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  • “Worldviews” in Simpler Living, Compassionate Life

    Simpler Living, Compassionate Life, is a book from Earth Ministries that consists of both essays and community guides regarding humanity’s relationship to our earthly home. This section, "Worldviews," takes a close looks at what has led humans to treat the earth so poorly. It highlights various ways of viewing and comprehending the world around us, especially in the West. It offers that ideas such as dualism have been toxic to our understanding of the world and our relationship to it.

  • "Theology in Support of Simplicity and Eco-Justice" in Simpler Living, Compassionate Life

    Simpler Living, Compassionate Life, is a book from Earth Ministries that consists of both essays and community guides regarding humanity’s relationship to our earthly home. This section, "Theology in Support of Simplicity and Eco-Justice," captures the Biblical and faith inspired foundation of the movement toward simplicity. It encourages those who are participants in a culture of over-consumption to reconsider their lifestyles and reverse the damage done to the gift that we have received.

  • “Simplicity is Nothing New” in Simpler Living, Compassionate Life

    Simpler Living, Compassionate Life, is a book from Earth Ministries that consists of both essays and community guides regarding humanity’s relationship to our earthly home. This section, "Simplicity is Nothing New," looks back to ways that the Holy Spirit has inspired simplicity in the lives of Christians through the ages. It provides a framework for the 21st century pursuit of simplicity in American and Christian history.

  • "Social Structures and the Politics of Simplicity" in Simpler Living, Compassionate Life

    Simpler Living, Compassionate Life, is a book from Earth Ministries that consists of both essays and community guides regarding humanity’s relationship to our earthly home. This section, "Social Structures and the Politics of Simplicity," looks at systems in society that perpetuate and encourage over-consumption. From theology to capitalism to advertising, authors call out ways in which we have built our world for destruction. It focuses not only on personal choices, but the necessity of engaged politics and policy. For the full version Moriah Reichert's review of this section of the book, visit the link below.

  • Season of Creation Week 1: A Culture of Relationships That Heals our Throwaway Culture

    For each week of the Season of Creation, the World Council of Churches offers a resource for celebrating creation. The first week focuses on the throwaway culture that society has created and urges individuals to instead focus on just and sustainable practices. The document includes a call to prayer, a scripture reading, a hymn, and a responsive reflection.

  • 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."

  • Engaged Organizations: Lake Erie Institute

    Lake Erie Institute (LEI) is an environmental education organization that was formed through world visions of forward thinking environmentalists, activists, ecological leaders and educators. Over the years, they have designed workshops, retreats, and professional training programs that empower participants to become leaders to engage in re-visioning their own lives, other organizations, communities, and the world. Their offerings provide opportunities for individuals to connect more deeply with one's true self, by strengthening their ties to the Earth and relationships with others in order live more whole, healthy, and harmonious lives.

  • Religion and Environment Songs: Connect to Nature (Beatrice Dossah) music video

    From the YouTube video description: "The Song, '' Connect to nature' talks about connecting children to nature using creative medium such as the arts.

    The song is part of a research work by Beatrice Dossah with sponsorship from the United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme in Iceland. The research work was supervised by Dr. Ellen Gunnarsdottir and Dr. Ásthildur Björg Jónsdóttir of the Iceland Academy of Arts."

  • Church Bulletin Insert quotes from Laudato Si' (one year's worth)

    This resource is a Word document containing a year's worth of quotes from Laudato Si' (the Pope's encyclical letter about the environment) for use in a church bulletin. This file was created by the Creation Care Council of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Grove City, OH, and submitted to their church bulletin editor. The result is that each weekly bulletin for the church services contains a quote related to creation care, which keeps the teaching of Laudato Si' current on a weekly basis. By creating a single file with enough quotes for a year, the CCC provided the bulletin editor with easily accessible material, requiring a minimum of follow-up time and energy.

  • Season of Creation Daily Devotion Calendar

    A daily calendar of actions, reflections, meditations and ideas for creation care during the Season of Creation, which runs from Sept. 1 until Oct. 5. This calendar was created by members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Grove City, OH, and can be readily adapted for use by others. The creators suggest editing the activities for Sept. 8 and Oct. 4, which are specific to options in their own community.

