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World Environment Day in Ruvu Mungano Tanzania
From Natalie Georgalas:
"On July 5, I spent the day at a World Environment Day celebration in a camp known as Loresho on the outskirts of the village of Ruvu Mungano in the district of Same in Tanzania. Loresho camp has been established by the Tanzanian government to help relocate people who have been affected by the flooding of the Ruvu River. The guest of honor for the ceremony was the Regional Commissioner who spoke of the relief the government was providing to the people and also how all the people of Same can make a difference on World Environment Day. The focus for the celebration was planting trees, which was done at the end of the ceremony to show a good example.
After the regional commissioner spoke, the regional bishop of the KKKT (in Swahili it is Kanisa la Kinjili la Kiluteri Tanzania) Northern Diocese Lutheran Church spoke about World Environment Day as well. Because the ceremony was given in Swahili, Mr. Gerry Mmbaga, who works for the Kilimanjaro Hope Organization (Kiho), did his best to translate it for me.
The Bishop spoke about the Bible, and how God created the world but he created the man last. As he created the first man, Adam, he ordered him to take care of each and every thing concerning the environment. He also discussed how conserving the world was ordered by God because the environment is life; without the environment there is no life. He emphasized that God created the world first and the man last and ordered the man in the Eden Garden to take care of the environment.
The translation from Swahili to English can sometimes be tough, but the main idea remains. If you would like to read more about Kiho, you can click here. If you are interested in learning more, I will be posting more about the religious organizations in Marwa, a village in the Same district, and how they engage with sustainable community development".
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Columbus Church Earns Green Spot and Energy Star Certification
The First English Lutheran church in Columbus created a Green Team to measure their energy use and carbon footprint. They took those numbers and applied to become a Columbus Green Spot and was soon after awarded the certification. Soon after, they replaced their gas furnace with a highly efficient one and became the first congregation in Ohio to earn the Energy Star Certification. To see the Energy Star certification page for the First English Lutheran Church, see the link below. -
Profile: Dr. Job Ebenezer
Dr. Job S. Ebenezer is the president of a nonprofit organization called Technology for the Poor. He is a retired professor of engineering. He started Technology for the Poor to design, innovate and disseminate simple technologies for less income people. He designed a dual purpose bicycle that can enable an ordinary bicycle to power small scale agricultural implements and other mechanical devices. He served as the director of the department of Hunger Education and Environmental Stewardship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In 1993, he established a roof top garden at the ELCA building using wading pools. He established container gardens in several cites in the US as well as in Africa, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and India. Recently, he is promoting vertical gardening appropriate to slum dwellers and apartment dwellers. He established container gardens at the Ascension Lutheran church, Faith Mission Men’s shelter, Columbus Academy for Humanities, Arts, Technology, and Science and in a soup kitchen in Franklinton. He lives in Westerville and has three children and five grandchildren. -
Speaker: Job Ebenezer
Job S. Ebenezer Ph.D, is the President of Technology for the Poor, which is a non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio. Their mission is to “develop, innovate and disseminate sustainable technologies to the poor all over the world”. He is a retired professor and previously taught engineering at Messiah College and the University of New Mexico. He created a course called ‘Global Sustainability – A Christian Perspective’ as well as taught the course himself at Messiah College in Pennsylvania. He earned his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering.
He designed a dual purpose bicycle that can enable an ordinary bicycle to power small scale agricultural implements and other mechanical devices. He served as the director of the department of Hunger Education and Environmental Stewardship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In 1993, he established a rooftop garden at the ELCA building using wading pools. He established container gardens in several cities in the US as well as in Africa, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and India. Recently, he is promoting vertical gardening appropriate to slum dwellers and apartment dwellers. He established container gardens at the Ascension Lutheran church, Faith Mission Men’s shelter, Columbus Academy for Humanities, Arts, Technology, and Science and in a soup kitchen in Franklinton.
Through Technology for the Poor, he has travelled all across the world to conduct workshops on sustainable technologies for the poor in 4 African, 3 Central AMerican, 2 South American, and 2 Asian countries. He has spoken at numerous conferences, including Ohio Interfaith Power and Light, Master Gardeners Association of Ohio, Ohio State University Extension Services, and 4-H Club of Ohio. He has also given lectures at Ohio State University and Otterbein University.
