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113 items

  • Engaged Organizations: Trinity Lutheran Seminary

    Trinity Lutheran Seminary participates in the Green Seminary Initiative. In addition to their larger mission (as stated on their website at https://www.capital.edu/trinity-lutheran-seminary-at-capital-university/), the GSI website describes their environmental efforts:

    "Located in Columbus, OH, and a seminary in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Trinity has engaged in a number of steps required in the certification process, including an energy audit, updating the seminary’s HVAC system, tracking campus energy use, and enhancing recycling efforts. The student group SEEDS held a retreat in April at Lutheran Memorial Camp and students have participated in a Faith Climate Action Rally at the Ohio Statehouse. In addition, Trinity students have been active in cleaning up the Alum Creek watershed that borders the seminary property. The school has cultivated a garden, and students, faculty, and staff held a worship service to bless it. The school engages with the natural landscape surrounding the campus through hikes and excursions."

    Trinity Lutheran Seminary strives to infuse care of the earth into all aspects of theological education.

  • Engaged Organizations: Universidad Biblica Latinamericana

    Universidad Biblica Latinamericana participates in the Green Seminary Initiative. In addition to their larger mission (as stated on their website at http://ubl.ac.cr/), the GSI website describes their environmental efforts:

    "Universidad Biblica Latinoamericana joins the Seminary Environmental Certification Program from San Jose, Costa Rica. The school elected two years ago to make “planetary life” a key aspect of teaching, research, and community life, and believe that the certification program will assist them with incorporating these goals. “It is our desire to make this a learning experience for faculty, staff and especially students who can reproduce these process in their churches and communities,” writes Rectora Elisabeth Cook. “Our location in Central America, an area of the world that is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, offers a privileged contexts from which to address environmental justice through theological reflection and missional action.” The UBL brings to the certification program numerous ties to the international, national, and regional communities, along with a network of students and graduates throughout the region who are committed to issues of environmental justice."

    Universidad Biblica Latinamericana strives to infuse care of the earth into all aspects of theological education.

  • Engaged Organizations: Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte

    Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, participates in the Green Seminary Initiative. In addition to their larger mission (as stated on their website at https://www.upsem.edu/alumni-connect/charlotte-campus/), the GSI website describes their environmental efforts:

    "Union Presbyterian Seminary at Charlotte is a part-time, non-residential seminary extension of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va. We have a brand new campus located in the fast-growing South Park area of Charlotte. While our home campus is pursuing a partnership with Shalom Farms, incorporating a community garden and classes in the ethics of food and eco-justice, the Charlotte campus is pursuing its commitment to “church and the world” in several different ways. Having just completed our energy audit, we are committed to making an already efficient building more so. We are Including new course offerings that focus on faith and environmental issues, such as Paul Galbreath’s upcoming class on “Ecology and Worship.” Rodney Sadler is challenging us to step up as advocates in areas such as the use of solar energy in congregational and seminary facilities. We look forward to learning from our colleagues in the GSI in the years ahead."

    Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte strives to infuse care of the earth into all aspects of theological education.

  • Engaged Organizations: Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers

    The following is an excerpt from the Catholic Association of Diocean Ecumenical and Interreligous Officers' call to care for creation on their website:

    "Catholics now realize that the environment is equally as important as the social issues that have been given attention in the Church and that in fact, certain of these issues are tied inextricably to our care of the earth or lack thereof. Can even one individual live without clean air, water, or food? Can any life be protected without concern for the basic systems and networks required to sustain life? If we “teach a man to fish” but the water is so polluted that fish are poisoned or if overfishing causes them to become extinct, what then?

    Catholics in past centuries were not concerned about air, water, soil and climate for the simple reason that these life systems were not endangered. Clergy and faithful had no need to be worried that the water, wheat, or grapes required for our sacramental life might be dangerously polluted or ruined by climate extremes. Current threats to creation are a sign of our times."

  • Engaged Organizations: Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach

    Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach serves as a line of communication between Columban missionaries and policy makers in Washington D.C. Missionaries are stationed in 16 countries around the world, bringing attention to environmental justice issues that are most pressing for marginalized populations in the areas. Their primary focus is combating human-induced climate change. In addition, they advocate for sustainable development and agricultural systems, and right to clean water.

  • Engaged Organizations: Conference of Major Superiors of Men

    Conference of Major Superiors of Men discuss their Care for Creation/Stewards of the Earth component of their organization on their website:

    "The goods of the earth are gifts from God, and they are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. There is a "social mortgage" that guides our use of the world's goods, and we have a responsibility to care for these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumers and users. How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, a sign of our respect for the Creator."

