Official Religious Environmental Statements

Environmental Statement – Lutheran Church

Photo Credit: https://www.elca.org/

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted a robust environmental social statement in 1993. Many themes are similar to those voiced by other religions in that it focuses on humanity’s responsibility to the environment and the call to act as the stewards of the earth. The statement notes that problems of environmental degradation have been caused by humanity, and it is up to us to restore nature to its former condition. All people of the earth need to take part, and this statement calls for action by everyone. To read the full statement, follow this link.

To see what the Lutherans Restoring Creation group is doing, click here.

Environmental Statement – Episcopal Church

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Photo Credit: http://eenonline.org/

The Episcopal Church has issued multiple environmental statements over the years. Their foundational statement in the 1990’s was released in parts. The first part discussed environmental policy, and what must be done to preserve creation. The full policy piece can be found here. The second part addressed taking action through the church. It involves advocacy, leadership involvement, and education. This part can be read in full detail here.

All information regarding the Episcopal Ecological Network can be found here.

Environmental Statement – Mennonite Church

Photo Credit: http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/about/viguidelines.htm

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 among their members by using biblical text, helping people choose simpler lifestyles, and seeking justice for the environment. To read the full statement, click here.

For more on the Mennonite Church, check out their homepage.

Environmental Statement – United Methodist Church

The Bishops of the United Methodist Church released a statement entitled: God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action.

Photo Credit: http://www.umc.org/resources/ cross-and-flame

In this statement, the Bishops urged people to look at how they see themselves as a part of creation, and adjust it so they stop harming the environment. People need to stop looking out for only themselves, and take on the roles of being stewards for the planet if there is any hope of redeeming earth from destruction. To read the full letter, click here.

To check out how the United Methodist Church is living out this statement, check out this website.

Environmental Statement – Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church has an environmental statement that is similar to many other churches, citing biblical text and discussing our responsibilities as stewards of the earth.

Photo Credit: http://www.pittsboropres.org/

This document goes into what humanity has done, and why the Presbyterian church is responding to the massive amount of environmental degradation. To read the entire statement, follow this link. For a more interactive and shorter read that sums up their stances, click here. 

On their website, found here, you can check out how the environmental ministries are encouraging congregations to get involved and enact ecological justice. 

Environmental Statement – Church of the Brethren

Our responsibility to the earth and all creatures that inhabit it are written in the Bible. From Genesis to the parables of Jesus, it is explicitly stated that we must be caring stewards of the earth.

Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Church_of_the_Brethren

In order to reverse the damage that humankind has done, the Church of the Brethren is calling its own members as well as all people to action. Not only that, but they are also calling upon the government to be more supportive of environmental policies and clean up.

To read the full statement by the Church of the Brethren, click here.

To learn more about the Church of Brethren, follow this link.

Environmental Statement – American Baptist Churches

According to the American Baptists, this planet was made in creation by God. We were, and still are, entrusted with its care. We must be stewards of our home and not abuse it if we wish to continue on as a species.

Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ American_Baptist_Churches_USA

All of the environmental problems that exists today have stemmed from humanity’s greed. Science and technology are being abused and threaten to make problems worse, even though they have the power to make things better. In order to fix what humans have caused, we are called to recognize and preserve the earth and natural resources we have.

To read the full statement by the American Baptists, follow this link.

To check out more from the American Baptist Church in general, follow click here.

 

Environmental Statement – Evangelical Church

Evangelical Christians are calling for all people to be stewards of the earth. It is our fault that there has been so much damage done to the planet. We were entrusted to look after all of creation, and therefore, must start to take responsibility for our actions.

Photo Credit: http://www.ecglendive.com/

According to the Evangelical Declaration, The Bible tells us what our role is and what it is we must do. This statement by the Evangelical faith concedes that we must develop the earth to an extent, but we have taken it too far. We owe it to the future generations to preserve resources and help stop environmental degradation. To truly live out the Word of God, we must become more sustainable. To read the full declaration, click here.

 

Dalai Lama’s Message to World Leaders

Before COP-21, the Dalai Lama recorded a message for all people to see, addressing the world leaders who were going to meet in Paris. In his message, he urged people to take responsibility for what we have done to the planet and start to live more sustainably. He also noted that Tibet is effected much more drastically by climate change than other regions of the world. Tibet has long been considered the rooftop of the earth, and is much more susceptible to environmental degradation. For more information on this, click here.

To watch the Dalai Lama’s message for yourself, check out the video below.

Video Credit: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/20/dalai-lama-says-strong-action-on-climate-change-is-a-human-responsibility

YouTube Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYBMLsc64HM&feature=youtu.be

Origins Publishes Full Text of Cardinal Turkson’s Ohio State Speech; Highlights Link to COP-21

The Catholic News Service publication “Origins,” which is delivered to Catholic bishops, clergy, and diocesan staff across the country, recently gave front page attention to the full text of Cardinal Peter Turkson’s November 2 address at The Ohio State University (OSU).  This prominent placement has provided a broad, national reading for the speech that Turkson delivered to a live audience of nearly 1,500 at Mershon Auditorium and several hundred other live-stream TurksonOriginsPicJPEGviewers across Ohio.  The remarks published in Origins also include some expanded text beyond what Cardinal Turkson was able to present in his evening program at OSU, which can inform further dialogue and response at OSU and beyond.

In these remarks, Turkson highlights the role of the encyclical, Laudato Si’, in calling attention to the great environmental challenges of our time, sparking individual and political commitment to address climate change and other challenges,  and inspiring an “ecological conversion” towards an “integral ecology” that joins natural, social, and spiritual dimensions to effect positive change.  Within this integral framework, Turkson highlights several issues that receive particular attention in Laudato Si’, including: the relation between the poor and the planet, the interconnection of everything, a critique of the new “technocratic paradigm,” the value of all creatures and the importance of humans to ecology, the need for “forthright and honest debates,” the serious responsibility of international and local policy, the “throwaway culture,” the need for new lifestyles, and an “invitation to search for other ways of understanding economy and progress.”

The full speech closes with a short overview of the six chapters of Laudato Si’ and looks forward to the hope that the encyclical will inspire real dialogue and meaningful political action at the COP-21 negotiations in Paris that began today.

Full text of the speech is found here: Origins Nov 12 2016 OSU Cardinal TurksonPP1-5