His involvement in earth keeping activities is based on Genesis 2:15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”
Speaker Topics: global sustainability with a Christian perspective, technologies for the poor, urban agriculture, and environmental degradation and hunger. -
Poverty and Hunger in a Changing Climate
Poverty and Hunger in a Changing Climate is a fact sheet from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It describes the impact of climate change on hunger, food security and agriculture. This downloadable resource contains facts and quotes to help better understand the huge impact our actions have on the world. A quote from this document, “The great paradox of climate change is that those least responsible for the emission of pollutants harmful to the earth will be most severely affected and least able to adapt to changing conditions.” -
Awakening to God’s Call to Earthkeeping
Awakening to God’s Call to Earthkeeping is a four-session small group study from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It’s purpose is to encourage, empower, and equip Lutherans in their calling to care for creation. It contains leadership resources, educational resources, and helpful ways to get people more involved. -
Green Congregation Training Manual
For the faith community who wants to increase their creation care through the greening of their congregation, the task can seem daunting. However, the “Green Congregation Training Manual” provides a thorough resource that can help guide congregations. This resource is just one of the many that can be found on webofcreation.org. -
Profile: David Rhoads
David Rhoads is a pastor, professor, author, and environmentalist. He was on the faculty at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) beginning in 1988 and is now a professor emeritus. He is the author and editor of many books including, The Season of Creation: A Preaching Commentaryand Earth and Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet. He also was instrumental in the creation of “The Web of Creation,” a resource for faith communities looking to improve their environmental advocacy. -
Baltimore, Ohio Community Gardens
A 2017 article written by Robert Badgeley and published by the Lancaster Eagle Gazette shares the success of the Baltimore Community Gardens sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Ohio. Extra produce is donated to the local Baltimore Food Pantry. -
Let All Creation Praise
Let All Creation Praise is a website maintained by Nick Utphall a pastor in Madison, WI; Susan Zencka, a pastor in Stevens Point, WI; Alydia Smith, programing coordinator for the United Church of Canada; Leah Schade, a professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary (KY), and David Rhoads, director of Lutherans restoring Creation. The website has many resources for worship, and they are an advocate for supporting the Season of Creation which is an opportunity to add this season of four Sundays celebrating creation and the creator to the traditional church year. -
Madison Christian Community
Madison Christian Community is the community created by Community of Hope, UCC and Advent Lutheran Church, ELCA. They have made environmental care and action a major cornerstone of their mission. Their church website is a wonderful resource for many congregations who are looking for success stories for implementing creation care into one’s own community. -
Caring for Creation: Corner of Creation (Madison Christian Community)
Madison Christian Community offers a number of helpful resources for faith communities. One of the items is a “study-action” program that can support communities in reclaiming their sense of place. It is called “Caring for Creation: Corner of Creation.” -
Engaged Organizations: Web of Creation
The Web of Creation website discuss their organization aim and services that they provide:
"The Web of Creation was established to foster the movement for personal and social transformation to a just and sustainable world from religious perspectives. To that end, the information at this site will:
-Connect you with ideas, resources and strategies for doing eco-justice
-Inform, inspire, encourage, educate you about eco-justice
-Support you in your efforts to live, work and pray in ways that promote eco-justice
The Web of Creation has also been developed to provide information and connections for theology students interested in environmental ministry." -
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. -
Engaged Organizations: Lutherans Restoring Creation
Lutherans Restoring Creation is resource for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. They are a grassroot movement of Lutherans that believe being earthkeepers is a foundation of the Christian vocation. Their goal is to incorporate care for creation into the organizational patterns, worship life, educational programs, and lifestyle of members at home and work. Their website includes programs, events, resources, and ways to get involved. It also includes their ideas on an Eco-Reformation that they believe is necessary to help the church encompass care for all of God’s good creation. -
Bowling Green Church Installs Solar Panels
Peace Lutheran Church in Bowling Green has installed solar panels on the south side of the building that are expected to save up to 25% of their utility bill. The solar panels are one of three projects that are a part of the churches mission of Creating Christ Connected Community. The other two projects include helping a Syrian Refugee family and building a new playground. -
Profile: Rev. Deborah Conklin
The Rev. Deborah Conklin is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Bowling Green Ohio and is the Executive Director of a transitional housing program for homeless women recovery from chemical dependency. Her advocacy work began in 1988 working for the Toledo Metropolitan Mission where she led an Employment Readiness and Placement project for African American young men, the highest unemployed population in most communities. -
Profile: Jared Howard
Jared Howard is a 3rd year Master of Divinity student at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Pastoral Intern at Peace Lutheran Church in Gahanna, Ohio. At Trinity, Jared is actively involved in the Eco Justice and Spirituality group, SEEDS (Sustaining Earth and Environment Daily and Sustainably), serving as a Student Intern -
Profile: Sara Ward
Sara Ward, Executive Director of Ohio Interfaith Power & Light since August of 2011, is one of its original steering committee members and previously served as the Advocacy Chair of the Board. She is a recipient of the 2013 Living Faith Award and is a Green Faith Fellow, a comprehensive education and training program to prepare lay and ordained leaders from diverse religious traditions for environmental leadership. -
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Downloadable Resource
The Evangelic Lutheran Church in America offers downloadable resources to help encourage others to care for creation. The resources include Hunger & Climate Change, Awakening to God’s Call to Earthkeeping, Poverty and Hunger in a Changing Climate, and more. -
Environmental Statement: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice is a social statement that explains the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) teachings on ecology and the environment, grounded in a biblical vision of Gods intention for the healing and wholeness of creation. This statement provides a Christian understanding of the human role to serve in creation. The ELCA believes in caring for creation through active participation, solidarity, sufficiency, and sustainability. -
Engaged Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America World Hunger
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America World Hunger is an initiative with domestic and international Lutheran churches to reach communities in need. They recognize the universal human right to food and work to provide immediate relief to those who are hungry. They strive to not only give food, but to connect people with the resources they need to produce food and gain access to clean water, education, health-care and sources of income. -
Walk for Water
In 2015, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Word Hunger held Walk for Water which was a youth-led fundraiser challenge to raise 500,000 dollars for water projects around the world. They exceeded their goal and raised one million dollars to support water related projects. Their website offers facts and tool kits to help others start their own walk for water. -
Engaged Organization: Lutheran Disaster Response
Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing, and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. They strive to provide emotional and spiritual support, coordinate volunteers through their local affiliates, assist refugees in a holistic way, and provide long-term recovery efforts. They are currently assisting with the drought in Africa, flooding in West Virginia, refugee crisis in the Middle East, and more. -
Engaged Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Malaria Crisis
Over the past five years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has worked to save lives impacted by malaria. They have educated 2 million community members, distributed 50,000 insecticide-treated bed nets, tested 160,000 people for malaria and provided treatment if positive, trained 10,000 local volunteers in prevention and treatment, empowered 12,000 households to be economically stable, and provided 32,000 pregnant women medication.