Presbyterian Church adds Caring for Creation to Constitution

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On June 25, 2017, the amendments added to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church will go into effect. Included in these provisions is the addition of caring for God’s creation as a responsibility for all church members. The amendment received the needed 86 affirmative votes for ratification. To read about the amendment, and others that will be taking place, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Carbon Covenant

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The Carbon Covenant, a program of Interfaith Power & Light, supports faith communities directly addressing the problem of carbon emissions and deforestation. They currently have programs in Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Tanzania that work with small villages in these areas to reduce illegal logging. In Ghana, the program is known as Trees& Eco-Clubs that supports Presbyterian youth programs by teaching them about trees and deforestation. In Tanzania, the program is known as Trees of Kilimanjaro and they are supported by the Lutheran church and work to plant trees near Mt. Kilimanjaro. In Cameroon, the program focuses on establishing interfaith collaboration between Christians and Muslims to plant trees and is knows as Interfaith Collaboration. The last project is known as Monk Patrol in Cambodia and helps Buddhist eco-monks in their daily work to stop illegal deforestation. To learn more about these programs and other work the Carbon Covenant does, click here.

The Poverty of Global Climate Change

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Interfaith Power & Light offers The Poverty of Global Climate Change, a National Council of Churches Eco Justice resource on the impacts of climate change, especially on the poor and vulnerable population. This document states background information on climate change, how humans make it worse with our daily habits, and how to start on the path to making it right. It also offers sermon starters and other resources to help teach the relation between faith and the environment. To read The Poverty of Global Climate Change, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Alliance of Religions and Conservation

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The Alliance of Religions and Conservation works with twelve different faiths worldwide. They believe that religious organizations have an immense influence on social, educational, political, and cultural issues around the world. This influence makes these organizations one of the most powerful in social changes in society. Therefore, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation works with these twelve religious organizations to care for the environment and use their own unique relationships with the natural world to do so. To read more about this organization and their specific programs with the different religious organizations, click here.

Engaged Organizations: United Religions Initiative

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The United Religions Initiative is a coalition with the purpose of promoting interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace and healing for the Earth and all living beings. Their program specific to solving ecological programs is called Cooperation Circles and it focuses on fixing these issues through cooperation instead of violence. Some of their work has included installing solar panels on the roofs of houses of worship, reforestation and native species planting, climate change awareness campaigns, and many more environmentally friendly campaigns. To read more on their work and check out their website, click here.

Just Transition: Shrinking our Carbon Footprint While Leaving No One Behind

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Just Transition: Shrinking our Carbon Footprint While Leaving No One Behind is a webinar offered by the Catholic Climate Covenant. It focuses on how the poor feels the greatest impacts and consequences of climate change, how to address the challenge of switching from a fossil-fuels based economy to a clean energy economy, and what Catholic social teachings have to say about a transition to a clean energy economy. To watch this webinar presented by Dr. Erin Lothes Biviano: Assistant professor of Theology at the College of Saint Elizabeth, New Jersey and Dr. Jessica Wrobleski, Assistant Professor of Theology & Religious Studies at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Cincinnati Climate Change Task Force

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In 2009, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati signed on to the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation. Since then, they have started their own Climate Change Task Force. This task force has adopted the mission of committing themselves to work towards a sustainable world based off of the responsibility to Care for God’s Creation. They work to implement the five pillars of the pledge: praying, learning, assessing, acting, and advocating for the environment and the poor. To read about recent activities the Climate Change Task Force has engaged in, click here for a pdf guide. To learn more from their website and offered resources, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Food, Faith, and Farming

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Food, Faith, and Farming, previously known as Churches’ Center for Land and People, uses an interfaith collaboration approach to integrate earth stewardship, economic justice, community and spirituality around issues related to agriculture and food. They aim to strengthen rural life and the connection between farmers, their land, and their communities. They do so by offering a prayerful and spiritual perspective in rural communities, raising awareness of rural spirituality in our culture, and providing resources for those in church life and beyond. To check out their website, click here. Additionally, they offer a flyer containing resources for faith communities on the spiritual integrity of rural life and farming. To read the flyer, click here.

Sojourners Magazine: Creation Care

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Sojourners is a magazine that covers the intersection of faith, politics, and culture. They focus on social justice, life and peace, and environmental stewardship. Their topic of creation care encompasses stories on the ecological disruptions that affect the poor and vulnerable more than others. They strive to tell the stories of those who are most affected and keep the public updated on policy changes and sustainability advancements. To read these articles and other faith and culture related posts, click here.