  • Engaged Organizations: Ignation Solidarity Network

    Ignation Solidarity Network discuss their work as it relates to Pope Francis's Laudato Si' encyclical to care for creation and our common home. As stated in their website:

    "In his historic encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis calls on all people to care for creation and our common home. Pope Francis makes clear that our care for one another and our care for the earth are intimately connected, noting that humanity is not faced 'with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.' (Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home)."

    "We ask our government leaders to demonstrate bold leadership in addressing the climate crisis by honoring the Paris Agreement, contributing to the Green Climate Fund, implementing the Clean Power Plan and supporting just transition and job creation."

  • Engaged Organizations: Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)

    Leadership Conference of Women Religious discuss their process for recycling ink cartridges on their website:

    "LCWR works with a recycling company, Empties-4-Cash, an organization that rewards those who recycle by paying for each usable empty ink jet cartridge and for each usable empty laser cartridge. LCWR applies the earnings received to the scholarship fund that assists LCWR members who wish to attend the LCWR national assembly but cannot afford to do so.

    LCWR congregations are invited to assist in building the scholarship fund by sending their cartridges directly to Empties-4-Cash and having their earnings applied directly to the scholarship fund. Congregations are encouraged to invite companies and other organizations to participate in this effort as well."

  • Engaged Organizations: Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

    Sisters of Mercy of the Americas has both sponsored and co-sponsored faith based organizations that focus on ecological issues. One of the organizations is Mercy Ecospirituality Center.

  • 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.

  • Engaged Organizations: Global Catholic Climate Movement

    Global Catholic Climate Movement discuss their identity and mission through the following excerpts from their website:

    "Who we are

    The Global Catholic Climate Movement is a first-of-its-kind international coalition of Catholics from many nations, continents, and walks of life. We are laity, religious, and clergy, theologians, scientists, and activists from Argentina, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Australia, the United States, and many other nations. We are united by our Catholic faith and our work in various roles and organizations on climate change issues."

    "First, we recognize that conversations about the climate crisis have historically been more about intellectual arguments than about the profound spiritual and moral implications of our failure to care for God’s creation. Catholic leaders are thus called to speak with a prophetic voice and in a spiritual dialogue with all people, especially those political and business leaders and consumers who engage in climatically destructive policies and practices. And we recognize our own need for ongoing conversion to live more in keeping with the Creator’s intentions for life in abundance for all people. Until the moral implications of anthropogenic climate change are clearly established and accepted, it is unlikely that societies can or will transition in an appropriate timeframe to sustainable technologies, economies, and lifestyles."

  • Engaged Organizations: Association of United States Catholic Priests

    The Association of United States Catholic Priests discuss their climate change initiative on their website. The following excerpt list the first five "Green Commandments" from Fr. Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadamof's book on Laudato Si':

    "Earth, our common home, is in peril. Take care of it.

    Listen to the cry of the poor who are the disproportionate victims of the crisis of our common home.

    Rediscover a theological vision of the natural world as good news/gospel.

    Recognize that the abuse of creation is ecological sin.

    Acknowledge the deeper human roots of the crisis of our common home."

  • 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.

  • Engaged Organizations: Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary

    The Center for Earth Ethics maintains a vision of world value that is based on the sustained well-being of humans and the planet. Their mission also includes policy change that supports their vision. Their four core programs that support this vision and mission are: Eco-Ministry, Environmental Justice and Civic Engagement, Original Caretakers, and Sustainability and Global Affairs.

  • Presentation by Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson of the Encyclical Laudato si’ in the ECOSOC Chamber

    Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson gave a presentation about Laudato si' at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber on June 30, 2015. He emphasized that the environment, our common home, can not be considered in isolation, but rather is a product of integral ecology. Midway through the presentation, the question of the meaning of life is broached, asking the audience to ponder how the earth should be left for future generations.

  • Remarks by Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson on the Encyclical Laudato si’ to Child-Focused Agencies

    Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson addressed child-focused agencies at UNICEF House on June 30, 2015. His message is about the relevance of Laudato si' encyclical with regard to children and our common home. He urges individuals to contemplate the negative impact of climate change and how this will impact the future for our children.

  • Statement by Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson at the High Level Event on Climate Change

    Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson provides a statement on climate change at the United Nations High Level Event on Climate Change on June 29, 2015. He emphasizes that the plight of the poor and the fragility of the planet are intimately related. As stewards of the Earth, he therefore greatly urges individuals to make courageous choices in order to reverse the trend of global warming.

  • Climate Change and the Common Good: A Statement of the Problem and the Demand for Transformative Solutions

    The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences prepared the following statement on climate change. It covers a wide range of associated sustainability issues. Various suggestions for societal interventions are also included within the statement.