  • Creation Care t-shirt designed by the Creation Care Council of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH)

    These t-shirts with a quote from Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' were created for members of the Creation Care Council of OLPH to wear at creation care events sponsored by their church.

  • Resources for Preaching: On Caring for God's Creation

    Resources for Preaching: On Caring for God's Creation offers that one does not need to be an expert in the field to preach about environmental justice. The authors encourage homilists to focus on what they know, what's around them, and what can be learned relatively easily. One example is to draw upon surrounding physical beauty or examine what is being destroyed in the area. This resource provides an outline of pertinent themes that can lead to future discussions, as well as opportunities to incorporate crucial eco-friendly messages into parishioners daily lives.

  • Prayer for Creation

    This Prayer for Creation reminds us to give thanks for the basics of living that nature provides us and to ask for forgiveness for the times that we have taken the Earth's resources for granted. It is also a reminder that the vulnerable often do not even have regular access to clean food and/or water.

  • Engaged Organizations: Springs Dominican motherhouse, Columbus, OH

    The Springs Dominican motherhouse hosts 150 individuals (maintaining 76 beds). Initial green projects included replacing their lights with LED bulbs and replacing seven boilers, which had been there since the 1940s, with just one new one. Recently, Innovative Organic Recycling composting company had been invited to speak with house members, and their composting program took off from there. Jean Sylvester, Motherhouse Administrator, had found it easy to do at her own house and was also aware of Shepherd’s Corner success with it. Both staff and residents adapted quickly and the process is streamlined at this point. Composting is done by the sisters themselves, with administration providing the bags and cans. In addition to composting food, even the bones, all of plates and cups, including coffee cups, can be composted as well.

    For administration, this is a business model that makes practical sense. Management had been quoted at $35 per pick up, so they decided to give it a two-week trial period. Overall, composting has been a "win-win" for them, with its ease of implementation and minimal ongoing efforts. In addition, their dock smells better because the food waste bags are not left open in the dumpster now. There is also less garbage for RUMPKE to take, so the project cost savings of waste management will be reaped over time .

  • Engaged Organizations: Shepherd's Corner, Blacklick, OH

    In 1966, the Dominican Sisters of Peace had purchased 160 acres of land in Blacklick, Ohio, for what eventually evolved into the formation of various farms and ecology centers. Shepherd’s Corner is one part of this larger network. Srs. Rosie Ann Van Buren and Marguerite Chandler maintain their 1.5 acres well and use the area predominantly for educational purposes, with most food (usually 60-65% but more recently 80%) donated to local food pantries.

    The following are some of the current activities and events that take place at Shepherd’s Corner: Sorting donated food from Fresh Market's food waste into compost or food to animals, Shepherd’s Fest, 5K – their main fundraiser, walking trails throughout the property, groups volunteering to garden, St. Charles high school students volunteering one Saturday per month, Meet the Animals, space rentals, school groups walk through the woods, small farm stand every Tuesday (run by Julie Laudick), slide show, calendar designed with a plan of action or set of events for each month. Srs. Rosie and Marguerite also monitor the water for Blacklick Creek, along with other individuals who are affiliated with county soil and water work.

    Shepherd's Corner offers several group activities as well:

    School groups and other youth groups, grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to Shepherd’s Corner for educational programs. Cost per student is based on length of program and supplies needed.

    Adult groups can enjoy the space for tranquility meditation, and prayer. Staff is available to give tours and lead sessions on special topics such as spirituality, universe story, nature and gardening. Fees are based on length of program and services provided.

    They also offer use of our space to groups whose mission is compatible with ours. Please contact Miranda Land at scecologycenter@gmail.com regarding facility rental.

  • Creation Care Tips Winter 2020

    This Creation Care bulletin insert provides a message from Pope Francis on how even small actions on a daily basis can impact the earth and fellow humans in great ways. It focuses on reducing waste by composting, cutting back on purchases, and recycling.

  • Engaged Organizations: Wild Church Network

    The Wild Church Network website describes their focus on spiritually re-connecting to the outdoors:

    "We are a growing network of pastors and spiritual leaders, who have made bold moves to launch new expressions of church outside to re-acquaint, re-cover, and re-member our congregations as loving participants of a larger community. In this age of mass extinctions, we feel burdened by the love of Christ to invite people into direct relationship with some of the most vulnerable victims of our destructive culture: our land, our waters, the creatures with whom we share our homes.

