|
April 2008 Edition
Healing our Planet
April 11-12, Bellevue, WA
This one-day national Episcopal environmental conference (open to everyone) will feature Bishop Jefferts Schori and Sallie McFague. Click here for more information and to register.
Chesapeake Congregations
April 12, Upper Marlborough, MD
Spend a day learning about the ecology of the wetlands and become part of a fellowship of congregations committed to protecting the Chesepeake Bay. Contact Bill Dinges for more information and to register, $15, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Cool Creation Reception
April 22, Bend, OR
Join Oregan Interfaith Power and Light and meet others who share your passion for caring for creation. Learn about opportunities to make a difference and what congregations are doing. Its free and lasts from 5:30-7:30pm. Contact ksharinghousen@emoregon.org for more information and to RSVP.
Faith, Spirituality & the Environment May 29-31, Salisbury, NC
This interfaith conference will explore the connection between faith and the environment. Speakers include Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Gary Gardner, Rev. Canon Sally Bingham and Rabbi Fred Scherliner Dobb. Click here for more information and to register.
Susataining the Earth
June 3-5th, Univeristy of Illinois
This workshop on Christianity and stewardship of the earth provides training and resources to church leaders in order to foster a sense of environmental responsibility and to inspire action. For more information and to register, click here.
Climate Justice Training
June 5, Portland, OR
In this training, meant for both clergy and laity, you will learn about the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) and how people of faith can get involved. The training is from 7:30am to 9:30am and a $5 donation is suggested. Call 503-221-1054(ext. 214) to register.
The Power to Change
June 23-29, Abiquiu, NM
This conference will focus on a theological and ethical treatment of energy and energy policy, with a view to a sustainable way of life. Features Larry Rasmussen, Melanie Harris, and James Martin-Schramm. Click here for more.
Climate and Church
This new NCC Eco-Justice report outlines how core church ministries, such as feeding the hungry, disaster relief, and refugee resettlement, will be drastically burdened by the impacts of climate change. Click here for a free download (you will be directed to a sign up page first)
Eco-Justice
Working Group
Church
of the Brethren
Environmental
Justice Office of Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian
Washington Office
Episcopal
Ecological Network
Greek
Orthodox Church in America
Luthern
Earthkeeping Network of the Synods
Reformed
Church in America
United
Church of Christ
United
Methodist Board of Church and Society
|
Celebrate Earth Day Sunday
Download new worship resource!
 The National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs is marking Earth Day Sunday (the Sunday closest to Earth Day) by recognizing the interconnectedness of poverty and climate change and offering an Earth Day Sunday resource for worship, adult study, and youth activities. The resource is FREE. To obtain a hard copy email the Eco-Justice Programs office at info@nccecojustice.org or you can download a .pdf copy by clicking here: Download
Is your church or community holding an Earth Day celebration? Click here to tell us about it!
Eco-Fellowships for Young Adults
Presbyterian Conservation Corp & Green Faith
 Both the Presbyterian Conservation Corp (PCC) and GreenFaith are hosting fellowship programs this spring to connect young adults in the field and to offer training. The PCC will offer Western  trainings in May and Eastern trainings in June. Click here to find out more and to apply. GreenFaith's fellowship applications are due August 1 and starts in September. Click here for more information.
Wilderness Update
NLCS Take Another Step Towards Permanence
 On March 12th, bill HR 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Permanence bill, was successfully passed through the Natural Resources Committee of the House of Representatives, another step in the protection of over 26 million acres of public lands out west. Members of the Eco-Justice Network in affected states teamed up to send almost 700 emails to their representatives in support of the bill. Thanks so much for your work protecting God’s Creation. For more information on the NLCS, click here, and for resources connecting our faith journey with the wilderness, click here.
EAD 2008 Focuses on Climate Change
Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2008
On March 7-10, close to 1,000 people of faith gathered outside of DC in Alexandria, VA for Ecumenical Advocacy Days. 100 participants signed up for the Eco-Justice track to focus on global  climate change and urge Congress to take meaningful action on global warming. Highlights of the weekend include the Eco-Theology workshop led by Dr. Catherine Keller of Drew Theological School and a workshop on climate change and Asia Pacific islands. Meena Raman from Friends of the Earth International and Makoni Pulu, the Pacific Conference of Churches Youth Coordinator (pictured above) showed how climate change is disrupting the lives of people in the Pacific and what people, including the church, is doing to make a difference. Add the dates for next year's Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference on your calendar (March 13-16, 2009) and check www.advocacydays.org for updates.
NCC Eco-Justice Expands Online
Eco-Justice Blog, Facebook, Youtube...
When Jesus gave his Great Commission to spread the Gospel to all the world, was he including the World Wide Web as well? The Eco-Justice Program has recently launched new efforts to reach internet  users by creating a new blog, a Facebook group, and a Youtube account. The Eco-Justice blog gives weekly updates about NCC participation in ecological issues, upcoming events, new resources and congregations around the country that are taking action to protect Creation. The Youtube account features videos made by partner organizations, clips of NCC events, and videos from congregations that were submitted. And, if you are on Facebook, join  the NCC Eco-Justice Facebook cause page. You will be virtually connected to others around the counrty who feel called to protect God's creation.
Green Church Search
Share your congregation's story
 The National Council of Churches wants to hear your “Great Green Congregation” story! Tell us what your church is doing for the earth, and the NCC will share your story to inspire others. We’ll also select one congregation to receive a $500 grant to support its environmental work. Click here to submit your story and read the submission guidelines.
What happend to the Easter Bunny?
 If people aren't careful and thoughtful, he's going to be dead before Christmas. Every year, hundreds of thousands of rabbits are given as Easter gifts. Rabbit rescue organizations calculate that fewer than 10% of these Easter bunnies survive their first year - and this doesn't include the unsold ones killed by breeders, or take into account that animal misery caused by well-meaning ignorant new rabbit owners. Read more about this problem, and how to make a difference here.
Podcast: Living a Life of Justice
Climate field coordinator is interviewed
 Rev. Fritz Gutwein, the field coordinator of the climate and energy policy for the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Program, recently sat down with The Phoenix Journal for a lively discussion on eco-justice and the NCC's faith principles on global warming. Click here to listen to what Fritz has to say about his work and the work of the NCC.
|
