Sustain Lex - Sustainable Communities Network

	Sustainable Communities Network is a commnity-based non-profit organization located in Lexington, Ky that endeavors to educate, inspire, build, create and empower sustainable cities 2010 Fundraising Letter We welcome any amount of contributions to our on-going programs Thanks for your donation! We encourage you to read our SCN Annual Report 2009 Back 2 Nature project Report Sustainable Communities Network contributed articles, photographs and quotes for this book. Join the Bluegrass garden network! SCN For current Community Gardening events in Lexington, click any of the images below	Resource Collection Holdings Books, videos, and curricula available through Earth Ministry's Resources Library. 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth Author: The Earth Works Group. Most of the 50 Things covered here are unbelievably easy. They are the kind of things you would do anyway to save money -- if you knew how much you could save. Now you do; the Earthworks Group has done your legwork for you. At the very least, this book shows you how to use energy more intelligently. Don't shiver in the dark; just make sure you're getting as much comfort and convenience as possible from every dollar you spend on electricity, natural gas, and gasoline. 50 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Authors: Aeschliman, Gordon and Tony Campolo. A gift to us from God, our planet is rich in beauty and resources. But today it is also in danger from neglect and exploitation, and its only hope for recovery lies with us. This Christian perspective on environmental issues presents small- to large-scale suggestions for action and lists sources of more information, including addresses. 101 Ways to Help Save the Earth with Fifty-two Weeks of Congregational Activities to Save the Earth Produced by the Eco-Justice Working Group of the NCCC, care of the United Methodist Church's (UMC) General Board of Church and Society. This guide examines the many ways that our current lifestyle contributes to the global environmental crisis. The first part of this guide explains the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, and acid rain. The Citizen's Guide then lists 101 simple steps which each of us can take to help avert these potential disasters. A Place in Creation: Ecological Visions in Science, Religion, and Economics Author: Hallman, David G. Is there hope for the future of the Earth? David Hallman answers with a resounding yes. Hallman explores exciting new concepts in the field of science, religious, and economics -- concepts that have the power to transform our understanding of our relationship to the rest of Creation. He reveals how intrinsically connected humans are to the whole ecosystem; how God wills a harmonious relationship between ourselves and the rest of Creation; and how our economy could be restructured to function in a less destructive relationship with the environment. Finally, he assesses political realities that could constrain or facilitate movement towards a more sustainable type of society. Advent and Ecology: Resources for Worship, Reflection and Action Author: Palmer, Martin and Anne Nash, Editors. Affluenza: The Cost of High Living An excellent video - lively, engaging, and humorous, it highlights environmental, social, community, and spiritual costs of consumption. After Earth Day: Continuing the Conservation Effort Editor: Oelschlaeger, Max. This collection of 16 often-stimulating essays on the polities, science and philosophy of conservation grew out of a 1991 conference held at the University of North Texas. Oelsehlaeger (The Idea of Wilderness) ends the book by suggesting that, in our current culture, religion is fundamental to solving ecological crises. After the Warming; Episode One James Burke explores various warming scenarios for the year 2050 using the "virtual reality computer model." He shows how life on earth has always been altered by changing weather patterns. Amish, The; A People of Preservation Authentic vignettes of Amish origins, farm life, childhood, school, worship, recreation, courtship, barn raising, horse transportation, and the impact of tourism. An Unnatural Order: Uncovering the Roots of Our Domination of Nature Author: Mason, Jim. Mason here writes an eloquent, important plea for a total rethinking of our relationship to the animal world. He analyzes the West's "dominionist" worldview which exalts humans as overlords and owners of other life, an outlook that he believes is rooted in millennia of animal husbandry. And God Saw That It Was Good Author: Carretto, Carlo. An exploration of what it means to affirm the goodness of creation in the light of evils of history and the suffering of the innocent. In his characteristic style - at once poetic, joyful and profoundly moving - his words become a conversation between God and all of humankind. And I, Francis: The Life of Francis of Assisi in Word and Image Author: Dunlap, Lauren Glen and illus. by Kathleen Fruge-Brown. Through both paintings and words, writer Dunlop and illustrator Fruge-Brown allow Francis to "share" his own stories through his eyes and narration. Animal Rights; Lecture and Discussion by Andrew Linsey Dr. Andrew Linsey, British animal rights activist, discusses attitudes toward animals from a Christian perspective. Lecture at St. Mark's Ecology-Spirituality group. Assisi Declarations: Messages on Man and Nature from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam & Judaism Author: Rinpoche, Lungrig Namgyal. Baby Animals Just Want to Have Fun Features five funfilled adventure tales of baby animals with live photography. Stories and Songs. Baptized into Wilderness: A Christian Perspective on John Muir Author: Austin, Richard Cartwright. Austin, a Presbyterian minister and organic farmer, has a special vocation in environmental theology. This engaging portrait of America's first environmental activist uncovers spiritual roots of modern ecological consciousness. Beauty of the Lord: Awakening the Senses Author: Austin, Richard Cartwright. Austin, a Presbyterian minister and organic farmer, has a special vocation in environmental theology. “Written with great care and sensitivity, this series gives us the direction we need to fulfill our Christian responsibility for ‘the care of the earth’” (-Robert McAfee Brown). Befriending the Earth A series of thirteen videos that explore environmental theology. Befriending the Earth: A Theology of Reconciliation Between Humans and the Earth Author: Berry, Thomas and Thomas Clarke. Thomas Berry and Thomas Clarke discuss the tole of religion in the ecological movement today. They agree that religion, to now, has completely failed to address the despoliation of the earth, which they believe to be the greatest crisis in the history of the planet. Yet they offer hope and viable ways for ecology that will move us forward in our quest to heal the world. "Befriending the Earth" provides a rich feast of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional thought for individuals hungering to discern how we can both nourish the earth and be recipients of its bountiful goodness. Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education Author: Sobel, David. Beyond Ecophobia speaks to teachers, parents, and others interested in nurturing in children the ability to understand and care for nature. This expanded version of one of Orion Magazine's most popular articles includes descriptions of developmentally appropriate environmental education activities and a list of related children's books. Biblical Foundations of Christian Environmental Concern Presentations by Dr. Calvin DeWitt: "Biblical Foundations of Christian Environmental Concern" as part of the Frontiers of Environmental Theology Lecture Series. Biology: Through the Eyes of Faith Author: Wright, Richard T. The author brings a biblical perspective to theories on origins, contrasting creationism, intelligent design, and evolution. Highlighting the unique nature of biology and its interaction with Christian thought, Wright demonstrates that Christian stewardship can be the key to a sustainable future. Break Forth Into Joy! Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle This video helps us take a critical look at our lifestyle choices and the shape our lives have taken. It helps us realize how our obsession with buying and owning effects the earth, other people, and the human spirit. By sharing feelings, thoughts and practical ideas from a variety of people who struggle with life in a consumer society, this video calls us toward a lifestyle that is more fulfilling and joyful. Breakthrough: Meister Eckhart's Creation Spirituality in New Translation Author: Meister Eckhart, Matthew Fox. Fox brilliantly interprets Eckhart's themes and creates a spiritual path for the nineties. Brother Sun, Sister Moon St. Francis of Assisi seeks communion with the natural world by renouncing his family riches to seek his own destiny unencumbered by material possessions. Buddhism and Ecology Author: Batchelor, Martine and Kerry Brown, editors. Buddhism exists in many different forms in many different countries. In this book Buddhists from Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tibet and the West offer their approaches to ecology and tell of practical activities as well as Buddhist teachings and philosophy. Stories, pictures and poems add to the picture of Buddhism and ecology and the book finishes with a message from the Dalai Lama. Care of the Earth: An Environmental Resource Manual for Church Leader Author: Tina B. Krause, editor. A collection of essays arranged by topic. Part I: And God saw that it was good: Exploring Green Theology. Part II: What then shall we do? Developing Awareness, Assessment and Advocacy for Environmental Action through the Congregation Caring for Creation in Your Own Backyard: Over 100 Things Christian Author: Wilkinson, Loren and Mary Ruth Wilkinson. In this wonderfully creative and practical book, they offer more than a hundred simple things you and your family can do to make God's earth a better place in which to live. But more than this, they show you how to celebrate God's creation through the seasons of the year. Caring for Creation: Toward an Ethic of Responsibility Author: Rowthorn, Anne W. In "Caring for Creation", Rowthorn decries the state of our planet and reproaches us as Christians for our "lack of appreciation for the connectedness of all life." Nothing in God's world is secular, she asserts; everything created is holy and to be revered. Christians, says Rowthorn, have for too long failed to realize this, and have acted as if the holy and sacred are to be found only in places of worship or within cloistered walls. The Church's most urgent need in today's world, argues Rowthorn, is to embrace a theology of creation that will ignite in all Christians a fervent love and sense of responsibility for all God's creation. Caring for God's Creation: A Collection of Environmentally Focused Resource Materials and Sermons Author: Moore-Kochlacs, Peter G. Celebrating the Earth: An Earth-Centered Theology of Worship With Blessings, Prayers, and Rituals Author: McCarthy, Scott. Celebration of St. Francis, 1995: "An Evening of Nature, Spirituality & the Creative Voice" The video features Betsey Beckman in an interpretive dance based on "The Creation," by James Weldon Johnson; Brenda Peterson, Northwest nature writer with a particular interest in animals and spirituality; Bill Dietrich, Seattle Times science reporter, author of The Final Forest and Northwest Passage, the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill; Mara Grey & Peter Berry in a Celtic harp performance. Celebration of St. Francis, 1996: "An Evening of Nature, Spirituality & the Creative Voice" This video features Richard Nelson, award-winning author, naturalist, and anthropologist; Pattiann Rogers, poet and winner of a Pushcard Prize and the Hokin Prize for Poetry; Betsey Beckman, one of the finest liturgical dancers in the country; Dana Lyons, a dynamic singer, story teller and humorist. Cherish the Gift: A Congregational Guide to Earth Stewardship Author: Causey, Cindy Ubben. Pastors and lay leaders will find practical ideas and timely information in this hands-on guide to environmental stewardship for the church. A sound biblical argument calls congregations to action, followed by facts and figures that detail the current environmental woes that plague the earth. subsequent chapters focus on specific activities and programs that congregational departments can organize - from fellowship dinners, worship services, and youth groups, to the church office, educational programs, and property maintenance. Choices for the Future, 1992; Living the Sacred Circle: Healing Time The video features the Reverend Carla Berkedal, speaking on the environmental crisis and spirituality; Chung Liang, Al Huong, Peter Kater, piano; Mark Miller, saxophone; Dennis Weaver, actor and environmental activist. Christian Frugality Rediscovered, with Dr. James Nash Dr. Nash, one of the church's foremost environmental ethicists states that it is only in the last fifty years that we have separated our faith from the virtue of frugality. Earth Ministry's 1995 Fall Gathering, October 26, 1995. Christian Nature Spirituality: What It is and Why We Need it. Dr. Sallie McFague, Carpenter Professor of Theology at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, teaches and writes in the areas of feminist and ecological theology. Dr. McFague is a nationally-recognized leader in making connections between Christian faith/theology and care for all creation. Christianity and Ecology Author: Breuilly, Elizabeth and Martin Palmer, editors. Christians from very diverse backgrounds -- from Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, the Benedictine and Franciscan traditions and the World Council of Churches -- have contributed their different experiences of Christianity and ecology to this book. They look at the background to the present problems of our planet, and at biblical and Christian teaching and practice, and how these have contributed to the problem or helped in the struggle to find answers. Questions for discussion and materials for worship and meditation are included. Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans Author: Hessel, Dieter T., and Rosemary Radford Ruether (eds). This valuable compendium of over twenty-five papers, presented at an historic Harvard conference on Christianity and ecology, represents a broad range of current Christian scholarship on ecological crises. The papers cover ethics, theology, sustainable development, and spirituality. The book is an excellent introduction with an extensive bibliography and index. Circle of the Spirit; a Saga of Native Americans in the Catholic Church A saga of the Coeur d'Alene tribe of Idaho and the Lummi tribe of Washington and their relationships to the Catholic Church. Coast Redwood - Uncut Stories Personal stories woven with spectacular footage reveal the spirit of the old growth forests from southern Oregon to Big Sur. Creating Sustainable Communities: Nurturing the Spirit in the Places We Live Alan AtKisson, nationally recognized consultant, writer, and authority on matters of sustainable development: co-founder of Sustainable Seattle; former executive editor of In Context: A Quarterly of Humane Sustainable Culture. Sheila Kelly, co-chair of the Sustainable Communities Working Group for the President's Council on Sustainable Development: Trustee of Sustainable Seattle; member of design team for the Whidbey Institute. Creation and the History of Science Author: Kaiser, Christopher. Examines the relationship between the theology of creation and the history of science. Creation in Crisis: Responding to God's Covenant Author: Bhagat, Shantilal P. The author provides important background and discussion for a wide variety of issues, from the greenhouse effect to deforestation, water and waste, soil erosion and overpopulation, as well as the biosphere, biblical views of nature, creation and covenant, and lifestyle issues. Helpful appendixes list additional resources. Creation Spirituality Dr. Alexandra Kovats speaks on Creation Spirituality. Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth Author: Fox, Matthew. Passionate and provocative, Fox uncovers the ancient tradition of a creation-centered spirituality that melds Christian mysticism with the contemporary struggle for social justice, feminism, and environmentalism. Creations Caretakers A look at the loss of family farms in favor of larger corporate holdings dependent on chemicals, etc. It looks at both the human effect and the effect on the land. Creatures of the Sea An informational video that describes various sea creatures. Cry in the Woods, A A presentation of Siskiyou County Board of Education and Board of Supervisors, which looks at the stress produced in families of timber workers because of restrictions on logging in the Pacific Northwest due to the spotted owl. Deep Ecology and Creation-Centered Spirituality Author: Seigfriedt, Sarajane. A 12-week discussion guide for adults. This curriculum responds to a paper, "Cosmic Evolution: Implications for Religious Education" presented by Rev. Makanah Elizabth Morriss at the 1985 Meadville-Lombard Midwinter Institute. She set some goals for Unitarian Universalists involved in religious education, which were adopted for this curriculum. This curriculum is intended for use in UU churches and fellowships, by lay-led adult groups. Defending Mother Earth: Native American Perspectives on Environmental Justice Author: Weaver, Jace (ed.). Defending Mother Earth brings together important Native voices to address urgent issues of environmental devastation as they affect the indigenous peoples throughout the Americas. The essays document a range of ecological disasters, including the devastating effects of mining, water pollution, nuclear power facilities, and toxic waste dumps. Diet for a New America and Your Health, Your Planet Hosted by John Robbins, who discusses his theories on environmental and personal health consequences of a diet based on animal products. Discovering Celtic Christianity This video features Carla Berkedal: "Celtic Christian Spirituality and Worship: Its Usefulness for Our Time"; Elizabeth Davis: "Celtic Christianity: Overview of Historical Roots"; Tom Cashman: "Celtic Christian Values: How These Address Care for the Earth, and the Modern Church"; Wendy Walsh, "Modern Celtic Mysticism and Environmental Activism" Earth & Spirit: The Spiritual Dimension of the Environmental Crisis Author: Hull, Fritz (ed.). This anthology brings together addresses, invocations, and poems that explore the causal relationship between our relentless destruction of the natural environment and the limitations and inadequacies of our religious beliefs and spiritual values. Earth as the Body of God Dr. Sallie McFague, theologian from Vanderbilt University, discusses God's presence in creation. Earth Child: Games, Stories, Activities, Experiments and Ideas About Living Lightly on Planet Earth Author: Sheehan, Kathryn, and Mary Waidner. The book focuses on celebrating events in nature (i.e. solstices, change of season) that easily coincide with some events in faith communities. Its plays, recipes, craft projects, wealth of resources, and much more engage children in appreciating their relationships with the rest of creation. Earth Community Earth Ethics Author: Rasmussen, Larry. This award-winning book provides a comprehensive approach to issues of social cohesion and ecological concern, synthesizing insights from Christian theology and ethics, and environmental science in a single vision for creating a sustainable Earth community. Earth From Space: Ambiguous Icon Dr. Larry Resmussen's perspective is that the view of earth from space is changing our collective consciousness. Part of this change affects our sense of citizenship and responsibility, leading some to use the language of planetary or global "management." But are these changes for the better? This lecture presents an assessment of this management concept and offers an alternative. Earthkeepers: Environmental Perspectives on Hunger, Poverty, and Injustice Author: Art and Jocele Meyer. Should the church be involved in questions of ecology? Is there a biblical theology on which to base Christian care for the earth? How does it relate to daily living? The authors examine root causes of environmental degradation and analyze major concerns: squandering natural resources, world hunger and poverty, ozone depletion, pollution, toxic wastes...What can we do about them? Earthkeeping in the Nineties: Stewardship of Creation Author: Wilkinson, Loren (ed.). This greatly revised and augmented edition of "Earthkeeping" updates the original edition while retaining the same breadth of perspective, reflecting the combined insights of Christian scholars in biology, physics, economics, literature, and philosophy. The book begins by laying out, with scientific precision, the state of the planet. Several chapters then carefully examine various historical and contemporary views of creation. Next the authors survey biblical and theological teaching relative to humanity's use of creation. The book concludes by offering hopeful, practical guidelines for an earthkeeping ethic. Earthkeeping Ministries: A New Vision for Congregations Author: Greenstone, Suse. EarthScore: Your Personal Environmental Audit & Guide Author: Lotter, Donald W. While intended for personal and household use, this resource can also serve as a helpful guide for congregations that want to quantitatively evaluate their ecological “footprint” and take steps towards greater sustainability and social equity. Earthsongs: Praying with Nature Author: Simsic, Wayne. We need prayers - prayers that will heal the open wounds caused by our misuse of the natural world and help us to rebuild a healthy relationship with the earth. Nature prayers can best be expressed with a childlike heart - a heart that is drawn to mystery and willing to respond with reverence. The need for nature prayers inspired this book, but that is not its only focus. The book also addresses the longing each of us has to encounter nature from the depths of our life. Eating Our Way to Oblivion: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Agriculture Modern agriculture, addicted to oil and to poisons, strips the landscape of farmers, wildlife, biotic integrity, community, moral value, and spiritual vitality; all in an unsustainable effort to feed restless urban populations. To sustain the world we must rebuild rural communities, dense with complex systems of life - human and natural - and rich with culture, ethics, and spiritual significance. Urban communities and choices play an indispensable role in this rebuilding effort. Eco-Church: An Action Manual Author: Fritsch, Albert and Angela Ladavaia-Cox. This resource contains helpful audits, suggestions, and resources for individuals and congregations. Ecology and Liberation, A New Paradigm Author: Boff, Leonardo. Critiques common approaches to ecology, conservation and environmentalism among them. He states that these middle class approaches fail to scrutinize the systemic causes of ecological despoliation and their impact on the poor in the world. Ecology and Religion: Toward a New Christian Theology of Nature Author: Carmody, John. Economics for Community: The Role of the Church "Economics for Community: The Role of the Church." The workshop considers the kinds of communities the economy should serve and how it can serve them. Although the Church is not one of these communities, it is uniquely related to them. Economism, Earthism, and the Christian Faith Since World War II economic growth has replaced national power and well-being as the primary goal of society. The result of this "economism" is the exclusion of the poor and the rape of the earth. The strongest and most hopeful reaction has been a new devotion to the earth. Christians need to appraise "economism" and "earthism" and find their own contribution. EcoSpirituality Dr. Alexandra Kovats, of Seattle University, explores EcoSpirituality with prayer,music, and movement. Ecotheology: Voices from South and North Author: Hallman, David G. (editor). The ground-breaking essays by more than two dozen contributors in this book are divided into five sections: biblical witness, theological challenges, insights from ecofeminism, insights from indigenous people, and ethical implications. Ecotherapy: Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth Author: Howard Clinebell. This trailblazing book sheds light on humankind's most serious health challenge ever--how to save our precious planet--describes the strategic opportunities available to help the endangered human species cope constructively, and demonstrates the importance of hope, humor, and love in the process. Embracing Earth: Catholic Approaches to Ecology Author: Albert J. LaChance and John E. Carroll, Editors. Brings together original and seminal contributions by contemporary Catholic spiritual and mystical writers who explore the Christian view of nature and our place in it. Their writings address not only theological, philosophical, and spiritual parameters but specific, concrete issues as well. Environmental Education - Why Bother? This tape provides a general introduction to issues in environmental education and can be used as a discussion starter. Environmental Education in Primary Schools This film has been designed to show how we environmental education in primary schools can be expanded to develop concepts, skills and attitudes. This film portrays several classroom approaches as well as a whole school approach. Environmental Education in Secondary Schools Environmental Education has now been identified as one of five cross-curricular themes that schools have a responsibility to provide for all pupils. The film is designed to give practical help on how to plan and execute inter-departmental Environmental Education. It highlights the environment as a stimulating resource for secondary schools. Environmental Ethics in Action Dr. Robert Stivers, professor of Ethics at Pacific Lutheran University addresses the question of how religious people are to minister to the earth. The process of discerning how to do this begins in personal faith and its empowering spirituality. Enabled to act with integrity, Christians seek guidelines in the traditions of the Church and their own experience of the Holy Spirit. Environmental Stewardship Resource Manual Author: Environmental Stewardship Committee. This manual can be used by lay Christians, priests, youth groups, deacons, bishops -- in short, by anybody--as an introduction to Christian environmental stewardship and as a source of materials for a wide range of activities. The manual's contents can be used for reflection, worship preparation, Christian education, and as a source of ideas for actions that you can take in your home, workplace, church, and community. Exploring Voluntary Simplicity: Three Perspectives Three presentations on voluntary simplicity. Extinction of Experience, with Bob Pyle VEM 045-1: Bob Pyle speaks at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, on October 18, 1991, sponsored by Cathedral Associates and the Ecology-Spirituality Group. VEM 045-2: Reverend Carla Berkedal and the Rev. Peter Holroyd speak on October 18, 1991 Food, Earth, and Care of the Soul Earth Ministry's Fall Gathering, October 19, 1996 , Food for Life Project:. "Food, Earth, and Care of the Soul". Presentations by leaders in the food & faith field. For the Common Good A.uthor: Cobb, John B. Jr. and Herman Daly. A landmark work by an eminent theologian (Cobb) and an equally eminent economist (Daly). This book examines how our economy works, how it affects societies and bioregions, and offers a model for redirecting it to enhance both human and non-human communities. Forty Nights: Creation Centered Night Prayer Author: Daniel J. McGill. "Forty Nights" is a volume of services for individual or communal use modeled after the Liturgy of the Hours and deeply sensitive to the connection between the earth environment and human prayer. Each of the night prayer services is thematically developed. They bring together psalms, Christian prayers and hymns, and writings of mystics and naturalists, with liberal borrowings from many religious traditions. From Creation to New Creation: Old Testament Perspectives Author: Bernhard W. Anderson. Princeton theologian Bernhard Anderson explores the historical, mythopoeic, and theological dimensions of classic Old Restament reflections on the motif of creation. The result is an abundance of fresh insight and compelling exegesis that have implications for human life and thought today. Fruits of Creation: A Look at Global Sustainability as Seen Through the Eyes of George Washington Carver Author: Ferrell, John S. Geo-Justice: A Preferential Option for the Earth Author: James A. Conlon. Global Warming & Christianity: Is There a Connection? Dr. Sallie McFague, Carpenter Professor of Theology at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, teaches and writes in the areas of feminist and ecological theology. Dr. McFague is a nationally-recognized leader in making connections between Christian faith/theology and care for all creation. Global Warming & Species Extinction VEM 066-1: Intro/meditation: Reverend Pascal Nelson. Presentation: Dr. George Gilchrist discusses global warming, species extinction. VEM 066-2: Panel Discussion with audience questions on relationship between spirituality, science, and public policy. God in Creation: A New Theology of Creation and the Spirit of God Author: Jürgen Moltmann. The title expresses the book's intention: not to go on distinguishing between God and the world, so as then to surrender the world, as godless, to its scientific 'disenchantment' and its technical exploitation by human beings, but instead to discover God in all the beings he has created and to find his life-giving Spirit in the community of creation that they share. God is Green: Ecology for Christians Author: Bradley, Ian. A simple yet superb explanation of why Christians should be environmentalists, God Is Green shows, through the Bible and other ancient writings, how at the heart of Christian belief is a sense of a sacred world. By rebutting the charges against Christianity--its alleged arrogance toward nature and its glorification of man at nature's expense--Bradley has crafted a book that both appeals and challenges. God so Loved the World: Nature and the Christian Carla Berkedal speaks on Nature and the Christian tradition. God's Earth Our Home: A resource for congregational study and action on environmental and economic justice Author: Bhagat, Shantilal P. Good Food Producer: Moving Images Video Project, Bullfrog Films. Meet a handful of the Pacific North West’s small scale organic farmers in this documentary about local producers. This excellent documentary tells the story of small scale agriculture in the region and why it is necessary to health and the environment. Green Guidance: How to Plan Environmentally Responsible Events Author: Sparr, Pamela. A well packaged guide for environmentally responsible meetings and events. Rich with a variety of resources that may be used in many areas of church life. Greening of Faith; Why the Environment is a Christian Concern These two videos explore the religious dimensions of caring for the earth. Theologians and environmentalists offer helpful ecumenical perspectives on one of the most pressing - and exciting- ares of faith and ethics. Growing Season Catherine Sneed, founder of The Greenhouse Project shares the programs in which San Francisco County Jail inmates learn to care for plants, animals and themselves. They learn a new sense of self-worth, respect for life, and connection to the community. Guide to Resource Efficient Church Buildings Author: Mumma, Tracy. This guide deals with the responsible use of God’s gifts in constructing churches. It considers “embodied energy” (energy spent in production and transportation of materials), recycling, and the disposal of construction waste. This guide also gives a list of manufacturers of resource efficient building materials. Having Enough in a Have More World; Lifestyles For a Living Planet Speaker Vicki Robin, New Road Map Foundation, challenges us to reduce consumption and define what is enough for each of us. Healing and Defending God’s Creation: Hands On! Practical Ideas for Congregations Author: White, Vera K. This resource book/curricula has the following sections: (1) Discipleship and Worship; (2) Learning and Teaching (providing lesson plans for preschool children through adults); (3) Lifestyle (individual and communal lifestyle choices); (4) Reusing, Reducing, and Recycling (exploring consumption habits); and (5) Legislation, Public Policy, and Community Involvement. Hinduism and Ecology: Seeds of Truth Author: Ranchor Prime. This book looks at the environmental values of the Hindu tradition -- its past and present teachings and practice. In it the author speaks to prominent Hindu environmental activists and thinkers, presents their ideas and explains what they are doing. Hope for the Earth: A Handbook for Christian Environmental Groups Author: Sharon Delgado. This handbook is based on the belief that several themes from the Wesleyan tradition can help the church become a powerful force in the struggle to bring about a just and sustainable world. Household Ecoteam Workbook: A Six-month Program to Bring Your Household into Environmental Balance Author: Gershon, David and Robert Gilman. This workbook divides environmental concerns into six areas and recommends that small groups meet regularly (over a six-month period) to address these areas: water efficiency, energy efficiency, transportation, and garbage/waste reduction. Each month, the group can take specific actions in order to implement ideas within a household or church congregation. How Can We Live in Community with Creation? Author: Simpson, James. How Much is Enough? Alan Durning of Worldwatch Institute speaks on the effects of our excessive consumption on the world environment. How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature Author: Tony Campolo. "In anticipation of His coming, we must go to work today and contribute to the work which He will complete on the day of His coming." Hutterites, The; To Care and Not to Care The Hutterites are a society in which faithfulness to Christ's teaching is more important than self-advancement or worldly comforts. They live strict communal lives based on the teachings of the Bible, while farming over a million acres in Canada and the United States using the most advanced farm equipment. In the Beginning There was Joy: A Creation Story for All Ages Author: Matthew Fox. Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World-- a stunning exhibit of wildlife photography--brings you face to face with the incredible plants and animals of our planet: species big and small, familiar and exotic, but all are threatened by a rapidly warming world. Islam and Ecology Author: Fazlun Khalid with Joanne O'Brien, editors. The word of Allah revealed in the Qur'an is at the heart of Muslim life. The duties and obligations of humans to each other and to the created world that are contained in its verses are central to Islam, and the laws that guide Muslim action reflect an inherent concern for ecology. In this book Muslim perspectives on issues as wide-ranging as animal husbandry, desert reclamation, international trade, and science are addressed through discussion, examples, stories, and quotations. Judaism and Ecology Author: Aubrey Rose, editor. In this book Aubrey Rose OBE, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, guides the reader with humour, wisdom, and enthusiasm through age-old ecological teachings of the Jewish faith; its ceremonies, law and resources for developing a right attitude to creation; the contribution of modern Israel to the world's environment; and practical action by Jews world-wide. Just and Proper Use: Issues in Environmental Stewardship Author: Judy Scherff. Episcopalians pray for "the just and proper use" of God's creation. While they pray, the rain forests are being eradicated, more and more animal species become extinct, the burning of fossil fuels goes unchecked and the impoverished bear the brunt of pollution and environmental decay. These are properly the issues of the church, author Judy Scherff insists in this booklet, and to respond to the needs of the earth is to fulfill our very baptismal vows. At the root of the environmental crisis is greed, and the undoing of our greed is always the hope of every Christian -- and perhaps the only hope for the planet. Keeping and Healing the Creation Author: Presbyterian Eco-Justice Task Force. "Keeping and Healing the Creation" provides the theological and ethical basis for the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly's policy. As envisioned from the beginning, it is part of the educational program of the church, as well as the church's ecumenical discussions. It contains a study guide and an excerpt from the General Assembly policy. A brief video entitled "Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice" is intended to be used along with the study guide. A list of resources is included at the end of the book for your use. Keeping the Earth: Religious and Scientific Perspectives on the Environment Producer: Union of Concerned Scientists and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (1996). This inspirational, twenty-seven-minute video (with discussion guide) features prominent scientists and religious leaders who share their perspectives on the need to protect creation. To order, go to the Union of Concerned Scientists' website. Let Me Tell You a Story, Let Me Sing You a Song Join a morning of songs and stories celebrating God's Creation. Led by the Rev. John Schramm, a talented story teller and Lutheran minister from Minneapolis, and Ray Makeever, a wonderful ballad singer from Dubuque, Iowa. Let's Talk about the People Written and performed by the EcoSound class of 1994. (Urban Youth for the Environment). An Environmental Justice! documentary and music-video sponsored by Metropolitan King County Council member Ron Sims, Seattle, WA. Life on Earth Life on Earth is the story of how a few of earth's four million animals and plants came to be and their solutions for staying alive. Liturgy for Sustainable Communities Sponsored by Seattle University, Theological Education to Meet the Environmental Challenge (TEMEC), the Whidbey Insitute, and Earth Ministry, this is a liturgical celebration of Earth Day 1997 held at the newly dedicated Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University. Living More with Less Author: Longacre, Doris Janzen. Longacre provides a pattern for living with less and a wealth of practical suggestions from around the world in chapters on money, clothing, homes, transportation and travel, celebrations, and recreation. Loons This is the story of one family of common loons from the day the adults return to their traditional nesting island to the day they lead the chicks away. The call of the loon and the lake region's natural ambiance will transform your easy chair into a comfortable seat at the water's edge. Love the Earth and Be Healed Author: Produced by the United Methodist Communications Office. This series of six videos (about twenty-five minutes each) examines real-life case studies and includes reflections from some of the most articulate voices within the field of eco-theology: Sallie McFague, John Cobb, Cal DeWitt, and Jay McDaniel. To order, call (800) 967-0880. Love Thy Neighbor: Parish Resources for Faithfulness in Creation Author: Irish, Carolyn Tanner. This comprehensive program is designed to answer questions like: What are the religious dimensions of the environmental problem? What books and films can we use as parish resources? How can we incorporate creation issues in liturgy? How can children and young people be part of efforts to reorient our lifestyles? Loving Our Neighbor, The Earth: Creation-Spirituality Activities for 9-11 Year-Olds Author: Jenkins, Christie L. This curriculum consists of twenty lessons for children and teaches them to enjoy creation and the Creator, and care for creation. Topics include water conservation, cultivating the Earth, “God and Garbage,” learning the stars, and more. Contains photocopiable handouts. My Life: A Steward's Life Author: Fillette, Barbara. A broadly graded stewardship education program for children ages four through grade two and children in grades three through six. This five-session course can be used in your congregation during a stewardship emphasis, for a special study, or as a resource for a five-day vacation school program. Each session is designed for a one-hour time frame but offers a wide variety of activities adn can be easily expanded. Natural Prayer: Encountering God in Nature Author: Wayne Simsic. Wonder, reverence, and praise in encounter with the beauty of nature. Ocean Life Describes life in the ocean. Of God and Pelicans: A Theology of Reverence for Life Author: Jay B. McDaniel. This is not a book merely about pelicans and God. It is a book about all living things on earth, both inanimate and animate: trees, rivers, animals, and people - the hungry, the lost, the forgotten, and the victimized. One God, One Family, One Earth: Responding to the Gifts of God’s Creation Author: Hill, Eleanor R., Alfred E. Persons, et. al. This introductory, six-session curriculum is divided into three groupings: One God (Think Globally), One Family (Act Locally), and One Earth (Commit Individually). This curriculum also contains an extensive list of other Episcopal, environmental resources. Our Only Home: Planet Earth; A Gift From God A Bible study based on the ecology policy statement of American Baptist Churches USA. Author: Ecology and Racial Justice Program, National Ministries. As we follow Jesus out of doors into the ebb and flow of creation, we will discover that mountain top experiences cannot be separated from the needs of human beings for physical and spiritual healing. Our Sustainable Table Editor: Robert Clark. A collection of essays about our off-track relationship with food, the land, and the people who farm it. Passion for the Earth: The Christian Vocation to Promote Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Author: Sean McDonagh. Challenging the Church to respond to environmental degradation, Sean McDonagh examines newly-industrialized nations and looks at the effects on the environment of GATT. Examples are given from many countries. Sean McDonagh also wrote "The Greening of the Church" and "To Care for the Earth". Penguins and Otters Describes the habits of penguins and otters in an entertaining format. Population and People of Faith; It's About Time Exploration of the issues of population growth, its underlying causes and steps needed to slow growth. Praying with Francis of Assisi Author: Joseph M. Stoutzenbarger and John D. Bohrer. Praying with Francis of Assisi is not a biography about St. Francis, but a way of praying with him. Those who use this book will learn that Francis' spirituality fits naturally into Christian tradition and reflects his great love for the Jesus of the Gospels. Praying with Julian of Norwich Author: Gloria Durka. "Dr. Gloria Durka gives us in one book an experience of meditation, an insight into a right and complicated social epoch, a quiet argument for women's rights, and a practical encounter with a thinker".... Dr. Anthony Padovano, Ramapo College of New Jersey. Project Fragile Earth; Vacation Church School Curriculum for Caretake Author: Camille Hegg, Jane McGuignan and Deana Trott Reclaiming America: Restoring Nature to Culture Author: Richard Cartwright Austin. Volume 4 of 4 in a comprehensive, systematic statement of environmental theology by a Christian teacher. In this stand-alone volume, focuses on restoring a love and reverence of nature to modern culture. Reclaiming the Connection: A Contemporary Spirituality Author: Kathleen Fischer. "Reclaiming the Connections" offers a vision, both clear and practical of the interconnectedness of all things. The realization that we live in such a universe will change how we work and pray, how we relate to one another and to God, to ourselves. Kathleen Fischer calls us not only to contemplation but to solicitude for the earth. In short, "Reclaiming the Connections" answers our yearning for a spirituality of interconnectedness. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Author: Oregon Ecumenical Center for Environmental Action. A look at the problem, the theological basis for recycling, benefits of recycling, economics, opportunities, success stories, and practical tools for starting a recycling program in the church. Includes extensive lists of practical resources and congregational tools. Reducing Energy Costs in Religious Buildings Addresses methods to reduce energy costs in churches and parochial schools. Reflections on the Land Ethic Estella Leopold, University of Washington botany professor and daughter of Aldo Leopold (Sand County Almanac), shares her views of the land ethic, how the family learned and practiced it in Wisconsin, and how well we're following it now in Washington State. Talk is 30 minutes, followed by discussion. Earth Ministry Gathering, 1992. RENEWAL: Stories from America’s Religious-Environmental Movement RENEWAL is the first feature-length documentary film to capture the vitality and diversity of today's religious-environmental activists. From within their Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim traditions, Americans are becoming caretakers of the Earth. With great courage, these women, men and children are re-examining what it means to be human and how we live on this planet. Resources for Outdoor Retreats; Journey into Nature, Journey into the Heart Author: Bob Grgic. Filled with well-chosen resources to help you design your own outdoor retreats and prayer experiences. You will find clearly outlined directions, imaginative suggestions and handouts for retreatants' participation. Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice Presents the diversity and beauty of nature along with equally dramatic scenes of creation's pain and the injustice suffered by human beings. Also focuses on God's work to heal and restore creation. Saving Life on Earth An overview of activities of the World Wildlife Fund to preserve wildlife habitat. Seeing the People and the Trees Presentation by Cathy Richardson, sociologist at the University of Washington School of Forestry, about varying perceptions on use and degradation of forests held by different people involved: agency employees, private landowners, loggers, etc. Earth Ministry Fall Gathering, 11/21/92 Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality Author: Matthew Fox. Through an interview technique, Fox uses Aquinas's writings as a lamp to shed light on the sacralization of nature, the importance of wonder, the ethics of empowerment, passion as the seat of all virtue, and the wealth of images available to describe God. Simple Living: a Six-part Reflection for Small Groups Author: Susan DeWitt, Linda Haydock, Wes Howard-Brook. Each booklet focuses on a different facet of simple living: getting started, walking gently on the Earth, time, money, technology, and community. The sessions are presented in a context of prayer and ritual, with consideration of both the personal and global effects of our choices. Simplicity as Compassion - Chee Yoke Ling For use with Simplicity as Compassion Curriculum, by Michael Schut, produced by Earth Ministry. Simplicity: The Art of Living Author: Richard Rohr. Rohr, a Franciscan priest and internationally known speaker, was invited to Germany in 1990 to present a series of sermons on the spiritual life. This book is a compilation of some of those talks. Six Billion & More: Human Population Regulation and Christian Ethics Author: Susan Power Bratton. Drawing on information from demographers, economists, ecologists, and sociologists, Bratton argues that individuals should use Christian values when dealing with the regulation of human population. Social and Environmental Justice: A Necessary Integration Frontiers of Environmental Theology Lecture Series Spirit & Nature, with Bill Moyers At Middlebury College in Vermont, representatives of major world religions join the community to wrestle with the challenge of the deepening global environmental crisis. They address the ethical and spiritual aspects of our ecological concerns by raising issues of responsibility for each other and for the species on the planet, our interrelationship with other parts of the cosmos, and the need to see nature as sacred. Spirit of Fire: The Life and Vision of Teilhard de Chardin Author: Ursula King. Lavishly illustrated with photos and selections from Teilhard de Chardin's writing, this is the biography of this century's most fascinating religious figures. This is the ideal introduction to the life and thought of this modern Catholic mystic whose powerful vision and life-affirming spirituality speak even more vitally to the concerns of our time. Spirit of the Sound Explore's Puget Sound, one of the richest wildlife habitats in North America. Includes footage of harbor seals, salmon, bird migrations, and underwater life. Spiritual Ecology: A Guide to Reconnecting with Nature Author: Jim Nollman. An optimistic handbook on how to reconnect with the ancient spiritual ecology of the Earth, foster health, and employ resources practically and effectively to reverse environmental degradation and decline. Spirituality and the Earth: A Native American Perspective Ted Strong serves as a persuasive advocate for tribal ecosystem management philosophies and goals, which combine contemporary technology and business acumen with the traditional natural values of the Columbia River Indian People. As Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Mr. Strong implements the consensus policies of the commission's parent tribes: the Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla, and Nez Perce. Stories in the Land: A Place-based Environmental Education Anthology Author: John Elder. Stories in the Land is an excellent handbook for teachers who wish to explore place-based learning with their students. Sustainability, Economics, Ecology, and Justice Author: Cobb, John B., Jr.. This book, a collection of essays written over a ten-year period, is an approachable treatment of the economic and environmental linkages explored in For the Common Good. Sustaining the Common Good; A Christian Perspective on the Global Economy Author: John B. Cobb, Jr. This book is an analysis of the assumptions of the economic theory on which the current global economy is based and of the dramatic increase in poverty for most of the world to which the global economy has led. Teaching Kids to Love the Earth; Sharing a Sense of Wonder: 186 Outdoor Activities for Parents and Other Teachers Author: Marina Lachecki Herman Tending the Garden: Essays on the Gospel and the Earth Editor: Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. "Tending the Garden" calls the church back to its biblical and theological roots so that it may understand freshly its task of stewardship. Rich in biblical insight and creative theological work, the book examines the relationship of God, humanity, and all creation. The author's goal is to develop a specifically biblical environmental ethic, not merely to lend unqualified support to the increasingly popular cultural ethic to preserve the earth. The Body of God: An Ecological Theology Author: Sallie McFague. The Body of God gives a broad overview of “the ecological crisis,” as well as McFague's interpretation and revision of a time-honored, Christian theology that has the strength to confront the crisis. The Car and the City; 24 Steps to Safe Streets and Healthy Communities Author: Alan Thein Durning. Many people recognize that the increasing number of automobiles is choking our cities--polluting our air, endangering our streets, and isolating us from our communities. This book shows how resurgent cities could make cars work again, and even solve problems ranging from oil wars to urban decay, rising seas to violent crime. The Christian Faith and the Ecological Crisis Author: Alvin Pitcher. A Holden Village resource. While on a nine month sabbatical at Holden Village, Alvin Pitcher, studied the environmental issues of the late 1980s. The writings contained in "The Christian Faith and the Ecological Crisis" represent his personal journey, always oriented toward making up his mind about what the issues are and what might be done about them by an ordinary lay member of a church or any ordinary citizen. The Consumer Society Editors: Neva R. Goodwin, Frank Ackerman, and David Kiron. The Consumer Society provides brief summaries of the most important and influential writings on the environmental, moral, and social implications of a consumer society and consumer lifestyles. The Consuming Passion: Christianity and the Consumer Culture Editor: Rodney Clapp. Convinced that nothing may influence and affect the faith of Christians in the Western, "developed" world so much as consumerism, the editor of Consuming Passion has brought together articles showing how people of faith might best respond to this reality. The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology and the Scientific Revolution Author: Merchant, Carolyn. Merchant traces the development of attitudes toward women and nature in Western philosophical and religious traditions. A germinal eco-feminist work. The Earth is God's: A Theology of American Culture Author: William A. Dyrness. William Dyrness, who teaches theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, provides an evangelical, relational, and trinitarian rethinking of divine creation and concepts of culture in response to issues of identity, ecology, and aesthetics. The Earth is the Lord's: Christians and the Environment Editors: Richard D. Land and Louis A. Moore. Combining the traditionally conservative issue of religion with the traditionally liberal issue of protecting the environment is a difficult task. Land does it well in this book and provides an introduction for those interested in protecting the environment from a Christian standpoint. The Environment Author: Larry Dunlap-Berg. An adult curriculum for environmentally-focused bible study. The Environmental Movement & the Church: Do We Share Common Ground? Presenters: David Ortman: Director, Northwest Office, Friends of the Earth; Steve Whitney: Pacific Northwest Regional Director, The Wilderness Society. The Episcopal Church and the Environmental Crisis A Call for Religious Leadership to Protect God's Creation. A Report Submitted to the 117th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Author: Environmental Task Force, Diocese of Newark. "In response to a rising outcry of voices expressing concern for the deteriorating state of the Earth, Bishop John S. Spong created this Task Force on the Environment in order to report on the crucial evidence at hand and 'to present resolutions for debate at the next Episcopal Diocesan Convention in January, 1991.'" The Episcopal Church in Communion with Creation: Policy and Action Publisher: New York: Episcopal Church Center, 1990. Episcopal Church's denominational statement on the environment. The Good Rain: Across Time and Terrain in The Pacific Northwest Author: Timothy Egan. New York Times reporter Egan interweaves personal experiences and conversations with observations of nature and historical information. He travels through Washington, Oregon, and southern Vancouver, following the route taken by an earlier traveler, Theodore Winthrop, 150 years ago. The Great Warming A sweep around the world to reveal how a changing climate is affecting the lives of people everywhere. It includes comments from scientists and opinion-makers about America's lack of leadership in what is certainly the most critical environmental issue of the 21st century, as well as new scenes documenting the emerging voice of the American Evangelical community urging action on climate change. Starring Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morissette. The Green Sanctuary Handbook: Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Religious Buildings and Grounds Author: Rachel Stark, Robert Murphy, Brian Reddington. The Seventh Principle Project was established in 1991 by a group of Unitarian Universalists committed to finding ways to live their faith in a more ecologically sustainable way. With EcoSpirit New England, SPP founders published the Green Sanctuary Handbook as a resource for members to accomplish this goal. The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos: Humanity and the New Story Author: Brian Swimme. Following the most recent scientific discoveries about the birth of the universe, this text shows how these new insights replace outmoded ways of seeing the world, bridging the chasm between science and spirituality, the physical realm and the soul. The Hymn of the Sun Author: St. Francis of Assisi. The first illustrated version of St. Francis of Assisi's beloved poem. The Lord's House: A Guide to Creation Careful Management of Church Facilities Author: Frederick W. Krueger. Practical advice on energy efficiency, landscaping and church grounds, and new purchases. The Travail of Nature: The Ambiguous Ecological Promise of Christian Theology Author: Santmire, H. Paul. In his germinal work, Santmire explores how Christian theologians and church figures, through the centuries, have thought about nature. This important book, at times heavy theologically, is one of the few books that present a broad historical overview of a Christian theology of nature. The Trees' Birthday: A Celebration of Nature Author: Ellen Bernstein. Ellen Bernstein founded Shomrei Adamah, the first national Jewish environmental organization. The Universe Story: Its Significance for Our Time Presentations from Father Thomas Berry. Theology and Public Policy: The Ethics of Population, Consumption and Environment Author: Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy. Theology for Earth Community: A Field Guide Editor: Dieter T. Hessel. Authors assess what various theologians have to offer, and draw implications for reshaping religious and environmental studies, as well as preparing the next generations of church leaders or pastoral workers. Thomas Berry: Dreamer of the Universe An intimate conversation with Father Thomas Berry, one of the great spiritual thinkers. Father Berry is "the most provocative figure among this new breed of eco-theologians." Three Models for Faith-Based Environmental Action Dr. Larry Rasmussen: "Three Models for Faith-Based Environmental Action." Three deep traditions are explored as a basis for church-based and interfaith-based environmental action: 1) the ascetic/monastic tradition; 2) the sacramentalist/eucharistic tradition; 3) the prophetic/liberationist tradition. Tis a Gift to Be Simple: Embracing the Freedom of Living with Less Authors: Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen. This simple book shares the authors' experience and their discovery of the value of uncluttering their lives through the choice of simplicity. To Till and to Tend: A Guide to Jewish Environmental Study and Action Author: Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. The Jewish community is presented here with a three-part challenge to accept environmental activism as a practical and a spiritual obligation: (1) scientific fact sheets, with what-you-can-do sidebars; (2) essays on Jewish environmental teachings; (3) nineteen hands-on programs and activities for every age group. To Till It and Keep it: New Models for Congregational Involvement with the Land Author: Dan Guenthner. The Environmental Stewardship and Hunger Education Office funded the publication of To Till It and Keep It, a book by Wisconsin CSA farmer Dan Guenthner which explains Congregation Supported Agriculture and its benefits. Together in the Garden A pre- Earth Summit look at what the church's role should be in relation to global survival. This video provides groups in your church with a challenging message concerning their responsibility for the future. Toward Sustainable Communities; A Curriculum to Teach Environmental Justice, Sustainability, and Theology within Christian Churches Author: Michael W. Schut. Curriculum for teaching environmental justice, sustainability, and theology within Christian churches. Toxic Waste and Race in the United States Author: Commission on Racial Justice, United Church of Christ. This crucial 1987 report showed race to be the most significant factor when siting hazardous waste facilities, nationwide. Urban Wildlife Enhancement Tricia Thompson of the Washington Department of Wildlife speaks to the St. Mark's Cathedral (Seattle) Ecology/Spirituality Group on March 11, 1992, about effects of urbanization on wildlife and prospects for restoring the St. Mark's greenbelt. Using God's Resources Wisely: Isaiah and Urban Possibility Author: Walter Brueggemann. New and different readings of biblical texts are one consequence of a growing awareness of the environmental crisis and how it relates to social relations, especially in urban settings. Brueggemann explores readings from Isaiah an dhow they relate to the environment and urban crisis. He approaches the readings as an artistic-theological history of the city of Jerusalem -- a case study of urban environmental crisis that resulted from a lost sense of covenantal neighborliness. This resource is an excellent tool for Bible study groups and pastors who are concerned with our current urban situation. Using God's World: in Christian Education Author: Elaine M. Ward Visions of Justice A portion of the Vision of Justice conference held November 1, 1996, at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle. The conference focused on peace, racism, the environment and economic justice as issues within the Episcopal Church. Wake Up, Dorothy! A Hunger Education Resource Inner city youths narrate in rap-like fashion an exploration of their relationship to the urban environment, coming to a realization of the call of Christian stewardship. Watching the Whales Spend a half hour with some of the most fascinating animals on earth - whales and dolphins. Water You Doing? Middle school curriculum on water quality prepared by Seattle Drainage and Wastewater Utility. Includes manual. We are God's People: Stories of Faith for the Family of God Performance Edition. Author: Betsy Beckman, Lisa von Stamwitz and Jeanne Cotter. Through this performance piece the prophetic voice of our children has a chance to be heard by the whole family of God. In this script we find children's own stories of faith woven together with song and gesture into a celebration of lie. These heart-felt stories and vignettes reflect children's experience of God, themselves, and their world. They are children's own words of struggle with grief, illness, divorce, and violence as well as expressions of joy in new life, hope, love, and reconciliation. Children present their stories in the form of readers' theater. Whose World Is It?; Responding to God's Covenant with the Earth Author: George H. Kehm Wilderness and Spirituality Dr. Doug Thorpe speaks at St. Paul's, Seattle, February 23, 1992, on the connection between wilderness and spirituality, using examples from literature. Wisdom of our Elders, The Hazel Wolf has lived in Seattle since 1923 and has witnessed first-hand much of the development of both its land and its local society, a history most of us only read about. She has also had more than seventy years of active involvement in environmental and social justice issues; among them acting as secretary of the Seattle Audubon Society and founding member of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice. Women Healing Earth; Third World Women on Ecology, Feminism, and Religion Author: Rosemary Radford Ruether, editor. In Women Healing Earth, noted theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether brings together illuminating writings of fourteen Latin American, Asian, and African women on the meaning of eco-theological issues in their own contexts - and the implications they have for women in teh first world. Worldviews and Ecology; Religion, Philosophy, and the Environment Author: Mary Evelyn Tucker and John A. Grim, editors. The original writings of Worldviews and Ecology creatively present and interpret worldviews of major religious and philosophical traditions on how humans can live more sustainably on a fragile planet. Your Money or Your Life: A Group Study Guide for Contemporary Christians To be used with the book "Your Money or Your Life" by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. Produced by the New Road Map Foundation. If Jesus returned to Earth and paid us a visit, what might he think of the way we live? Would he see us as responsible and compassionate stewards of creation? Contemporary Christians face a major challenge: aligning their everyday actions in the realm of money with their deepest values. This study guide was created in response to hundreds of requests form church members and clergy who had already discovered for themselves the power of the program in "Your Money or Your Life." Your Money or Your Life; Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence Author: Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. There's a big difference between "making a living" and making a life. Do you spend more than you earn? Does making a living feel more like making a dying? Do you dislike your job but can't afford to leave it? Is money fragmenting your time, your relationships with family and friends? If so, Your Money or Your Life is for you. Your Will Be Done on Earth: Eco-Spirituality Activities for 12-15 Year-olds Author: Jenkins, Christie L. Eighteen easy-to-follow lesson plans combine theology and science to provide background information, activity ideas, and photocopiable handouts on issues such as habitat and species loss, animal rights, environmental degradation, and global warming. To order, go to Resource Publications, Inc.'s website. Denominational Statements American Baptist Churches Brethren Episcopal Evangelical Interdenominational Lutheran (ELCA) Mennonite Orthodox Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) Reformed Church in America Roman Catholic Unitarian Universalist United Church of Christ United Methodist Church American Baptist Churches (www.abc-usa.org) Excerpted from “The American Baptist Policy Statement on Ecology,” in Our Only Home: Planet Earth. The full text can be found online here. “The study of ecology has become a religious, social, and political concern because every area of life is affected by careless use of our environment. The creation is in crisis. We believe that ecology and justice, stewardship of creation, and redemption are interdependent. Our task is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ until the coming of the Kingdom on Earth. All God’s people must be guided by the balance of reverence, the acknowledgment of our interdependence, the integrity of divine wholeness and the need for empowerment by the Holy Spirit to image God by our dominion over creation (Mark 10:43-45). If we image God we will reflect in our dominion the love and the care that God has for the whole creation, ‘for God so loved the world...’ (John 3:16, Romans 8:21-22, Matthew 5:43-48).” Brethren (www.brethren.org/) Excerpted from Creation: Called to Care, Statement of the Church of the Brethren 1991 Annual Conference. The full text can be found online here. “Why should Christians care about the environment? Simply because we learn in Genesis that God has promised to fulfill all of creation, not just humanity, and has made humans the stewards of it. More importantly, God sent Christ into the very midst of creation to be ‘God with us’ and to fulfill the promise to save humankind and nature. God’s redemption makes the creation whole, the place where God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven. "God’s promises are not mere pledges. They are covenants. And covenants are agreements between people and between people and God. The covenants with Noah and Abraham and the New Covenant mean that people of faith are responsible for their part in renewing and sustaining the creation. “This statement helps us to see the degradation of the earth as sin, our sin. We, the people who have accepted the redeeming love of God, have broken the covenant to care for creation. The challenge in [this] paper is to confess our sin, to take seriously our role as stewards of the earth, and to work for the renewal of creation.” Episcopal (www.eenonline.org) Excerpted from 70^th General Convention’s Resolution entitled Affirm Environmental Responsibility and Establish an Environmental Stewardship Team, 1991-a195. More past and pending resolutions can be found here. “Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirming our responsibility for the earth in trust for this and future generations: “Declares that Christian Stewardship of God’s created environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency; Calls on all citizens of the world, and Episcopalians in particular, to live their lives as good stewards with responsible concern for the sustainability of the environment and with appreciation for the global interdependence of human life and the natural worlds; and “Urges all Episcopalians to reflect on their personal and corporate habits in the use of God’s creation; to share with one another ideas for new responses; and to act as individuals, congregations, dioceses, and provinces of the Episcopal Church in ways that protect and heal all interdependent parts of creation. Such action should include prayerful theological discernment and factual knowledge. It should also consider global and local links and the balance of environmental integrity with economic sufficiency for human living; and be it further “Resolved, That the Episcopal Church, acknowledging the sovereignty of God and God’s call to us in the servanthood of Christ, continue to engage environmental issues, passionately caring for the earth and striving to live into the promises and mandates which are ours as stewards of creation; and be it further “Resolved, That this Convention calls upon the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to appoint an interdisciplinary, multicultural Environmental Stewardship Team, 14 members, representing each Province and a broad spectrum of Church membership, whose gifts and expertise are suitable to the task. The mission of the Environmental Stewardship Team is to educate, motivate and facilitate congregations, dioceses and provinces toward local and regional plans, advocacy and action. The Team will work with other environmental groups of common interest …” Evangelical (www.creationcare.org) Because the term “Evangelical” covers a wide variety of Christian denominations and non-denominational churches, there is not one Evangelical statement, per se, on creation. Below, you will find an exemplary statement, excerpted from the EEN’s publication: An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation. “As followers of Jesus Christ, committed to the full authority of the Scriptures, and aware of the ways we have degraded creation, we believe that biblical faith is essential to the solution of our ecological problems. “...We and our children face a growing crisis in the health of the creation in which we are embedded, and through which, by God’s grace, we are sustained. Yet we continue to degrade that creation. ...Thus we call on all those who are committed to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to affirm the following principles of biblical faith [e.g., a transcendent, yet immanent, loving Creator God created and cares for creation; humans, created in the image of God, are called to care for creation], and to seek ways of living out these principles in our personal lives, our churches, and society. ...We believe that in Christ there is hope, not only for men, women and children, but also for the rest of creation which is suffering from the consequences of human sin.” Interdenominational (www.nrpe.org, www.webofcreation.org) As with the Evangelical churches, it is difficult to offer a comprehensive, interdenominational statement. As an interdenominational example, here is a portion of the NRPE’s mission statement. “With a commitment ‘to be ourselves, together,’ each of our faith groups is implementing distinctive programs on behalf of a common mission: We act in faith to cherish and protect God’s creation. Our goal is to integrate commitment to global sustainability and environmental justice permanently into all aspects of religious life.” Lutheran (www.elca.org) Excerpted from “A Social Statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice,” adopted by the ELCA on August 28, 1993. The full text can be found online here. “Christian concern for the environment is shaped by the Word of God spoken in creation, the Love of God hanging on a cross, the breath of God daily renewing the face of the Earth. We of the ELCA are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally . . . We know care for the Earth to be a profoundly spiritual matter . . . Humans, in service to God, have special roles on behalf of the whole of creation. Made in the image of God, we are called to care for the Earth as God cares for the Earth. God’s command to have dominion and subdue the Earth is not a license to dominate and exploit. Human dominion (Genesis 1:28, Psalm 8), a special responsibility, should reflect God’s way of ruling as a Shepherd King who takes the form of a servant (Philippines 2:7), wearing a crown of thorns. According to Genesis 2:15, our role within creation is to serve and to keep God’s garden, the Earth. ‘To serve,’ often translated ‘to till,’ invites us again to envision ourselves as servants, while ‘to keep’ invites us to care for the earth as God keeps and cares for us (Numbers 6: 24-26).” Mennonite (www.mennonites.org) Excerpted from the 1989, “Stewardship of the Earth, Resolution on the Environment and Faith Issues,” the Mennonite Environmental Task Force. The full text can be found here. “…Whereas: The Bible clearly teaches that God’s creation is good (Gen. 1), that God is the Owner of the earth (Ps. 24:1-2), and that nature itself praises and glorifies God (Pss. 19 and 96); Christians have been directed by many Scriptures to care for the natural creation as God’s stewards (Gen. 1:26-28; Exod. 20:8-11; Lev. 25 and 26; and Luke 4:16-22, among others); “Christians look forward to the time when all of creation, including humankind, will be fully restored/redeemed (Rom. 8:18-25; Col. 1:15-23; and John 1:1-5, among others); and many Mennonites who have traditionally understood their role as good earth stewards and accepted the scriptural teaching have today neglected or forgotten an environmental ethic and have not been fully aware of the impact of our lifestyle on the global environment and on our sisters and brothers worldwide who share God’s earth with us. “Therefore be it resolved that: In our individual, work, and family life we seek to become more caring about our impact on the environment, and seek to educate ourselves and act upon our best knowledge of ways to conserve the resources we use… .” Greek Orthodox (www.goarch.org) Excerpted from “Message of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios on the Day of the Protection of the Environment,” Sept. 1, 1989. The full text can be found online here. More on the Orthodox Church and environment here. “This Ecumenical Throne of Orthodoxy, keeper and proclaimer of the centuries-long spirit of the patristic tradition, and faithful interpreter of the eucharist and liturgical experience of the Orthodox Church, watches with great anxiety the merciless trampling down and destruction of the natural environment which is caused by human beings, with extremely dangerous consequences for the very survival of the natural world created by God. “...In view of this situation the Church of Christ cannot remain unmoved. It constitutes a fundamental dogma of her faith that the world was created by God the Father, who is confessed in the Creed to be ‘maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.’ According to the great Fathers of the Church, Man is the prince of creation, endowed with the privilege of freedom. Being partaker simultaneously of the material and the spiritual world, he was created in order to refer back creation to the Creator, in order that the world may be saved from decay and death. “... we . . . declare the first day of September of each year . . . to be the day of the protection of the environment. ... we paternally urge on the one hand all the faithful in the world to admonish themselves and their children to respect and protect the natural environment, and on the other hand all those who are entrusted with the responsibility of governing the nations to act without delay taking all necessary measures for the protection and preservation of the natural creation. ...” Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (www.pcusa.org/) Excerpted from the 202^nd General Assembly (1990) Report: “Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice.” More information can be found here, including how to get a copy of the the full report. “Creation cries out in this time of ecological crisis . . . Therefore, God calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to: respond to the cry of creation, human and non-human; engage in the effort to make the 1990s the ‘turnaround decade,’ not only for reasons of prudence or survival, but because the endangered is God’s creation; and draw upon all the resources of biblical faith and the Reformed tradition for empowerment and guidance in this adventure. “The church has powerful reason for engagement in restoring God’s creation: God’s works in creation are too wonderful, too ancient, too beautiful, too good to be desecrated. Restoring creation is God’s own work in our time, in which God comes both to judge and to restore. The Creator-Redeemer calls faithful people to become engaged with God in keeping and healing the creation, human and non-human. Human life and well-being depend upon the flourishing of other life and the integrity of the life-supporting processes that God has ordained. The love of neighbor, particularly ‘the least’ of Christ’s brothers and sisters, requires action to stop the poisoning, the erosion, the wastefulness that are causing suffering and death.” “Therefore, the 202nd General Assembly affirms that: ... Earth-keeping today means insisting on sustainability – the ongoing capacity of natural and social systems to thrive together – which requires human beings to practice wise, humble, responsible stewardship, after the model of servanthood that we have in Jesus. ...” Quaker (http://www.quakerearthcare.org/) There are many Friends’ Testimonies, Queries, and Minutes that address creation awareness and care. The following was excerpted from a Friends Committee on National Legislation policy statement (1987), as cited in Friends Committee on Unity with Nature’s organizational brochure. More can be found here. “The earth we share is limited in its capacity to support life and to provide resources for our survival. The environment that has provided sustenance for generations must be protected for generations to come. We have an obligation, therefore, to be responsible stewards of the earth, to restore its natural habitat where it has been damaged, and to maintain its vitality. Friends’ historic testimonies on simplicity have long stressed that the quality of life does not depend upon immodest consumption. The urgency of the threat to the environment cannot be overstated.” Reformed Church in America (www.rca.org) Excerpted from Care for the Earth: Theology and Practice, Minutes of General Synod, 1982. The full text can be downloaded in .doc format here. “Humanity was created by God to live in ‘shalom’ (peace, wholeness, justice) with each other and all creation. ... The vision of shalom is one in which all the resources of creation are shared harmoniously among all people. So while we certainly ought to be concerned about the deterioration of land, air, and water . . . our task of caring for the Earth calls us far beyond these boundaries. “The life-sustaining resources of creation are in peril throughout the globe. The massive consumption of our affluent societies is severely straining the resources of the Earth. Because there are finite limits to these resources, over-consumption by one group inevitably means the deprivation of other people. A pattern of reckless and unjust resource consumption lies at the heart of our environmental peril. “We can begin caring for the Earth, then, only from a posture of repentance. The restoration of God’s shalom for all of creation requires changes in our attitudes, in our values, and in our lives. If Christ’s work of redemption extends not only to us, but to all creation, then both we and the Christian fellowships to which we belong should begin to demonstrate redeemed relationships to the Earth’s resources, and a commitment that they be shared justly with all people.” Roman Catholic (http://conservation.catholic.org/) Excerpted from Pope John Paul II’s The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility. The full text can be found online here. “Respect for life and for the dignity of the human person also extends to the rest of creation, which is called to join man in praising God.” “We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations.” “It is manifestly unjust that a privileged few should continue to accumulate excess goods, squandering available resources, while masses of people are living in conditions of misery at the very lowest level of subsistence. Today, the dramatic threat of ecological breakdown is teaching us the extent to which greed and selfishness – both individual and collective – are contrary to the order of creation, an order which is characterized by mutual interdependence.” “Simplicity, moderation and discipline, as well as a spirit of sacrifice, must become a part of everyday life, lest all suffer the negative consequences of the careless habits of a few.” From “Letter from the Bishops,” in Let the Earth Bless the Lord: A Catholic Approach to the Environment. The full text can be purchased in our online store here. “In following Jesus, the Church seeks to live a consistent ethic of life fully reflective of his example of an all-embracing love, particularly for those who are most in need . . . The Church recognizes that the web of life and the promotion of human dignity are linked to the protection and care of God’s creation. It is this integral approach that marks our effort as a distinctly Catholic vision of environmental responsibility.” Unitarian Universalist (www.uua.org) Excerpted from Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The full text can be found online here. “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: … Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” (This is the “Seventh Principle.”) Excerpted from General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association [UUA], 1997 General Resolution: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. The full text can be found online here. “BECAUSE the seven principles of the [UUA] connect the values of democracy, personal growth, and social justice to a recognition of the interdependent web of all existence; and WHEREAS safe air to breathe, safe water to drink, and a sustainable environment are essential for life; and WHEREAS government support for environmental protection and energy conservation programs is inadequate; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the [UUA] urges its member congregations, affiliate organizations, and individual [Unitarians] to increase their efforts to: 1. Protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats; 2. Advocate for clean air, both indoors and outdoors, and clean water; 3. Promote the protection of public lands and water resources, and the responsible stewardship of private lands; 4. Support and practice energy and water conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy; 5. Use and advocate the use of public transportation and other environmentally sound alternatives; 6. Reduce the waste of resources in our homes, congregations, and communities by recycling, using recycled products, and reducing consumption; 7. Educate ourselves and our congregations on the need for these efforts and how best to undertake them; and Increase government support for environmental protection and energy conservation programs.” United Church of Christ (www.center1.com/NEER/NEER1.html) Excerpted from the UCC Network for Environmental and Economic Responsibility’s web site, which can be found here. “We believe that our planetary future is radically jeopardized by economic competition and growth unrestrained by a sense of limits about our place in the whole. Our love for our children and our children’s children requires us to raise serious questions about the level and methods of production and the wasteful style of consumption in the United States and other affluent nations and people. We affirm that a responsible, global economic system must distribute goods more equally and must recycle more effectively. We look for sustainable development and transparent, participatory decision making. We affirm the use of technologies which cooperate with the non-human roots of life on earth, instead of polluting and destroying them. “We seek to cultivate attitudes of sacred covenanting among peoples and between humanity and the non-human creation. We call upon all members and instrumentalities of the United Church of Christ to display courageous leadership in: modeling ecologically responsible life-styles; developing a communal spirituality able to connect persons creatively to the one, good creation of God; and advocating for economic and technological change so that our earth has a green and sustainable future of just peace for all.” United Methodist Church (www.umc-gbcs.org/mgc.htm) Excerpted from the current UMC Social Principle, “The Natural World.” Full text available at www.umc-gbcs.org/natural.htm. “All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. Therefore, we repent of our devastation of the physical and non-human world. Further, we recognize the responsibility of the Church toward lifestyle and systemic changes in society that will promote a more ecologically just world and a better quality of life for all creation.”		ACE Weekly download articles Gardens of Eatin Shovel Ready Lexington Gardens Grow Dig It: Gardens Root HOBY Eco-Art Model of the Year Growing Food & Justice conference Community Garden Tour Report Gardening with Class The Great Work The Great Turning Farm to School School gardens Catherine Ferguson Academy Grown in Detroit_ Food and Sacred Earth Connections