    And, there, people remember that they belong to a larger beloved community. Along the way, we have remembered that our Christian tradition of spiritual transformation has always been rooted in the actual local wilderness."

  • Engaged Organizations: Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio

    Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio discuss their camp facilities, their mission, and their vision on their website:

    "Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio owns and operates 2 camp facilities, Camp Luther and Lutheran, Memorial Camp with support and direction from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

    Mission: Bringing people together to experience Christ through natural settings and programs.

    Vision: Connecting all people to faith and nature for a changing world."

    The 5th graders at St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, OH participate annually in the summer camp program at Lutheran Memorial Camp.

  • The Little Minyan Kehilah/Sukkat Shalom

    The Little Minyan is a Reconstructionist/Jewish Renewal congregation located in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. In this article, Rabbi Jessica K. Shimberg, the congregation’s spiritual leader, discusses the recent name change to Sukkat Shalom. She offers that the congregation has grown to the extent that they chose a new name that does not include the word "little" in it. The congregation is heavily involved in community outreach and provides an outlet for community service and spirituality. It is committed to sharing resources to help the planet.

  • Environmental Statement – Mennonite Church

    Like many other religions, the Mennonite Church has released a statement about the need to take care of our environment. They are encouraging this attitude of caring for our planet among their members by using biblical text. It focuses on helping people choose simpler lifestyles, and seeking justice for the environment.

  • All Creation Gives God Praise: An Earth Day Webinar

    "Every year, Catholic Climate Covenant produces a one-hour educational program. This year [2019] we are focusing on the issue of protecting biodiversity to complement the Earth Day Network's 'Protect Our Species' campaign. In the webinar we explore why the Earth day Network chose the theme of 'Protecting Our Species' and all the wonderful resources and toolkits that they have available for your use. We also delve into the Covenant's Earth Day program and how you can facilitate a program in your parish, school, or religious community."

  • The Case for Animal Spirituality - Part 1: Conceptual Challenges, Methodological Considerations, and the Question of Animal Consciousness

    This article, written by Paul Cunningham, explores the case for nonhuman animal spirituality. Spirituality goes beyond language, reflective consciousness, or conceptual thought. Animal spirituality and participation in religious phenomena are growing areas of research at the intersection of animal studies and religious studies, this article is a small but emerging discussion of this subfield.

  • The Place of Pets in Our Lives: Some Christian and Buddhist Perspectives

    This chapter from the student-written book “Emerging Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Values in America” explores the impact of animals and pets on our environmental values. The author discusses their own experiences with pets as well as religious texts and perspectives as they relate to animals. Below is the first paragraph of the chapter to introduce the discussion.

    "If you ask a person to tell you about their favorite pet they’ve had, no matter how long it has been since it lived, their faces will most likely light up with joy as they tell you a humorous or heartwarming story about 'the best cat' or 'the best dog in the world!' Love and appreciation for our pets seems to be a relatively universal trait that, for many of us, is also interconnected with our religious or moral values and feelings toward nature."

  • Laudate Deum

    "Eight years have passed since I published the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, when I wanted to share with all of you, my brothers and sisters of our suffering planet, my heartfelt concerns about the care of our common home. Yet, with the passage of time, I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point. In addition to this possibility, it is indubitable that the impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.

    This is a global social issue and one intimately related to the dignity of human life. The Bishops of the United States have expressed very well this social meaning of our concern about climate change, which goes beyond a merely ecological approach, because 'our care for one another and our care for the earth are intimately bound together. Climate change is one of the principal challenges facing society and the global community. The effects of climate change are borne by the most vulnerable people, whether at home or around the world'. In a few words, the Bishops assembled for the Synod for Amazonia said the same thing: 'Attacks on nature have consequences for people’s lives'. And to express bluntly that this is no longer a secondary or ideological question, but a drama that harms us all, the African bishops stated that climate change makes manifest 'a tragic and striking example of structural sin'.

    The reflection and information that we can gather from these past eight years allow us to clarify and complete what we were able to state some time ago. For this reason, and because the situation is now even more pressing, I have wished to share these pages with you."