|
Recommendations for Churchwide action in future years Sisters and Brothers in Christ, At the 1993 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, the social
statement "Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice"
was approved by more than a two-thirds majority of the delegates. Now,
ten years later, we have gathered for these three days:
The consultation recommends that the Board of the Division for Church
in Society request the Church Council to give serious consideration
to this document and implementation of the tasks with specific timetables
(A-I) proposed in it. Looking Backward We are grateful that, in Caring for Creation, the ELCA has recognized
the seriousness of the environmental crisis and its importance as a
preeminent spiritual and moral issue. We give thanks, also, that this
statement has called the church - its individual members, congregations,
women's organizations, synods, Churchwide offices, and other agencies
- to confess and repent of our participation in environmental degradation,
and to affirm the integrity of the whole creation and pursue justice
in appropriate ways, for every creature. We affirm the statement's:
It is not a perfect document. In particular, it lacks an action plan
or directions for how it is to be implemented. Nonetheless, its existence
gives encouragement and support to those who have been working within
our churches on behalf of the care of the earth. It lends itself well
to conversation and moral deliberation within the church and the wider
community. Its principles of participation, solidarity, sufficiency
and sustainability as ethical norms for environmental justice are foundational
and have been affirmed in other ELCA statements, including "Freed
in Christ," "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All,"
and "For Peace in this World." We are disappointed that too often the statement has been left on the
shelf to gather dust. Large segments of the church are unaware of it.
We urge the members of the ELCA, especially clergy and lay leaders,
seminary professors, synodical and churchwide staff, to read and reflect
on the statement and make it an integral part of their teaching and
ministry. We rejoice in the many efforts at all levels within our church to address
environmental issues. In general, however, our response has been weak
and scattered in comparison to the statement's insistence on the urgency
of the environmental situation. We urge ELCA leaders to recognize that
we cannot afford to let environmental concerns be pushed onto the back
burner. As Bishop Hanson has written, attention to the environment is necessary
both for the integrity of the church's witness, and for the effectiveness
of our service. Protecting the environment and seeking the welfare of
human beings - especially the poor and vulnerable among us - are interdependent
aspects of seeking shalom, the health and wholeness of God's creation.
How can we profess our faith in "the maker of heaven and earth"
while disregarding the world that God has made? Looking Around Ten years after the statement declared that "time is very short,"
the urgency of the environmental crisis continues unabated, and, if
anything, is greater. We must act now if our children and grandchildren
are not to reap a bitter harvest from the seeds we have sown. While
there has been progress in dealing with depletion of the ozone layer,
and air and water pollution, there is increasing alarm over interrelated
problems such as:
New concerns have arisen that were not addressed by the statement,
particularly: the environmental impacts of globalization, genetically
modified organisms and acts of vandalism and violence that have roots
in environmental conflict and natural resource issues. Some scientists
warn that environmental degradation may not be a matter of continuous,
gradual decline: continued pressure on complex ecological systems may
lead to sudden, unexpected, and catastrophic change. The interrelationship of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation
continue to provide an essential lens through which to view our world.
Sustainability, solidarity, participation, and sufficiency must be the
criteria by which we evaluate economic activity and business practices.
As a predominantly white, educated, middle- and upper-class denomination,
the ELCA and its members must make an intentional effort to reach out
to those living in poverty and communities of color, to provide time
and a place for their stories to be heard, and to join in their advocacy
efforts. Caring for creation and loving our neighbors - especially the
vulnerable, the marginalized and the oppressed - are inseparable. Caring
for creation is loving our neighbors. Public attention has been preoccupied with matters of international
terrorism, war, and economic uncertainty. For various reasons, our national
political leadership seems even less inclined to take environmental
concerns seriously than was the case when Caring for Creation was under
development. Many Christians continue to be indifferent, or even hostile,
to environmental concerns. These are financially difficult times for
the ELCA and many other churches and organizations, which makes it difficult
for them to support or expand their environmental and social justice
work. On the other hand, faith communities' engagement with environmental
issues has become more visible, partly as a result of the efforts of
the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, formed the same
year that Caring for Creation was adopted, and in which the ELCA participates
through the Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ. Some companies and corporations have made environmental
sustainability part of their business philosophy. We continue to be
blessed with signs of hope, even though so much more needs to be done. Looking Forward Our church must step forward publicly to model appropriate stewardship
of the earth and engage in strong advocacy efforts around environmental
issues. If we truly believe that environmental issues are as important
and urgent as Caring for Creation says, we must act with resolve and
without delay. The Environmental Education and Advocacy program of the Division for
Church in Society plays a key role in putting into effect the commitments
made in the statement, but it cannot do the whole job alone. The ELCA's
members, congregations, synods, outdoor ministries, colleges, seminaries,
state public policy offices, the Churchwide office and related agencies
of this church are all valuable assets and resources for moving this
work forward. But even with a broad collaborative approach, increased
staffing and funds would be needed by the Environmental Education and
Advocacy program in order to coordinate an effort of this magnitude.
We should not overlook the fact, however, that acting on our commitments
by reducing energy consumption in our churches, offices, institutions
and agencies will save money and free up financial resources for the
work of the ELCA. The following are among the important tasks we believe are critical
for carrying forward the commitments made in "Caring for Creation." A. Give caring for creation the priority, resources, and support needed
to move this work forward.
B. Raise awareness of the statement and extend its usefulness through:
C. Increase visibility of the issues and the work that is being done
in the ELCA through:
D. Encourage all expressions of the ELCA - churchwide offices, synods,
congregations - as well as church-related organizations and agencies
such as outdoor ministries, colleges, and seminaries, to revisit the
"Commitments of this Church" set forth in the statement, and
incorporate those commitments into their programming and long-range
planning.
E. Strengthen mechanisms within the church for implementing the church's
commitments for faithful earthkeeping and its integration into all areas
of the church's life
F. Create programs and events to motivate, educate and engage the church
in creation care
G. Develop, distribute and promote supporting resources
H. Reach out to, engage, and empower groups within and outside of the
church.
I. Recognize that a full embrace of the four norms in our call to justice
(participation, solidarity, sufficiency and sustainability) affirmed
by the "Caring for Creation" social statement significantly
challenges corporations' "way of doing business" and overall
direction; we therefore
We know that, short of the coming of the Reign of God
in all its fullness, we will not "arrive." In caring for creation,
as in all things, we stand at the foot of the cross, totally dependent
upon God's forgiveness. However, as we respond to God's grace in Christ
Jesus and God's gift of creation, we may better reflect the image of God
by caring for the Earth. In spite of the obstacles, we can hope for measurable
progress toward making our church a model for a sustainable society that
respects the integrity of creation and promotes justice, peace and abundance
for all the Earth.
In support of these recommendations we, the participants of the Caring
for Creation consultation, pledge to support the above tasks with our
individual tithes and participation in ELCA activities. In love and service of Jesus Christ, in whom all things hold together, Participants of the Caring for Creation Now. . . for the Healing of the World, Churchwide Consultation |
|