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Books, videos, and curricula available through Earth Ministry's Resources Library.

50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth

Author: The Earth Works Group. Most of the 50 Things covered here are unbelievably easy. They are the kind of things you would do anyway to save money -- if you knew how much you could save. Now you do; the Earthworks Group has done your legwork for you. At the very least, this book shows you how to use energy more intelligently. Don't shiver in the dark; just make sure you're getting as much comfort and convenience as possible from every dollar you spend on electricity, natural gas, and gasoline.

50 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet

Authors: Aeschliman, Gordon and Tony Campolo. A gift to us from God, our planet is rich in beauty and resources. But today it is also in danger from neglect and exploitation, and its only hope for recovery lies with us. This Christian perspective on environmental issues presents small- to large-scale suggestions for action and lists sources of more information, including addresses.

101 Ways to Help Save the Earth with Fifty-two Weeks of Congregational Activities to Save the Earth

Produced by the Eco-Justice Working Group of the NCCC, care of the United Methodist Church's (UMC) General Board of Church and Society. This guide examines the many ways that our current lifestyle contributes to the global environmental crisis. The first part of this guide explains the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, and acid rain. The Citizen's Guide then lists 101 simple steps which each of us can take to help avert these potential disasters.

A Place in Creation: Ecological Visions in Science, Religion, and Economics

Author: Hallman, David G. Is there hope for the future of the Earth? David Hallman answers with a resounding yes. Hallman explores exciting new concepts in the field of science, religious, and economics -- concepts that have the power to transform our understanding of our relationship to the rest of Creation. He reveals how intrinsically connected humans are to the whole ecosystem; how God wills a harmonious relationship between ourselves and the rest of Creation; and how our economy could be restructured to function in a less destructive relationship with the environment. Finally, he assesses political realities that could constrain or facilitate movement towards a more sustainable type of society.

Advent and Ecology: Resources for Worship, Reflection and Action

Author: Palmer, Martin and Anne Nash, Editors.

Affluenza: The Cost of High Living

An excellent video - lively, engaging, and humorous, it highlights environmental, social, community, and spiritual costs of consumption.

After Earth Day: Continuing the Conservation Effort

Editor: Oelschlaeger, Max. This collection of 16 often-stimulating essays on the polities, science and philosophy of conservation grew out of a 1991 conference held at the University of North Texas. Oelsehlaeger (The Idea of Wilderness) ends the book by suggesting that, in our current culture, religion is fundamental to solving ecological crises.

After the Warming; Episode One

James Burke explores various warming scenarios for the year 2050 using the "virtual reality computer model." He shows how life on earth has always been altered by changing weather patterns.

Amish, The; A People of Preservation

Authentic vignettes of Amish origins, farm life, childhood, school, worship, recreation, courtship, barn raising, horse transportation, and the impact of tourism.

An Unnatural Order: Uncovering the Roots of Our Domination of Nature

Author: Mason, Jim. Mason here writes an eloquent, important plea for a total rethinking of our relationship to the animal world. He analyzes the West's "dominionist" worldview which exalts humans as overlords and owners of other life, an outlook that he believes is rooted in millennia of animal husbandry.

And God Saw That It Was Good

Author: Carretto, Carlo. An exploration of what it means to affirm the goodness of creation in the light of evils of history and the suffering of the innocent. In his characteristic style - at once poetic, joyful and profoundly moving - his words become a conversation between God and all of humankind.

And I, Francis: The Life of Francis of Assisi in Word and Image

Author: Dunlap, Lauren Glen and illus. by Kathleen Fruge-Brown. Through both paintings and words, writer Dunlop and illustrator Fruge-Brown allow Francis to "share" his own stories through his eyes and narration.

Animal Rights; Lecture and Discussion by Andrew Linsey

Dr. Andrew Linsey, British animal rights activist, discusses attitudes toward animals from a Christian perspective. Lecture at St. Mark's Ecology-Spirituality group.

Assisi Declarations: Messages on Man and Nature from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam & Judaism

Author: Rinpoche, Lungrig Namgyal.

Baby Animals Just Want to Have Fun

Features five funfilled adventure tales of baby animals with live photography. Stories and Songs.

Baptized into Wilderness: A Christian Perspective on John Muir

Author: Austin, Richard Cartwright. Austin, a Presbyterian minister and organic farmer, has a special vocation in environmental theology. This engaging portrait of America's first environmental activist uncovers spiritual roots of modern ecological consciousness.

Beauty of the Lord: Awakening the Senses

Author: Austin, Richard Cartwright. Austin, a Presbyterian minister and organic farmer, has a special vocation in environmental theology. “Written with great care and sensitivity, this series gives us the direction we need to fulfill our Christian responsibility for ‘the care of the earth’” (-Robert McAfee Brown).

Befriending the Earth

A series of thirteen videos that explore environmental theology.

Befriending the Earth: A Theology of Reconciliation Between Humans and the Earth

Author: Berry, Thomas and Thomas Clarke. Thomas Berry and Thomas Clarke discuss the tole of religion in the ecological movement today. They agree that religion, to now, has completely failed to address the despoliation of the earth, which they believe to be the greatest crisis in the history of the planet. Yet they offer hope and viable ways for ecology that will move us forward in our quest to heal the world. "Befriending the Earth" provides a rich feast of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional thought for individuals hungering to discern how we can both nourish the earth and be recipients of its bountiful goodness.

Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education

Author: Sobel, David. Beyond Ecophobia speaks to teachers, parents, and others interested in nurturing in children the ability to understand and care for nature. This expanded version of one of Orion Magazine's most popular articles includes descriptions of developmentally appropriate environmental education activities and a list of related children's books.

Biblical Foundations of Christian Environmental Concern

Presentations by Dr. Calvin DeWitt: "Biblical Foundations of Christian Environmental Concern" as part of the Frontiers of Environmental Theology Lecture Series.

Biology: Through the Eyes of Faith

Author: Wright, Richard T. The author brings a biblical perspective to theories on origins, contrasting creationism, intelligent design, and evolution. Highlighting the unique nature of biology and its interaction with Christian thought, Wright demonstrates that Christian stewardship can be the key to a sustainable future.

Break Forth Into Joy! Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle

This video helps us take a critical look at our lifestyle choices and the shape our lives have taken. It helps us realize how our obsession with buying and owning effects the earth, other people, and the human spirit. By sharing feelings, thoughts and practical ideas from a variety of people who struggle with life in a consumer society, this video calls us toward a lifestyle that is more fulfilling and joyful.

Breakthrough: Meister Eckhart's Creation Spirituality in New Translation

Author: Meister Eckhart, Matthew Fox. Fox brilliantly interprets Eckhart's themes and creates a spiritual path for the nineties.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

St. Francis of Assisi seeks communion with the natural world by renouncing his family riches to seek his own destiny unencumbered by material possessions.

Buddhism and Ecology

Author: Batchelor, Martine and Kerry Brown, editors. Buddhism exists in many different forms in many different countries. In this book Buddhists from Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tibet and the West offer their approaches to ecology and tell of practical activities as well as Buddhist teachings and philosophy. Stories, pictures and poems add to the picture of Buddhism and ecology and the book finishes with a message from the Dalai Lama.

Care of the Earth: An Environmental Resource Manual for Church Leader

Author: Tina B. Krause, editor. A collection of essays arranged by topic. Part I: And God saw that it was good: Exploring Green Theology. Part II: What then shall we do? Developing Awareness, Assessment and Advocacy for Environmental Action through the Congregation

Caring for Creation in Your Own Backyard: Over 100 Things Christian

Author: Wilkinson, Loren and Mary Ruth Wilkinson. In this wonderfully creative and practical book, they offer more than a hundred simple things you and your family can do to make God's earth a better place in which to live. But more than this, they show you how to celebrate God's creation through the seasons of the year.

Caring for Creation: Toward an Ethic of Responsibility

Author: Rowthorn, Anne W. In "Caring for Creation", Rowthorn decries the state of our planet and reproaches us as Christians for our "lack of appreciation for the connectedness of all life." Nothing in God's world is secular, she asserts; everything created is holy and to be revered. Christians, says Rowthorn, have for too long failed to realize this, and have acted as if the holy and sacred are to be found only in places of worship or within cloistered walls. The Church's most urgent need in today's world, argues Rowthorn, is to embrace a theology of creation that will ignite in all Christians a fervent love and sense of responsibility for all God's creation.

Caring for God's Creation: A Collection of Environmentally Focused Resource Materials and Sermons

Author: Moore-Kochlacs, Peter G.

Celebrating the Earth: An Earth-Centered Theology of Worship With Blessings, Prayers, and Rituals

Author: McCarthy, Scott.

Celebration of St. Francis, 1995: "An Evening of Nature, Spirituality & the Creative Voice"

The video features Betsey Beckman in an interpretive dance based on "The Creation," by James Weldon Johnson; Brenda Peterson, Northwest nature writer with a particular interest in animals and spirituality; Bill Dietrich, Seattle Times science reporter, author of The Final Forest and Northwest Passage, the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill; Mara Grey & Peter Berry in a Celtic harp performance.

Celebration of St. Francis, 1996: "An Evening of Nature, Spirituality & the Creative Voice"

This video features Richard Nelson, award-winning author, naturalist, and anthropologist; Pattiann Rogers, poet and winner of a Pushcard Prize and the Hokin Prize for Poetry; Betsey Beckman, one of the finest liturgical dancers in the country; Dana Lyons, a dynamic singer, story teller and humorist.

Cherish the Gift: A Congregational Guide to Earth Stewardship

Author: Causey, Cindy Ubben. Pastors and lay leaders will find practical ideas and timely information in this hands-on guide to environmental stewardship for the church. A sound biblical argument calls congregations to action, followed by facts and figures that detail the current environmental woes that plague the earth. subsequent chapters focus on specific activities and programs that congregational departments can organize - from fellowship dinners, worship services, and youth groups, to the church office, educational programs, and property maintenance.

Choices for the Future, 1992; Living the Sacred Circle: Healing Time

The video features the Reverend Carla Berkedal, speaking on the environmental crisis and spirituality; Chung Liang, Al Huong, Peter Kater, piano; Mark Miller, saxophone; Dennis Weaver, actor and environmental activist.

Christian Frugality Rediscovered, with Dr. James Nash

Dr. Nash, one of the church's foremost environmental ethicists states that it is only in the last fifty years that we have separated our faith from the virtue of frugality. Earth Ministry's 1995 Fall Gathering, October 26, 1995.

Christian Nature Spirituality: What It is and Why We Need it.

Dr. Sallie McFague, Carpenter Professor of Theology at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, teaches and writes in the areas of feminist and ecological theology. Dr. McFague is a nationally-recognized leader in making connections between Christian faith/theology and care for all creation.

Christianity and Ecology

Author: Breuilly, Elizabeth and Martin Palmer, editors. Christians from very diverse backgrounds -- from Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, the Benedictine and Franciscan traditions and the World Council of Churches -- have contributed their different experiences of Christianity and ecology to this book. They look at the background to the present problems of our planet, and at biblical and Christian teaching and practice, and how these have contributed to the problem or helped in the struggle to find answers. Questions for discussion and materials for worship and meditation are included.

Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans

Author: Hessel, Dieter T., and Rosemary Radford Ruether (eds). This valuable compendium of over twenty-five papers, presented at an historic Harvard conference on Christianity and ecology, represents a broad range of current Christian scholarship on ecological crises. The papers cover ethics, theology, sustainable development, and spirituality. The book is an excellent introduction with an extensive bibliography and index.

Circle of the Spirit; a Saga of Native Americans in the Catholic Church

A saga of the Coeur d'Alene tribe of Idaho and the Lummi tribe of Washington and their relationships to the Catholic Church.

Coast Redwood - Uncut Stories

Personal stories woven with spectacular footage reveal the spirit of the old growth forests from southern Oregon to Big Sur.

Creating Sustainable Communities: Nurturing the Spirit in the Places We Live

Alan AtKisson, nationally recognized consultant, writer, and authority on matters of sustainable development: co-founder of Sustainable Seattle; former executive editor of In Context: A Quarterly of Humane Sustainable Culture. Sheila Kelly, co-chair of the Sustainable Communities Working Group for the President's Council on Sustainable Development: Trustee of Sustainable Seattle; member of design team for the Whidbey Institute.

Creation and the History of Science

Author: Kaiser, Christopher. Examines the relationship between the theology of creation and the history of science.

Creation in Crisis: Responding to God's Covenant

Author: Bhagat, Shantilal P. The author provides important background and discussion for a wide variety of issues, from the greenhouse effect to deforestation, water and waste, soil erosion and overpopulation, as well as the biosphere, biblical views of nature, creation and covenant, and lifestyle issues. Helpful appendixes list additional resources.

Creation Spirituality

Dr. Alexandra Kovats speaks on Creation Spirituality.

Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth

Author: Fox, Matthew. Passionate and provocative, Fox uncovers the ancient tradition of a creation-centered spirituality that melds Christian mysticism with the contemporary struggle for social justice, feminism, and environmentalism.

Creations Caretakers

A look at the loss of family farms in favor of larger corporate holdings dependent on chemicals, etc. It looks at both the human effect and the effect on the land.

Creatures of the Sea

An informational video that describes various sea creatures.

Cry in the Woods, A

A presentation of Siskiyou County Board of Education and Board of Supervisors, which looks at the stress produced in families of timber workers because of restrictions on logging in the Pacific Northwest due to the spotted owl.

Deep Ecology and Creation-Centered Spirituality

Author: Seigfriedt, Sarajane. A 12-week discussion guide for adults. This curriculum responds to a paper, "Cosmic Evolution: Implications for Religious Education" presented by Rev. Makanah Elizabth Morriss at the 1985 Meadville-Lombard Midwinter Institute. She set some goals for Unitarian Universalists involved in religious education, which were adopted for this curriculum. This curriculum is intended for use in UU churches and fellowships, by lay-led adult groups.

Defending Mother Earth: Native American Perspectives on Environmental Justice

Author: Weaver, Jace (ed.). Defending Mother Earth brings together important Native voices to address urgent issues of environmental devastation as they affect the indigenous peoples throughout the Americas. The essays document a range of ecological disasters, including the devastating effects of mining, water pollution, nuclear power facilities, and toxic waste dumps.

Diet for a New America and Your Health, Your Planet

Hosted by John Robbins, who discusses his theories on environmental and personal health consequences of a diet based on animal products.

Discovering Celtic Christianity

This video features Carla Berkedal: "Celtic Christian Spirituality and Worship: Its Usefulness for Our Time"; Elizabeth Davis: "Celtic Christianity: Overview of Historical Roots"; Tom Cashman: "Celtic Christian Values: How These Address Care for the Earth, and the Modern Church"; Wendy Walsh, "Modern Celtic Mysticism and Environmental Activism"

Earth & Spirit: The Spiritual Dimension of the Environmental Crisis

Author: Hull, Fritz (ed.). This anthology brings together addresses, invocations, and poems that explore the causal relationship between our relentless destruction of the natural environment and the limitations and inadequacies of our religious beliefs and spiritual values.

Earth as the Body of God

Dr. Sallie McFague, theologian from Vanderbilt University, discusses God's presence in creation.

Earth Child: Games, Stories, Activities, Experiments and Ideas About Living Lightly on Planet Earth

Author: Sheehan, Kathryn, and Mary Waidner. The book focuses on celebrating events in nature (i.e. solstices, change of season) that easily coincide with some events in faith communities. Its plays, recipes, craft projects, wealth of resources, and much more engage children in appreciating their relationships with the rest of creation.

Earth Community Earth Ethics

Author: Rasmussen, Larry. This award-winning book provides a comprehensive approach to issues of social cohesion and ecological concern, synthesizing insights from Christian theology and ethics, and environmental science in a single vision for creating a sustainable Earth community.

Earth From Space: Ambiguous Icon

Dr. Larry Resmussen's perspective is that the view of earth from space is changing our collective consciousness. Part of this change affects our sense of citizenship and responsibility, leading some to use the language of planetary or global "management." But are these changes for the better? This lecture presents an assessment of this management concept and offers an alternative.

