Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches USA

August 2003

Orthodox leader blesses green agenda--read all about it in the Christian Science Monitor.

Read about Magnificant Monarchs, the latest Eco-Justice Notes newsletter produced by Eco-Justice Ministries in Colorado. To subscribe to Notes, click here.

Check out the latest Eco-Justice Newsletter produced by the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network in Connecticut.

Presbyterian Church (USA) will host a conference on lifestyle, globalization, and sustainability August 3-7, 2004, at Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA). For more information, contact Rebecca Barnes-Davies.

Disciples of Christ are producing two new resources: Ecology and the Church: Acting More Responsibly and an Elders' resource of communion prayers and table meditations. To learn more, contact Marie Fleming.

This fall the Mennonite Central Committee is planning a conference, "Where People and Earth Meet," in northern Indiana, October 3-5, and a Learning Tour to Appalachia, October 7-12. For info on either of these events, contact Lois Hess Nafziger.

The New Community Project will host two environmentally-related Faith Expeditions: A delegation will travel to Arctic Village, Alaska September 2-12 to visit the Gwich'in people and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in February, a water-related Faith Expedition to the Southwestern US and Mexico will be held. For learn more, contact David Radcliff.

Environmental Prayers from the NCC Conference.

For a list of Water Resouces click here. To suggest additional water resources, contact us.

Resources for responsible living and celebrating

Eco-Justice Working Group

Church of the Brethren

Environmental Justice Office of Presbyterian Church (USA)

Episcopal Ecological Network

Luthern Earthkeeping Network of the Synods

Reformed Church in America

United Church of Christ

United Methodist Board of Church and Society

Eco-Justice Comes to Seattle
More than 300 clergy and religious activists met in Seattle to envision a better world. The gathering, a National Council of Churches USA Eco- All Our Children shipment rolls into Baghdad area. Justice Conference entitled "Enough for All," held at Seattle University June 20-23, helped participants from across the nation explore how to live in a global economy that is driven by free trade and consumerism and at the same time promotes environmental stewardship. "As Christians it is our duty to protect all of God's creation." said keynoter, author, and theologian Sallie McFague. "How we live our lives reflects who we are as Christians."

"People of faith are increasingly concerned about fostering a lifestyle that protects the Earth and its people," said Martha Gardner, conference chair. "We tried to equip participants to take action and speak out in their own communities about the importance, as a person of faith, of living sustainably and creating a more environmentally-friendly, just world."

Four days of inspirational speakers, workshops, and field trips helped participants focus on actions they can take to reverse the current trends of environmental degradation.

Pictured: field trip to Marra Farms.

Eco-Justice Working Group Focuses on Water
Water is a one of God's most precious gifts. Overuse and water quality issues, however, continually threaten this sacred resoure. We hope that you will join the Eco-Justice Working Group in their efforts to protect water. Through Earth Day Sunday resources, educuational materials, sermon starters, and a series of Regional Gatherings held in 2004, congregations and judicatories can learn how to be apart of good water management so that all people can have access to fresh, safe water.

For more information on how you can take action to protect the waters of life or for information on the 2004 Regional Gatherings, contact us.

Episcopal General Convention Goes Green
Let there be light. The Episcopal General Convention, held this August in Minneapolis, MN, was powered by wind energy supplied from the Rosebud Indian Reserviation in South Dakota. Estimates are that the convention's use of renewable energy reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 220 tons.

At the Table. The Episcopal Ecological Network together with several local partners and the Environmental Stewardship Commission of the Diocese of Minnesota hosted a Local and Organic Dinner at he Episcopal Church of Gethsemeane in Minneapolis during the convention. More than 80 people attended the organic, local feast and heard presentations from Rev. Mark MacDonald and Sara James of Arctic Village, AK, who spoke about the Gw'ichin people in Alaska.

Advocacy Alerts and Legislative Updates:

Energy Bill: The U.S. Senate recently passed the Energy Bill adopted during the last Congress. With the House of Representatives passing its own version of the Energy Policy Act of 2003 in April, the Energy Bill will move to conference this fall. Some key differences between the two bills include . . . Get more information.

Climate: Look for the debate on the McCann-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act to happen in September. This Act will set up a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions. For a list of climate resources, click here.

Roadless Bill: America's two largest national forests, the Tongass and the Chugach, cover more than 22 million acres of Alaska that are teeming with sensitive wildlife. Although the landmark roadless rule adopted in early 2001 to protect large undeveloped areas of national forests declared the Tongass and Chugach off limits to logging and road construction, timber industry allies in the Bush administration have proposed reversing the roadless rule (removing one-quarter of the land currently protected), and numerous timber sales are already being planned for the Tongass. The Forest Service accepted public comments through August 14th. For more information, visit the USDA Forestry Service webpage.