conservation programs continue Habitat's commitment to resource
efficiency during the construction process. By purchasing smaller quantities
of materials, Habitat decreases the environmental burden of virgin materials
extraction, processing and transportation. By reducing the amount of waste
produced, affiliates reduce the potential hazards of pollution generated from
landfills and incineration.
Habitat affiliates also find many opportunities to reuse and recycle waste
materials. Affiliates are encouraged to designate an area on the job-site
for reusable and recyclable materials, making it easier for volunteers to
channel them back into house construction or to materials recyclers. Careful
storage of leftover materials greatly reduces the cost of building an affiliate's
next house.
A growing number of affiliates are sponsoring Habitat ReStores,
which support resource efficiency while helping Habitat build more houses.
ReStores sell reusable and surplus building materials, with proceeds funding
local Habitat house construction. All materials sold by Habitat ReStores
were donated for that purpose -- often from contractors with excess supplies,
from demolition crews salvaging reusable materials, or from the general public.
In addition to raising funds, ReStores help the environment by diverting thousands
of tons of usable materials away from landfills.
Interfaith Coalition on Energy (ICE)
7217 Oak Avenue
Melrose Park, PA 19027
Phone: (215) 635-1122
ICE offers a range of services and publications to help congregations reduce their heating, cooling and other energy costs. ICE is available to perform energy audits, provide workshop training, distribute educational materials, and assist in the formation of local energy coalitions throughout the nation. Workshops teach clergy, staff and lay leaders to recognize and solve the specific energy conservation problems of their houses of worship. Participants learn approaches to reduce utility use, especially when a building is unoccupied, thus saving precious financial resources that can be used for ministry, building repairs and other priorities.
World Vision, Inc.
34834 Weyerhaeuser Way South
Federal Way, Washington 98001
1-888-511-6591
World Vision marshals full-scale relief efforts in response to crises, while continuing to carry out their ongoing development activities in these and other nations. World Vision staff members consider it a privilege to represent Jesus Christ in its work with people impacted by wars, poverty, or disaster. World Vision is the largest Christian relief and development organization, and is committed to sustainable development in the 70 countries it serves.