Earthkeepers: Environmental Perspectives on Hunger, Poverty, and Injustice

Author: Art and Jocele Meyer. Should the church be involved in questions of ecology? Is there a biblical theology on which to base Christian care for the earth? How does it relate to daily living? The authors examine root causes of environmental degradation and analyze major concerns: squandering natural resources, world hunger and poverty, ozone depletion, pollution, toxic wastes...What can we do about them?

Earthkeeping in the Nineties: Stewardship of Creation

Author: Wilkinson, Loren (ed.). This greatly revised and augmented edition of "Earthkeeping" updates the original edition while retaining the same breadth of perspective, reflecting the combined insights of Christian scholars in biology, physics, economics, literature, and philosophy. The book begins by laying out, with scientific precision, the state of the planet. Several chapters then carefully examine various historical and contemporary views of creation. Next the authors survey biblical and theological teaching relative to humanity's use of creation. The book concludes by offering hopeful, practical guidelines for an earthkeeping ethic.

Earthkeeping Ministries: A New Vision for Congregations

Author: Greenstone, Suse.

EarthScore: Your Personal Environmental Audit & Guide

Author: Lotter, Donald W. While intended for personal and household use, this resource can also serve as a helpful guide for congregations that want to quantitatively evaluate their ecological “footprint” and take steps towards greater sustainability and social equity.

Earthsongs: Praying with Nature

Author: Simsic, Wayne. We need prayers - prayers that will heal the open wounds caused by our misuse of the natural world and help us to rebuild a healthy relationship with the earth. Nature prayers can best be expressed with a childlike heart - a heart that is drawn to mystery and willing to respond with reverence. The need for nature prayers inspired this book, but that is not its only focus. The book also addresses the longing each of us has to encounter nature from the depths of our life.

Eating Our Way to Oblivion: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Agriculture

Modern agriculture, addicted to oil and to poisons, strips the landscape of farmers, wildlife, biotic integrity, community, moral value, and spiritual vitality; all in an unsustainable effort to feed restless urban populations. To sustain the world we must rebuild rural communities, dense with complex systems of life - human and natural - and rich with culture, ethics, and spiritual significance. Urban communities and choices play an indispensable role in this rebuilding effort.

Eco-Church: An Action Manual

Author: Fritsch, Albert and Angela Ladavaia-Cox. This resource contains helpful audits, suggestions, and resources for individuals and congregations.

Ecology and Liberation, A New Paradigm

Author: Boff, Leonardo. Critiques common approaches to ecology, conservation and environmentalism among them. He states that these middle class approaches fail to scrutinize the systemic causes of ecological despoliation and their impact on the poor in the world.

Ecology and Religion: Toward a New Christian Theology of Nature

Author: Carmody, John.

Economics for Community: The Role of the Church

"Economics for Community: The Role of the Church." The workshop considers the kinds of communities the economy should serve and how it can serve them. Although the Church is not one of these communities, it is uniquely related to them.

Economism, Earthism, and the Christian Faith

Since World War II economic growth has replaced national power and well-being as the primary goal of society. The result of this "economism" is the exclusion of the poor and the rape of the earth. The strongest and most hopeful reaction has been a new devotion to the earth. Christians need to appraise "economism" and "earthism" and find their own contribution.

EcoSpirituality

Dr. Alexandra Kovats, of Seattle University, explores EcoSpirituality with prayer,music, and movement.

Ecotheology: Voices from South and North

Author: Hallman, David G. (editor). The ground-breaking essays by more than two dozen contributors in this book are divided into five sections: biblical witness, theological challenges, insights from ecofeminism, insights from indigenous people, and ethical implications.

Ecotherapy: Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth

Author: Howard Clinebell. This trailblazing book sheds light on humankind's most serious health challenge ever--how to save our precious planet--describes the strategic opportunities available to help the endangered human species cope constructively, and demonstrates the importance of hope, humor, and love in the process.

Embracing Earth: Catholic Approaches to Ecology

Author: Albert J. LaChance and John E. Carroll, Editors. Brings together original and seminal contributions by contemporary Catholic spiritual and mystical writers who explore the Christian view of nature and our place in it. Their writings address not only theological, philosophical, and spiritual parameters but specific, concrete issues as well.

Environmental Education - Why Bother?

This tape provides a general introduction to issues in environmental education and can be used as a discussion starter.

Environmental Education in Primary Schools

This film has been designed to show how we environmental education in primary schools can be expanded to develop concepts, skills and attitudes. This film portrays several classroom approaches as well as a whole school approach.

Environmental Education in Secondary Schools

Environmental Education has now been identified as one of five cross-curricular themes that schools have a responsibility to provide for all pupils. The film is designed to give practical help on how to plan and execute inter-departmental Environmental Education. It highlights the environment as a stimulating resource for secondary schools.

Environmental Ethics in Action

Dr. Robert Stivers, professor of Ethics at Pacific Lutheran University addresses the question of how religious people are to minister to the earth. The process of discerning how to do this begins in personal faith and its empowering spirituality. Enabled to act with integrity, Christians seek guidelines in the traditions of the Church and their own experience of the Holy Spirit.

Environmental Stewardship Resource Manual

Author: Environmental Stewardship Committee. This manual can be used by lay Christians, priests, youth groups, deacons, bishops -- in short, by anybody--as an introduction to Christian environmental stewardship and as a source of materials for a wide range of activities. The manual's contents can be used for reflection, worship preparation, Christian education, and as a source of ideas for actions that you can take in your home, workplace, church, and community.

Exploring Voluntary Simplicity: Three Perspectives

Three presentations on voluntary simplicity.

Extinction of Experience, with Bob Pyle

VEM 045-1: Bob Pyle speaks at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, on October 18, 1991, sponsored by Cathedral Associates and the Ecology-Spirituality Group. VEM 045-2: Reverend Carla Berkedal and the Rev. Peter Holroyd speak on October 18, 1991

Food, Earth, and Care of the Soul

Earth Ministry's Fall Gathering, October 19, 1996 , Food for Life Project:. "Food, Earth, and Care of the Soul". Presentations by leaders in the food & faith field.

For the Common Good

A.uthor: Cobb, John B. Jr. and Herman Daly. A landmark work by an eminent theologian (Cobb) and an equally eminent economist (Daly). This book examines how our economy works, how it affects societies and bioregions, and offers a model for redirecting it to enhance both human and non-human communities.

Forty Nights: Creation Centered Night Prayer

Author: Daniel J. McGill. "Forty Nights" is a volume of services for individual or communal use modeled after the Liturgy of the Hours and deeply sensitive to the connection between the earth environment and human prayer. Each of the night prayer services is thematically developed. They bring together psalms, Christian prayers and hymns, and writings of mystics and naturalists, with liberal borrowings from many religious traditions.

From Creation to New Creation: Old Testament Perspectives

Author: Bernhard W. Anderson. Princeton theologian Bernhard Anderson explores the historical, mythopoeic, and theological dimensions of classic Old Restament reflections on the motif of creation. The result is an abundance of fresh insight and compelling exegesis that have implications for human life and thought today.

Fruits of Creation: A Look at Global Sustainability as Seen Through the Eyes of George Washington Carver

Author: Ferrell, John S.

Geo-Justice: A Preferential Option for the Earth

Author: James A. Conlon.

Global Warming & Christianity: Is There a Connection?

Dr. Sallie McFague, Carpenter Professor of Theology at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, teaches and writes in the areas of feminist and ecological theology. Dr. McFague is a nationally-recognized leader in making connections between Christian faith/theology and care for all creation.

Global Warming & Species Extinction

VEM 066-1: Intro/meditation: Reverend Pascal Nelson. Presentation: Dr. George Gilchrist discusses global warming, species extinction. VEM 066-2: Panel Discussion with audience questions on relationship between spirituality, science, and public policy.

God in Creation: A New Theology of Creation and the Spirit of God

Author: Jürgen Moltmann. The title expresses the book's intention: not to go on distinguishing between God and the world, so as then to surrender the world, as godless, to its scientific 'disenchantment' and its technical exploitation by human beings, but instead to discover God in all the beings he has created and to find his life-giving Spirit in the community of creation that they share.

God is Green: Ecology for Christians

Author: Bradley, Ian. A simple yet superb explanation of why Christians should be environmentalists, God Is Green shows, through the Bible and other ancient writings, how at the heart of Christian belief is a sense of a sacred world. By rebutting the charges against Christianity--its alleged arrogance toward nature and its glorification of man at nature's expense--Bradley has crafted a book that both appeals and challenges.

God so Loved the World: Nature and the Christian

Carla Berkedal speaks on Nature and the Christian tradition.

God's Earth Our Home: A resource for congregational study and action on environmental and economic justice

Author: Bhagat, Shantilal P.

Good Food

Producer: Moving Images Video Project, Bullfrog Films. Meet a handful of the Pacific North West’s small scale organic farmers in this documentary about local producers. This excellent documentary tells the story of small scale agriculture in the region and why it is necessary to health and the environment.

Green Guidance: How to Plan Environmentally Responsible Events

Author: Sparr, Pamela. A well packaged guide for environmentally responsible meetings and events. Rich with a variety of resources that may be used in many areas of church life.

Greening of Faith; Why the Environment is a Christian Concern

These two videos explore the religious dimensions of caring for the earth. Theologians and environmentalists offer helpful ecumenical perspectives on one of the most pressing - and exciting- ares of faith and ethics.

Growing Season

Catherine Sneed, founder of The Greenhouse Project shares the programs in which San Francisco County Jail inmates learn to care for plants, animals and themselves. They learn a new sense of self-worth, respect for life, and connection to the community.

Guide to Resource Efficient Church Buildings

Author: Mumma, Tracy. This guide deals with the responsible use of God’s gifts in constructing churches. It considers “embodied energy” (energy spent in production and transportation of materials), recycling, and the disposal of construction waste. This guide also gives a list of manufacturers of resource efficient building materials.

Having Enough in a Have More World; Lifestyles For a Living Planet

Speaker Vicki Robin, New Road Map Foundation, challenges us to reduce consumption and define what is enough for each of us.

Healing and Defending God’s Creation: Hands On! Practical Ideas for Congregations

Author: White, Vera K. This resource book/curricula has the following sections: (1) Discipleship and Worship; (2) Learning and Teaching (providing lesson plans for preschool children through adults); (3) Lifestyle (individual and communal lifestyle choices); (4) Reusing, Reducing, and Recycling (exploring consumption habits); and (5) Legislation, Public Policy, and Community Involvement.

Hinduism and Ecology: Seeds of Truth

Author: Ranchor Prime. This book looks at the environmental values of the Hindu tradition -- its past and present teachings and practice. In it the author speaks to prominent Hindu environmental activists and thinkers, presents their ideas and explains what they are doing.

Hope for the Earth: A Handbook for Christian Environmental Groups

Author: Sharon Delgado. This handbook is based on the belief that several themes from the Wesleyan tradition can help the church become a powerful force in the struggle to bring about a just and sustainable world.

Household Ecoteam Workbook: A Six-month Program to Bring Your Household into Environmental Balance

Author: Gershon, David and Robert Gilman. This workbook divides environmental concerns into six areas and recommends that small groups meet regularly (over a six-month period) to address these areas: water efficiency, energy efficiency, transportation, and garbage/waste reduction. Each month, the group can take specific actions in order to implement ideas within a household or church congregation.

How Can We Live in Community with Creation?

Author: Simpson, James.

How Much is Enough?

Alan Durning of Worldwatch Institute speaks on the effects of our excessive consumption on the world environment.

How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature

Author: Tony Campolo. "In anticipation of His coming, we must go to work today and contribute to the work which He will complete on the day of His coming."

Hutterites, The; To Care and Not to Care

The Hutterites are a society in which faithfulness to Christ's teaching is more important than self-advancement or worldly comforts. They live strict communal lives based on the teachings of the Bible, while farming over a million acres in Canada and the United States using the most advanced farm equipment.

In the Beginning There was Joy: A Creation Story for All Ages

Author: Matthew Fox.

Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World

Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World-- a stunning exhibit of wildlife photography--brings you face to face with the incredible plants and animals of our planet: species big and small, familiar and exotic, but all are threatened by a rapidly warming world.

Islam and Ecology

Author: Fazlun Khalid with Joanne O'Brien, editors. The word of Allah revealed in the Qur'an is at the heart of Muslim life. The duties and obligations of humans to each other and to the created world that are contained in its verses are central to Islam, and the laws that guide Muslim action reflect an inherent concern for ecology. In this book Muslim perspectives on issues as wide-ranging as animal husbandry, desert reclamation, international trade, and science are addressed through discussion, examples, stories, and quotations.

Judaism and Ecology

Author: Aubrey Rose, editor. In this book Aubrey Rose OBE, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, guides the reader with humour, wisdom, and enthusiasm through age-old ecological teachings of the Jewish faith; its ceremonies, law and resources for developing a right attitude to creation; the contribution of modern Israel to the world's environment; and practical action by Jews world-wide.

Just and Proper Use: Issues in Environmental Stewardship

Author: Judy Scherff. Episcopalians pray for "the just and proper use" of God's creation. While they pray, the rain forests are being eradicated, more and more animal species become extinct, the burning of fossil fuels goes unchecked and the impoverished bear the brunt of pollution and environmental decay. These are properly the issues of the church, author Judy Scherff insists in this booklet, and to respond to the needs of the earth is to fulfill our very baptismal vows. At the root of the environmental crisis is greed, and the undoing of our greed is always the hope of every Christian -- and perhaps the only hope for the planet.

Keeping and Healing the Creation

Author: Presbyterian Eco-Justice Task Force. "Keeping and Healing the Creation" provides the theological and ethical basis for the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly's policy. As envisioned from the beginning, it is part of the educational program of the church, as well as the church's ecumenical discussions. It contains a study guide and an excerpt from the General Assembly policy. A brief video entitled "Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice" is intended to be used along with the study guide. A list of resources is included at the end of the book for your use.

Keeping the Earth: Religious and Scientific Perspectives on the Environment

Producer: Union of Concerned Scientists and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (1996). This inspirational, twenty-seven-minute video (with discussion guide) features prominent scientists and religious leaders who share their perspectives on the need to protect creation. To order, go to the Union of Concerned Scientists' website.

Let Me Tell You a Story, Let Me Sing You a Song

Join a morning of songs and stories celebrating God's Creation. Led by the Rev. John Schramm, a talented story teller and Lutheran minister from Minneapolis, and Ray Makeever, a wonderful ballad singer from Dubuque, Iowa.

Let's Talk about the People

Written and performed by the EcoSound class of 1994. (Urban Youth for the Environment). An Environmental Justice! documentary and music-video sponsored by Metropolitan King County Council member Ron Sims, Seattle, WA.

Life on Earth

Life on Earth is the story of how a few of earth's four million animals and plants came to be and their solutions for staying alive.

Liturgy for Sustainable Communities

Sponsored by Seattle University, Theological Education to Meet the Environmental Challenge (TEMEC), the Whidbey Insitute, and Earth Ministry, this is a liturgical celebration of Earth Day 1997 held at the newly dedicated Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University.

Living More with Less

Author: Longacre, Doris Janzen. Longacre provides a pattern for living with less and a wealth of practical suggestions from around the world in chapters on money, clothing, homes, transportation and travel, celebrations, and recreation.

Loons

This is the story of one family of common loons from the day the adults return to their traditional nesting island to the day they lead the chicks away. The call of the loon and the lake region's natural ambiance will transform your easy chair into a comfortable seat at the water's edge.

Love the Earth and Be Healed

Author: Produced by the United Methodist Communications Office. This series of six videos (about twenty-five minutes each) examines real-life case studies and includes reflections from some of the most articulate voices within the field of eco-theology: Sallie McFague, John Cobb, Cal DeWitt, and Jay McDaniel. To order, call (800) 967-0880.

Love Thy Neighbor: Parish Resources for Faithfulness in Creation

Author: Irish, Carolyn Tanner. This comprehensive program is designed to answer questions like: What are the religious dimensions of the environmental problem? What books and films can we use as parish resources? How can we incorporate creation issues in liturgy? How can children and young people be part of efforts to reorient our lifestyles?

Loving Our Neighbor, The Earth: Creation-Spirituality Activities for 9-11 Year-Olds

Author: Jenkins, Christie L. This curriculum consists of twenty lessons for children and teaches them to enjoy creation and the Creator, and care for creation. Topics include water conservation, cultivating the Earth, “God and Garbage,” learning the stars, and more. Contains photocopiable handouts.

My Life: A Steward's Life

Author: Fillette, Barbara. A broadly graded stewardship education program for children ages four through grade two and children in grades three through six. This five-session course can be used in your congregation during a stewardship emphasis, for a special study, or as a resource for a five-day vacation school program. Each session is designed for a one-hour time frame but offers a wide variety of activities adn can be easily expanded.

