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Season of Creation Calendar 2018-2020
The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania has put forth a revised Season of Creation Calendar that is more inclusive of traditions and cultures from both domestic and international faith groups. In addition to the calendar dates, a calendar statement is included, calling for an ecological conversion along with a celebratory message of "Creation Day." -
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayers of the Faithful is a selection of Catholic prayers from Season of Creation that can be used during mass or other religious services for the Season of Creation Month. The following is an excerpt from one of the prayers:
"United by our Catholic faith and respect for all life, including the life of unborn generations,we pray that the human family takes action to transition to clean energy and keep climate change in check. Let us pray. With a shared sense of responsibility to care for God’s beautiful, live giving creation, we pray that the goals of energy transition, reduced global warming, and protection of life for all are attained. Let us pray." -
Season of Creation Event Planning
The Season of Creation is a great time to introduce environmental themes by holding a prayer service, planting a tree, advocating for change, or simply holding a conversation about the Christian responsibility to Creation. Examples of available resources offered include: Prayer and Worship, Hold an Education or Sustainability Event, and Participate in a Campaign. -
Earth Day statement from ELCA presiding bishop
The Reverend Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), issued an Earth Day statement on behalf of the ELCA. A salient excerpt from the statement is shown below:
"The effects of the warming climate are felt in nearly every corner of the globe. These include increased migration, food insecurity due to changing agricultural landscapes, national security issues and health problems. As bad as it is for all creation, the most vulnerable people around the world are suffering the most. Yet they have contributed the least and, as noted in the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,[iii] are ill equipped to adapt to or mitigate the effects of a changing climate to build resilient communities." -
PC(USA) Collaborative Agenda on Environmental Stewardship
Chief executives of the six churches of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) provide their rationale for creating the Collaborative Agenda on Environmental Stewardship:
"Noting the deep concern about urgent environmental challenges expressed by many commissioners at the 221st General Assembly (2014), chief executives of the six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) appointed a working group to develop a joint response. The group consisting of at least one staff member per agency—was asked to craft a positive statement of what each agency, and the agencies together, have done and plan to do regarding environmental stewardship. This document is designed to call attention to ongoing efforts by the PC(USA) to confront the underlying causes of climate change, and to resources available through the six agencies to congregations, mid councils, and other mission and ministry groups wishing to join in the effort. The working group, meeting together regularly over a period of nine months, has produced the following document— 'Collaborative Agenda on Environmental Stewardship.' It has been reviewed by each of the agency boards, which have each endorsed the document as a whole and recommended that the General Assembly also endorse it as a helpful resource to the whole denomination. This effort is particularly noteworthy as it is unusual for an item of business to come to the assembly from a collaboration of all six agencies." -
Globalization and the Environment
This study paper by Dr. Robert L. Stivers focuses on various types of attitudes and perspectives regarding human interaction with the environment. He maintains that environmental degradation has multiple causes, of which globalization might only be one factor. Dr. Stivers offers that globalization is a contributor to the extent that affluent individuals from around the world have yet to curb their spending habits and attitudes with regard its negative impact on nature. -
A Shared Quaker Statement: Facing the Challenge of Climate Change
This statement calls for leaders to make sound decisions with regard to climate change, and for all people to cherish the Earth for future generations. The following introductory section highlights the sense of urgency:
"As Quakers, we understand anthropogenic climate change (climate change due to human activities) to be a symptom of a greater challenge: how to live sustainable and justly on this Earth.
We recognize that the current rise of greenhouse gas emissions is leading to an unprecedented rate of increase in global average surface temperature of extreme detriment to the Earth’s ecosystems and species, including human beings.
We recognize that catastrophic global climate change is not inevitable if we choose to act urgently." -
A Quaker Response to the Crisis of Climate Change
A Quaker Response to the Crisis of Climate Change discusses how climate change and consumer waste negatively impacts disadvantage populations the most. The first two paragraphs of the introduction are stated below:
"The crisis of global climate change represents a supreme test of humanity’s collective wisdom and courage. Our immoderate use of the Earth’s resources violates the entire biosphere, threatening the lives of millions of people and the habitats of thousands of species. Many of the poorest people are already suffering a changed climate; they are
asking us all to act.