Natural Prayer: Encountering God in Nature

Author: Wayne Simsic. Wonder, reverence, and praise in encounter with the beauty of nature.

Ocean Life

Describes life in the ocean.

Of God and Pelicans: A Theology of Reverence for Life

Author: Jay B. McDaniel. This is not a book merely about pelicans and God. It is a book about all living things on earth, both inanimate and animate: trees, rivers, animals, and people - the hungry, the lost, the forgotten, and the victimized.

One God, One Family, One Earth: Responding to the Gifts of God’s Creation

Author: Hill, Eleanor R., Alfred E. Persons, et. al. This introductory, six-session curriculum is divided into three groupings: One God (Think Globally), One Family (Act Locally), and One Earth (Commit Individually). This curriculum also contains an extensive list of other Episcopal, environmental resources.

Our Only Home: Planet Earth; A Gift From God

A Bible study based on the ecology policy statement of American Baptist Churches USA. Author: Ecology and Racial Justice Program, National Ministries. As we follow Jesus out of doors into the ebb and flow of creation, we will discover that mountain top experiences cannot be separated from the needs of human beings for physical and spiritual healing.

Our Sustainable Table

Editor: Robert Clark. A collection of essays about our off-track relationship with food, the land, and the people who farm it.

Passion for the Earth: The Christian Vocation to Promote Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation

Author: Sean McDonagh. Challenging the Church to respond to environmental degradation, Sean McDonagh examines newly-industrialized nations and looks at the effects on the environment of GATT. Examples are given from many countries. Sean McDonagh also wrote "The Greening of the Church" and "To Care for the Earth".

Penguins and Otters

Describes the habits of penguins and otters in an entertaining format.

Population and People of Faith; It's About Time

Exploration of the issues of population growth, its underlying causes and steps needed to slow growth.

Praying with Francis of Assisi

Author: Joseph M. Stoutzenbarger and John D. Bohrer. Praying with Francis of Assisi is not a biography about St. Francis, but a way of praying with him. Those who use this book will learn that Francis' spirituality fits naturally into Christian tradition and reflects his great love for the Jesus of the Gospels.

Praying with Julian of Norwich

Author: Gloria Durka. "Dr. Gloria Durka gives us in one book an experience of meditation, an insight into a right and complicated social epoch, a quiet argument for women's rights, and a practical encounter with a thinker".... Dr. Anthony Padovano, Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Project Fragile Earth; Vacation Church School Curriculum for Caretake

Author: Camille Hegg, Jane McGuignan and Deana Trott

Reclaiming America: Restoring Nature to Culture

Author: Richard Cartwright Austin. Volume 4 of 4 in a comprehensive, systematic statement of environmental theology by a Christian teacher. In this stand-alone volume, focuses on restoring a love and reverence of nature to modern culture.

Reclaiming the Connection: A Contemporary Spirituality

Author: Kathleen Fischer. "Reclaiming the Connections" offers a vision, both clear and practical of the interconnectedness of all things. The realization that we live in such a universe will change how we work and pray, how we relate to one another and to God, to ourselves. Kathleen Fischer calls us not only to contemplation but to solicitude for the earth. In short, "Reclaiming the Connections" answers our yearning for a spirituality of interconnectedness.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Author: Oregon Ecumenical Center for Environmental Action. A look at the problem, the theological basis for recycling, benefits of recycling, economics, opportunities, success stories, and practical tools for starting a recycling program in the church. Includes extensive lists of practical resources and congregational tools.

Reducing Energy Costs in Religious Buildings

Addresses methods to reduce energy costs in churches and parochial schools.

Reflections on the Land Ethic

Estella Leopold, University of Washington botany professor and daughter of Aldo Leopold (Sand County Almanac), shares her views of the land ethic, how the family learned and practiced it in Wisconsin, and how well we're following it now in Washington State. Talk is 30 minutes, followed by discussion. Earth Ministry Gathering, 1992.

RENEWAL: Stories from America’s Religious-Environmental Movement

RENEWAL is the first feature-length documentary film to capture the vitality and diversity of today's religious-environmental activists. From within their Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim traditions, Americans are becoming caretakers of the Earth. With great courage, these women, men and children are re-examining what it means to be human and how we live on this planet.

Resources for Outdoor Retreats; Journey into Nature, Journey into the Heart

Author: Bob Grgic. Filled with well-chosen resources to help you design your own outdoor retreats and prayer experiences. You will find clearly outlined directions, imaginative suggestions and handouts for retreatants' participation.

Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice

Presents the diversity and beauty of nature along with equally dramatic scenes of creation's pain and the injustice suffered by human beings. Also focuses on God's work to heal and restore creation.

Saving Life on Earth

An overview of activities of the World Wildlife Fund to preserve wildlife habitat.

Seeing the People and the Trees

Presentation by Cathy Richardson, sociologist at the University of Washington School of Forestry, about varying perceptions on use and degradation of forests held by different people involved: agency employees, private landowners, loggers, etc. Earth Ministry Fall Gathering, 11/21/92

Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality

Author: Matthew Fox. Through an interview technique, Fox uses Aquinas's writings as a lamp to shed light on the sacralization of nature, the importance of wonder, the ethics of empowerment, passion as the seat of all virtue, and the wealth of images available to describe God.

Simple Living: a Six-part Reflection for Small Groups

Author: Susan DeWitt, Linda Haydock, Wes Howard-Brook. Each booklet focuses on a different facet of simple living: getting started, walking gently on the Earth, time, money, technology, and community. The sessions are presented in a context of prayer and ritual, with consideration of both the personal and global effects of our choices.

Simplicity as Compassion - Chee Yoke Ling

For use with Simplicity as Compassion Curriculum, by Michael Schut, produced by Earth Ministry.

Simplicity: The Art of Living

Author: Richard Rohr. Rohr, a Franciscan priest and internationally known speaker, was invited to Germany in 1990 to present a series of sermons on the spiritual life. This book is a compilation of some of those talks.

Six Billion & More: Human Population Regulation and Christian Ethics

Author: Susan Power Bratton. Drawing on information from demographers, economists, ecologists, and sociologists, Bratton argues that individuals should use Christian values when dealing with the regulation of human population.

Social and Environmental Justice: A Necessary Integration

Frontiers of Environmental Theology Lecture Series

Spirit & Nature, with Bill Moyers

At Middlebury College in Vermont, representatives of major world religions join the community to wrestle with the challenge of the deepening global environmental crisis. They address the ethical and spiritual aspects of our ecological concerns by raising issues of responsibility for each other and for the species on the planet, our interrelationship with other parts of the cosmos, and the need to see nature as sacred.

Spirit of Fire: The Life and Vision of Teilhard de Chardin

Author: Ursula King. Lavishly illustrated with photos and selections from Teilhard de Chardin's writing, this is the biography of this century's most fascinating religious figures. This is the ideal introduction to the life and thought of this modern Catholic mystic whose powerful vision and life-affirming spirituality speak even more vitally to the concerns of our time.

Spirit of the Sound

Explore's Puget Sound, one of the richest wildlife habitats in North America. Includes footage of harbor seals, salmon, bird migrations, and underwater life.

Spiritual Ecology: A Guide to Reconnecting with Nature

Author: Jim Nollman. An optimistic handbook on how to reconnect with the ancient spiritual ecology of the Earth, foster health, and employ resources practically and effectively to reverse environmental degradation and decline.

Spirituality and the Earth: A Native American Perspective

Ted Strong serves as a persuasive advocate for tribal ecosystem management philosophies and goals, which combine contemporary technology and business acumen with the traditional natural values of the Columbia River Indian People. As Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Mr. Strong implements the consensus policies of the commission's parent tribes: the Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla, and Nez Perce.

Stories in the Land: A Place-based Environmental Education Anthology

Author: John Elder. Stories in the Land is an excellent handbook for teachers who wish to explore place-based learning with their students.

Sustainability, Economics, Ecology, and Justice

Author: Cobb, John B., Jr.. This book, a collection of essays written over a ten-year period, is an approachable treatment of the economic and environmental linkages explored in For the Common Good.

Sustaining the Common Good; A Christian Perspective on the Global Economy

Author: John B. Cobb, Jr. This book is an analysis of the assumptions of the economic theory on which the current global economy is based and of the dramatic increase in poverty for most of the world to which the global economy has led.

Teaching Kids to Love the Earth; Sharing a Sense of Wonder: 186 Outdoor Activities for Parents and Other Teachers

Author: Marina Lachecki Herman

Tending the Garden: Essays on the Gospel and the Earth

Editor: Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. "Tending the Garden" calls the church back to its biblical and theological roots so that it may understand freshly its task of stewardship. Rich in biblical insight and creative theological work, the book examines the relationship of God, humanity, and all creation. The author's goal is to develop a specifically biblical environmental ethic, not merely to lend unqualified support to the increasingly popular cultural ethic to preserve the earth.

The Body of God: An Ecological Theology

Author: Sallie McFague. The Body of God gives a broad overview of “the ecological crisis,” as well as McFague's interpretation and revision of a time-honored, Christian theology that has the strength to confront the crisis.

The Car and the City; 24 Steps to Safe Streets and Healthy Communities

Author: Alan Thein Durning. Many people recognize that the increasing number of automobiles is choking our cities--polluting our air, endangering our streets, and isolating us from our communities. This book shows how resurgent cities could make cars work again, and even solve problems ranging from oil wars to urban decay, rising seas to violent crime.

The Christian Faith and the Ecological Crisis

Author: Alvin Pitcher. A Holden Village resource. While on a nine month sabbatical at Holden Village, Alvin Pitcher, studied the environmental issues of the late 1980s. The writings contained in "The Christian Faith and the Ecological Crisis" represent his personal journey, always oriented toward making up his mind about what the issues are and what might be done about them by an ordinary lay member of a church or any ordinary citizen.

The Consumer Society

Editors: Neva R. Goodwin, Frank Ackerman, and David Kiron. The Consumer Society provides brief summaries of the most important and influential writings on the environmental, moral, and social implications of a consumer society and consumer lifestyles.

The Consuming Passion: Christianity and the Consumer Culture

Editor: Rodney Clapp. Convinced that nothing may influence and affect the faith of Christians in the Western, "developed" world so much as consumerism, the editor of Consuming Passion has brought together articles showing how people of faith might best respond to this reality.

The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology and the Scientific Revolution

Author: Merchant, Carolyn. Merchant traces the development of attitudes toward women and nature in Western philosophical and religious traditions. A germinal eco-feminist work.

The Earth is God's: A Theology of American Culture

Author: William A. Dyrness. William Dyrness, who teaches theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, provides an evangelical, relational, and trinitarian rethinking of divine creation and concepts of culture in response to issues of identity, ecology, and aesthetics.

The Earth is the Lord's: Christians and the Environment

Editors: Richard D. Land and Louis A. Moore. Combining the traditionally conservative issue of religion with the traditionally liberal issue of protecting the environment is a difficult task. Land does it well in this book and provides an introduction for those interested in protecting the environment from a Christian standpoint.

The Environment

Author: Larry Dunlap-Berg. An adult curriculum for environmentally-focused bible study.

The Environmental Movement & the Church: Do We Share Common Ground?

Presenters: David Ortman: Director, Northwest Office, Friends of the Earth; Steve Whitney: Pacific Northwest Regional Director, The Wilderness Society.

The Episcopal Church and the Environmental Crisis

A Call for Religious Leadership to Protect God's Creation. A Report Submitted to the 117th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Author: Environmental Task Force, Diocese of Newark. "In response to a rising outcry of voices expressing concern for the deteriorating state of the Earth, Bishop John S. Spong created this Task Force on the Environment in order to report on the crucial evidence at hand and 'to present resolutions for debate at the next Episcopal Diocesan Convention in January, 1991.'"

The Episcopal Church in Communion with Creation: Policy and Action

Publisher: New York: Episcopal Church Center, 1990. Episcopal Church's denominational statement on the environment.

The Good Rain: Across Time and Terrain in The Pacific Northwest

Author: Timothy Egan. New York Times reporter Egan interweaves personal experiences and conversations with observations of nature and historical information. He travels through Washington, Oregon, and southern Vancouver, following the route taken by an earlier traveler, Theodore Winthrop, 150 years ago.

The Great Warming

A sweep around the world to reveal how a changing climate is affecting the lives of people everywhere. It includes comments from scientists and opinion-makers about America's lack of leadership in what is certainly the most critical environmental issue of the 21st century, as well as new scenes documenting the emerging voice of the American Evangelical community urging action on climate change. Starring Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morissette.

The Green Sanctuary Handbook: Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Religious Buildings and Grounds

Author: Rachel Stark, Robert Murphy, Brian Reddington. The Seventh Principle Project was established in 1991 by a group of Unitarian Universalists committed to finding ways to live their faith in a more ecologically sustainable way. With EcoSpirit New England, SPP founders published the Green Sanctuary Handbook as a resource for members to accomplish this goal.

The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos: Humanity and the New Story

Author: Brian Swimme. Following the most recent scientific discoveries about the birth of the universe, this text shows how these new insights replace outmoded ways of seeing the world, bridging the chasm between science and spirituality, the physical realm and the soul.

The Hymn of the Sun

Author: St. Francis of Assisi. The first illustrated version of St. Francis of Assisi's beloved poem.

The Lord's House: A Guide to Creation Careful Management of Church Facilities

Author: Frederick W. Krueger. Practical advice on energy efficiency, landscaping and church grounds, and new purchases.

The Travail of Nature: The Ambiguous Ecological Promise of Christian Theology

Author: Santmire, H. Paul. In his germinal work, Santmire explores how Christian theologians and church figures, through the centuries, have thought about nature. This important book, at times heavy theologically, is one of the few books that present a broad historical overview of a Christian theology of nature.

The Trees' Birthday: A Celebration of Nature

Author: Ellen Bernstein. Ellen Bernstein founded Shomrei Adamah, the first national Jewish environmental organization.

The Universe Story: Its Significance for Our Time

Presentations from Father Thomas Berry.

Theology and Public Policy: The Ethics of Population, Consumption and Environment

Author: Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy.

Theology for Earth Community: A Field Guide

Editor: Dieter T. Hessel. Authors assess what various theologians have to offer, and draw implications for reshaping religious and environmental studies, as well as preparing the next generations of church leaders or pastoral workers.

Thomas Berry: Dreamer of the Universe

An intimate conversation with Father Thomas Berry, one of the great spiritual thinkers. Father Berry is "the most provocative figure among this new breed of eco-theologians."

Three Models for Faith-Based Environmental Action

Dr. Larry Rasmussen: "Three Models for Faith-Based Environmental Action." Three deep traditions are explored as a basis for church-based and interfaith-based environmental action: 1) the ascetic/monastic tradition; 2) the sacramentalist/eucharistic tradition; 3) the prophetic/liberationist tradition.

Tis a Gift to Be Simple: Embracing the Freedom of Living with Less

Authors: Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen. This simple book shares the authors' experience and their discovery of the value of uncluttering their lives through the choice of simplicity.

To Till and to Tend: A Guide to Jewish Environmental Study and Action

Author: Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. The Jewish community is presented here with a three-part challenge to accept environmental activism as a practical and a spiritual obligation: (1) scientific fact sheets, with what-you-can-do sidebars; (2) essays on Jewish environmental teachings; (3) nineteen hands-on programs and activities for every age group.

To Till It and Keep it: New Models for Congregational Involvement with the Land

Author: Dan Guenthner. The Environmental Stewardship and Hunger Education Office funded the publication of To Till It and Keep It, a book by Wisconsin CSA farmer Dan Guenthner which explains Congregation Supported Agriculture and its benefits.

Together in the Garden

A pre- Earth Summit look at what the church's role should be in relation to global survival. This video provides groups in your church with a challenging message concerning their responsibility for the future.

Toward Sustainable Communities; A Curriculum to Teach Environmental Justice, Sustainability, and Theology within Christian Churches

Author: Michael W. Schut. Curriculum for teaching environmental justice, sustainability, and theology within Christian churches.

Toxic Waste and Race in the United States

Author: Commission on Racial Justice, United Church of Christ. This crucial 1987 report showed race to be the most significant factor when siting hazardous waste facilities, nationwide.

Urban Wildlife Enhancement

Tricia Thompson of the Washington Department of Wildlife speaks to the St. Mark's Cathedral (Seattle) Ecology/Spirituality Group on March 11, 1992, about effects of urbanization on wildlife and prospects for restoring the St. Mark's greenbelt.

Using God's Resources Wisely: Isaiah and Urban Possibility

Author: Walter Brueggemann. New and different readings of biblical texts are one consequence of a growing awareness of the environmental crisis and how it relates to social relations, especially in urban settings. Brueggemann explores readings from Isaiah an dhow they relate to the environment and urban crisis. He approaches the readings as an artistic-theological history of the city of Jerusalem -- a case study of urban environmental crisis that resulted from a lost sense of covenantal neighborliness. This resource is an excellent tool for Bible study groups and pastors who are concerned with our current urban situation.