How has humanity produced this crisis? Our faith response is that prevailing social values have obscured what it means to live authentically on this Earth. In rich European countries we consume more than we need within an economic system that divides us as a society; in much that we do, we cause harm to the planet and each other without enriching our lives." -
The Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice
The Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice, at the World Conference of Friends in 2012, maintains that we live in times in which the Earth can not replenish itself, so we must intervene where we can. In addition, we need to look out for our fellow humans, especially those who are less fortunate than us. The following paragraph provides the introduction to the text:
"In past times God’s Creation restored itself. Now humanity dominates, our growing population consuming more resources than nature can replace. We must change, we must become careful stewards of all life. Earthcare unites traditional Quaker testimonies: peace, equality, simplicity, love, integrity, and justice. Jesus said, 'As you have done unto the least… you have done unto me'. We are called to work for the peaceable Kingdom of God on the whole earth, in right sharing with all peoples. However few our numbers, we are called to be the salt that flavours and preserves, to be a light in the darkness of greed and destruction."
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FWCC Sustainability Minute
This minute was drafted at the FWCC World Plenary in Pisac, Peru in January 2016. These excerpts provide some salient points on sustainability/request by the Quakers who were involved with its creation:
"Invest FWCC World funds ethically. Share Quaker experiences with other faith groups to inspire them to action, especially through the World Council of Churches. Seek ways of connecting Friends worldwide that are sustainable. Facilitate dissemination of training materials on sustainability issues for Quaker leaders, pastors and teachers."
"Initiate at least two concrete actions on sustainability within the next 12 months. These may build on existing projects of individuals or monthly meetings or they may be new initiatives. We ask that they encourage Young Friends to play key roles. We ask that meetings minute the progress and results, so as to share them with FWCC and Quaker meetings. Support individuals and groups in their meetings who feel called to take action on sustainability. Support the work done by Quaker organisations such as the Quaker United Nations Office and the Quaker Council for European Affairs to ensure that international agreements and their implementation support sustainability." -
Creation Care Bookshelf book list
This file displays the Green Bookshelf book list of the creation care library at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Grove City, OH. Each book in the collection is available in two copies - one copy that stays in the library, and a second copy that can be checked out and taken home (on an honor system) by members of the congregation. -
Denominational Policy Statement: Caring for Creation:Vision, Hope, and Justice
This is the general ELCA statement on faith and the environment, approved by the third Churchwide Assembly in 1993, in Kansas City, MO. -
Church Hall Sustainability Guidelines at St Francis of Assisi, Columbus, OH
This is a one-page list of guidelines created by the Creation Care Team at St Francis of Assisi to provide guidance for sustainable use of the parish hall; includes instructions about recycling, food waste, utensil use, energy use, etc. -
Bulletin Insert on Laudato Si'
This insert provides reminders for some of the salient principles of the Laudato Si' encyclical, including: caring for our common home as we are all connected; remembering the poor, who are more affected by environmental impacts; and protecting life in all it's forms. It also focuses on courses of action one can take to support these critical issues. -
Environmental Statement – United Methodist Church
The Bishops of the United Methodist Church released a statement entitled: God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action. In this statement, they urge individuals to view themselves as a part of creation, and make the necessary adjustments to stop inflicting harming the environment. One salient message is that individuals should take on the roles of being stewards for the planet if there is any hope of redeeming earth from destruction. -
Sustainable Weddings in Columbus
Weddings are typically large events to celebrate the union of two people. Regardless of how beautiful the celebration is, weddings can still generate a lot of waste. In fact, the average wedding can generate 500 pounds of trash. Recently, there has been a movement to have local sustainable weddings that cut environmental impacts significantly. -
Green Corner Bulletin (St. Camillas Parish, Silver Spring, MD)
St. Camillas periodically issues their Green Corner Bulletin, in support of their stance on creation care as indicated on their website:
"Our preaching and liturgical music deepens our love of creation. Moreover, St. Camillus Church evangelizes by offering the adult faith formation programs on care of creation to parishioners, promoting various activities around Earth Day that spur people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, and doing advocacy for policy and legislation.
Our parish community is undertaking an effort to “green” our campus, reduce our energy consumption, and eliminate practices that are wasteful and destructive to God’s creation." -
Catholic Charities USA Prayer for Creation
Catholic Charities USA uploaded a prayer for creation on their website, focusing on cherishing the Earth rather than exploiting, and providing a reminder that we are all connected to each other and the land. This prayer for creation can be used in a variety of setting, especially in liturgical worship. -
Islamic Declaration on Climate Change
In August of 2015, faith leaders, senior international development policy makers, academics and other experts announced an Islamic Declaration on Climate Change at an International Islamic Climate Change Symposium in Istanbul. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change posted the following statement on their website:
"The leaders called on governments meeting in Paris to 'bring their discussions to an equitable and binding conclusion' bearing in mind:
The scientific consensus on climate change, which is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate systems; The need to set clear targets and monitoring systems; The dire consequences to planet earth if we do not do so; The enormous responsibility the COP shoulders on behalf of the rest of humanity, including leading the rest of us to a new way of relating to God’s Earth." -
A Statement of the Baha'i International Community to the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France
The Baha'i International Community provided a statement of shared vision regarding climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France. This statement from their website discusses the need for renewed individual consciousness, collective action, and redefining relationships to assist with sustainability. -
Declaration of the Health of People, Health of Planet and Our Responsibility Climate Change, Air Pollution and Health Workshop
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences posted findings and proposed solutions addressing problems of health of people and our planet, with a specific focus on climate change and air pollution, on their website. They present findings and proposed solutions that were presented at one of their workshop from November 2-4, 2017: -
Sikh Faith Statement on the Environment
This Sikh faith statement on the environment, based on the 1995 Windsor Statements, is posted on the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. Below is the introduction to the statement:
"The Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, declares that the purpose of human beings is to achieve a blissful state and to be in harmony with the earth and all creation. It seems, however, that humans have drifted away from that ideal. For the earth is today saturated with problems. It is agonizing over the fate of its inhabitants and their future! It is in peril as never before. Its lakes and rivers are being choked, killing its marine life. Its forests are being denuded. A smoky haze envelops the cities of the world. Human beings are exploiting human beings." -
Christian Ecology
Interfaith Center for Sustainability Development posted a Christian ecology statement, based on the 1995 Windsor Statements, on their website. The following is an excerpt discussing the challenges that have persisted over time with regard to the care for creation:
"In the words of the Orthodox Patriarchate, ‘This may well mean that just as a shepherd will in times of greatest hazard lay down his life for his flock, so human beings may need to forego part of their wants and needs in order that the survival of the natural world can be assured.'
The challenge to all Christians is to discover anew the truth that God’s love and liberation is for all creation, not just humanity, and to seek new ways of living that restore balance and hope of life to the endangered planet." -
Catholic Views on Climate Change - a statement from the Catholic Bishops of Australia
The Catholic Bishops of the Climate Institute, Australia created a statement on climate change. The statement emphasizes various responsibilities of individuals and entities that are necessary to provide a safe and healthy environment for all parts of the world. They also warn against further ecological destruction for future generations. -
Pope Benedict XVI on the Environment
The following website contains from quotes from Pope Benedict XVI from a book published in 2012 by Our Sunday Visitor called: The Environment by Pope Benedict XVI. Salient messages include the inter-connectedness of humans and the environment, a call to protect and care for the Earth, the need to alleviate environmental justice, and actions that can foster sustainability.