Using God's World: in Christian Education

Author: Elaine M. Ward

Visions of Justice

A portion of the Vision of Justice conference held November 1, 1996, at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle. The conference focused on peace, racism, the environment and economic justice as issues within the Episcopal Church.

Wake Up, Dorothy! A Hunger Education Resource

Inner city youths narrate in rap-like fashion an exploration of their relationship to the urban environment, coming to a realization of the call of Christian stewardship.

Watching the Whales

Spend a half hour with some of the most fascinating animals on earth - whales and dolphins.

Water You Doing?

Middle school curriculum on water quality prepared by Seattle Drainage and Wastewater Utility. Includes manual.

We are God's People: Stories of Faith for the Family of God

Performance Edition. Author: Betsy Beckman, Lisa von Stamwitz and Jeanne Cotter. Through this performance piece the prophetic voice of our children has a chance to be heard by the whole family of God. In this script we find children's own stories of faith woven together with song and gesture into a celebration of lie. These heart-felt stories and vignettes reflect children's experience of God, themselves, and their world. They are children's own words of struggle with grief, illness, divorce, and violence as well as expressions of joy in new life, hope, love, and reconciliation. Children present their stories in the form of readers' theater.

Whose World Is It?; Responding to God's Covenant with the Earth

Author: George H. Kehm

Wilderness and Spirituality

Dr. Doug Thorpe speaks at St. Paul's, Seattle, February 23, 1992, on the connection between wilderness and spirituality, using examples from literature.

Wisdom of our Elders, The

Hazel Wolf has lived in Seattle since 1923 and has witnessed first-hand much of the development of both its land and its local society, a history most of us only read about. She has also had more than seventy years of active involvement in environmental and social justice issues; among them acting as secretary of the Seattle Audubon Society and founding member of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice.

Women Healing Earth; Third World Women on Ecology, Feminism, and Religion

Author: Rosemary Radford Ruether, editor. In Women Healing Earth, noted theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether brings together illuminating writings of fourteen Latin American, Asian, and African women on the meaning of eco-theological issues in their own contexts - and the implications they have for women in teh first world.

Worldviews and Ecology; Religion, Philosophy, and the Environment

Author: Mary Evelyn Tucker and John A. Grim, editors. The original writings of Worldviews and Ecology creatively present and interpret worldviews of major religious and philosophical traditions on how humans can live more sustainably on a fragile planet.

Your Money or Your Life: A Group Study Guide for Contemporary Christians

To be used with the book "Your Money or Your Life" by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. Produced by the New Road Map Foundation. If Jesus returned to Earth and paid us a visit, what might he think of the way we live? Would he see us as responsible and compassionate stewards of creation? Contemporary Christians face a major challenge: aligning their everyday actions in the realm of money with their deepest values. This study guide was created in response to hundreds of requests form church members and clergy who had already discovered for themselves the power of the program in "Your Money or Your Life."

Your Money or Your Life; Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence

Author: Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. There's a big difference between "making a living" and making a life. Do you spend more than you earn? Does making a living feel more like making a dying? Do you dislike your job but can't afford to leave it? Is money fragmenting your time, your relationships with family and friends? If so, Your Money or Your Life is for you.

Your Will Be Done on Earth: Eco-Spirituality Activities for 12-15 Year-olds

Author: Jenkins, Christie L. Eighteen easy-to-follow lesson plans combine theology and science to provide background information, activity ideas, and photocopiable handouts on issues such as habitat and species loss, animal rights, environmental degradation, and global warming. To order, go to Resource Publications, Inc.'s website.

Denominational Statements

American Baptist Churches
Brethren
Episcopal
Evangelical
Interdenominational
Lutheran (ELCA)
Mennonite
Orthodox
Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
Quaker (Religious Society of Friends)
Reformed Church in America
Roman Catholic
Unitarian Universalist
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church

American Baptist Churches (www.abc-usa.org)

Excerpted from “The American Baptist Policy Statement on Ecology,” in Our Only Home: Planet Earth. The full text can be found online here.

“The study of ecology has become a religious, social, and political concern because every area of life is affected by careless use of our environment. The creation is in crisis. We believe that ecology and justice, stewardship of creation, and redemption are interdependent. Our task is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ until the coming of the Kingdom on Earth. All God’s people must be guided by the balance of reverence, the acknowledgment of our interdependence, the integrity of divine wholeness and the need for empowerment by the Holy Spirit to image God by our dominion over creation (Mark 10:43-45). If we image God we will reflect in our dominion the love and the care that God has for the whole creation, ‘for God so loved the world...’ (John 3:16, Romans 8:21-22, Matthew 5:43-48).”

Brethren (www.brethren.org/)

Excerpted from Creation: Called to Care, Statement of the Church of the Brethren 1991 Annual Conference. The full text can be found online here.

“Why should Christians care about the environment? Simply because we learn in Genesis that God has promised to fulfill all of creation, not just humanity, and has made humans the stewards of it. More importantly, God sent Christ into the very midst of creation to be ‘God with us’ and to fulfill the promise to save humankind and nature. God’s redemption makes the creation whole, the place where God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven.

"God’s promises are not mere pledges. They are covenants. And covenants are agreements between people and between people and God. The covenants with Noah and Abraham and the New Covenant mean that people of faith are responsible for their part in renewing and sustaining the creation.

“This statement helps us to see the degradation of the earth as sin, our sin. We, the people who have accepted the redeeming love of God, have broken the covenant to care for creation. The challenge in [this] paper is to confess our sin, to take seriously our role as stewards of the earth, and to work for the renewal of creation.”

Episcopal (www.eenonline.org)

Excerpted from 70^th General Convention’s Resolution entitled Affirm Environmental Responsibility and Establish an Environmental Stewardship Team, 1991-a195. More past and pending resolutions can be found here.

“Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirming our responsibility for the earth in trust for this and future generations:

“Declares that Christian Stewardship of God’s created environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency;

Calls on all citizens of the world, and Episcopalians in particular, to live their lives as good stewards with responsible concern for the sustainability of the environment and with appreciation for the global interdependence of human life and the natural worlds; and

“Urges all Episcopalians to reflect on their personal and corporate habits in the use of God’s creation; to share with one another ideas for new responses; and to act as individuals, congregations, dioceses, and provinces of the Episcopal Church in ways that protect and heal all interdependent parts of creation. Such action should include prayerful theological discernment and factual knowledge. It should also consider global and local links and the balance of environmental integrity with economic sufficiency for human living; and be it further

“Resolved, That the Episcopal Church, acknowledging the sovereignty of God and God’s call to us in the servanthood of Christ, continue to engage environmental issues, passionately caring for the earth and striving to live into the promises and mandates which are ours as stewards of creation; and be it further

“Resolved, That this Convention calls upon the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to appoint an interdisciplinary, multicultural Environmental Stewardship Team, 14 members, representing each Province and a broad spectrum of Church membership, whose gifts and expertise are suitable to the task. The mission of the Environmental Stewardship Team is to educate, motivate and facilitate congregations, dioceses and provinces toward local and regional plans, advocacy and action. The Team will work with other environmental groups of common interest …”

Evangelical (www.creationcare.org)

Because the term “Evangelical” covers a wide variety of Christian denominations and non-denominational churches, there is not one Evangelical statement, per se, on creation. Below, you will find an exemplary statement, excerpted from the EEN’s publication: An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, committed to the full authority of the Scriptures, and aware of the ways we have degraded creation, we believe that biblical faith is essential to the solution of our ecological problems.

“...We and our children face a growing crisis in the health of the creation in which we are embedded, and through which, by God’s grace, we are sustained. Yet we continue to degrade that creation. ...Thus we call on all those who are committed to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to affirm the following principles of biblical faith [e.g., a transcendent, yet immanent, loving Creator God created and cares for creation; humans, created in the image of God, are called to care for creation], and to seek ways of living out these principles in our personal lives, our churches, and society. ...We believe that in Christ there is hope, not only for men, women and children, but also for the rest of creation which is suffering from the consequences of human sin.”

Interdenominational (www.nrpe.org, www.webofcreation.org)

As with the Evangelical churches, it is difficult to offer a comprehensive, interdenominational statement. As an interdenominational example, here is a portion of the NRPE’s mission statement.

“With a commitment ‘to be ourselves, together,’ each of our faith groups is implementing distinctive programs on behalf of a common mission: We act in faith to cherish and protect God’s creation. Our goal is to integrate commitment to global sustainability and environmental justice permanently into all aspects of religious life.”

Lutheran (www.elca.org)

Excerpted from “A Social Statement on Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice,” adopted by the ELCA on August 28, 1993. The full text can be found online here.

“Christian concern for the environment is shaped by the Word of God spoken in creation, the Love of God hanging on a cross, the breath of God daily renewing the face of the Earth. We of the ELCA are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally . . . We know care for the Earth to be a profoundly spiritual matter . . . Humans, in service to God, have special roles on behalf of the whole of creation. Made in the image of God, we are called to care for the Earth as God cares for the Earth. God’s command to have dominion and subdue the Earth is not a license to dominate and exploit. Human dominion (Genesis 1:28, Psalm 8), a special responsibility, should reflect God’s way of ruling as a Shepherd King who takes the form of a servant (Philippines 2:7), wearing a crown of thorns. According to Genesis 2:15, our role within creation is to serve and to keep God’s garden, the Earth. ‘To serve,’ often translated ‘to till,’ invites us again to envision ourselves as servants, while ‘to keep’ invites us to care for the earth as God keeps and cares for us (Numbers 6: 24-26).”

Mennonite (www.mennonites.org)

Excerpted from the 1989, “Stewardship of the Earth, Resolution on the Environment and Faith Issues,” the Mennonite Environmental Task Force. The full text can be found here.

“…Whereas: The Bible clearly teaches that God’s creation is good (Gen. 1), that God is the Owner of the earth (Ps. 24:1-2), and that nature itself praises and glorifies God (Pss. 19 and 96); Christians have been directed by many Scriptures to care for the natural creation as God’s stewards (Gen. 1:26-28; Exod. 20:8-11; Lev. 25 and 26; and Luke 4:16-22, among others);

“Christians look forward to the time when all of creation, including humankind, will be fully restored/redeemed (Rom. 8:18-25; Col. 1:15-23; and John 1:1-5, among others); and many Mennonites who have traditionally understood their role as good earth stewards and accepted the scriptural teaching have today neglected or forgotten an environmental ethic and have not been fully aware of the impact of our lifestyle on the global environment and on our sisters and brothers worldwide who share God’s earth with us.

“Therefore be it resolved that: In our individual, work, and family life we seek to become more caring about our impact on the environment, and seek to educate ourselves and act upon our best knowledge of ways to conserve the resources we use… .”

Greek Orthodox (www.goarch.org)

Excerpted from “Message of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios on the Day of the Protection of the Environment,” Sept. 1, 1989. The full text can be found online here. More on the Orthodox Church and environment here.

“This Ecumenical Throne of Orthodoxy, keeper and proclaimer of the centuries-long spirit of the patristic tradition, and faithful interpreter of the eucharist and liturgical experience of the Orthodox Church, watches with great anxiety the merciless trampling down and destruction of the natural environment which is caused by human beings, with extremely dangerous consequences for the very survival of the natural world created by God.

“...In view of this situation the Church of Christ cannot remain unmoved. It constitutes a fundamental dogma of her faith that the world was created by God the Father, who is confessed in the Creed to be ‘maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.’ According to the great Fathers of the Church, Man is the prince of creation, endowed with the privilege of freedom. Being partaker simultaneously of the material and the spiritual world, he was created in order to refer back creation to the Creator, in order that the world may be saved from decay and death.

“... we . . . declare the first day of September of each year . . . to be the day of the protection of the environment. ... we paternally urge on the one hand all the faithful in the world to admonish themselves and their children to respect and protect the natural environment, and on the other hand all those who are entrusted with the responsibility of governing the nations to act without delay taking all necessary measures for the protection and preservation of the natural creation. ...”

Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (www.pcusa.org/)

Excerpted from the 202^nd General Assembly (1990) Report: “Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice.” More information can be found here, including how to get a copy of the the full report.

“Creation cries out in this time of ecological crisis . . . Therefore, God calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to:

respond to the cry of creation, human and non-human;

engage in the effort to make the 1990s the ‘turnaround decade,’ not only for reasons of prudence or survival, but because the endangered is God’s creation; and

draw upon all the resources of biblical faith and the Reformed tradition for empowerment and guidance in this adventure.

“The church has powerful reason for engagement in restoring God’s creation:

God’s works in creation are too wonderful, too ancient, too beautiful, too good to be desecrated.

Restoring creation is God’s own work in our time, in which God comes both to judge and to restore.

The Creator-Redeemer calls faithful people to become engaged with God in keeping and healing the creation, human and non-human.

Human life and well-being depend upon the flourishing of other life and the integrity of the life-supporting processes that God has ordained.

The love of neighbor, particularly ‘the least’ of Christ’s brothers and sisters, requires action to stop the poisoning, the erosion, the wastefulness that are causing suffering and death.”

“Therefore, the 202nd General Assembly affirms that:

... Earth-keeping today means insisting on sustainability – the ongoing capacity of natural and social systems to thrive together – which requires human beings to practice wise, humble, responsible stewardship, after the model of servanthood that we have in Jesus. ...”

Quaker (http://www.quakerearthcare.org/)

There are many Friends’ Testimonies, Queries, and Minutes that address creation awareness and care. The following was excerpted from a Friends Committee on National Legislation policy statement (1987), as cited in Friends Committee on Unity with Nature’s organizational brochure. More can be found here.

“The earth we share is limited in its capacity to support life and to provide resources for our survival. The environment that has provided sustenance for generations must be protected for generations to come. We have an obligation, therefore, to be responsible stewards of the earth, to restore its natural habitat where it has been damaged, and to maintain its vitality. Friends’ historic testimonies on simplicity have long stressed that the quality of life does not depend upon immodest consumption. The urgency of the threat to the environment cannot be overstated.”

Reformed Church in America (www.rca.org)

Excerpted from Care for the Earth: Theology and Practice, Minutes of General Synod, 1982. The full text can be downloaded in .doc format here.

“Humanity was created by God to live in ‘shalom’ (peace, wholeness, justice) with each other and all creation. ... The vision of shalom is one in which all the resources of creation are shared harmoniously among all people. So while we certainly ought to be concerned about the deterioration of land, air, and water . . . our task of caring for the Earth calls us far beyond these boundaries.

“The life-sustaining resources of creation are in peril throughout the globe. The massive consumption of our affluent societies is severely straining the resources of the Earth. Because there are finite limits to these resources, over-consumption by one group inevitably means the deprivation of other people. A pattern of reckless and unjust resource consumption lies at the heart of our environmental peril.

“We can begin caring for the Earth, then, only from a posture of repentance. The restoration of God’s shalom for all of creation requires changes in our attitudes, in our values, and in our lives. If Christ’s work of redemption extends not only to us, but to all creation, then both we and the Christian fellowships to which we belong should begin to demonstrate redeemed relationships to the Earth’s resources, and a commitment that they be shared justly with all people.”

Roman Catholic (http://conservation.catholic.org/)

Excerpted from Pope John Paul II’s The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility. The full text can be found online here.

“Respect for life and for the dignity of the human person also extends to the rest of creation, which is called to join man in praising God.”

“We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations.”

“It is manifestly unjust that a privileged few should continue to accumulate excess goods, squandering available resources, while masses of people are living in conditions of misery at the very lowest level of subsistence. Today, the dramatic threat of ecological breakdown is teaching us the extent to which greed and selfishness – both individual and collective – are contrary to the order of creation, an order which is characterized by mutual interdependence.”

“Simplicity, moderation and discipline, as well as a spirit of sacrifice, must become a part of everyday life, lest all suffer the negative consequences of the careless habits of a few.”

From “Letter from the Bishops,” in Let the Earth Bless the Lord: A Catholic Approach to the Environment. The full text can be purchased in our online store here.

“In following Jesus, the Church seeks to live a consistent ethic of life fully reflective of his example of an all-embracing love, particularly for those who are most in need . . . The Church recognizes that the web of life and the promotion of human dignity are linked to the protection and care of God’s creation. It is this integral approach that marks our effort as a distinctly Catholic vision of environmental responsibility.”

Unitarian Universalist (www.uua.org)

Excerpted from Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The full text can be found online here.

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: … Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” (This is the “Seventh Principle.”)

Excerpted from General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association [UUA], 1997 General Resolution: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. The full text can be found online here.

“BECAUSE the seven principles of the [UUA] connect the values of democracy, personal growth, and social justice to a recognition of the interdependent web of all existence; and

WHEREAS safe air to breathe, safe water to drink, and a sustainable environment are essential for life; and

WHEREAS government support for environmental protection and energy conservation programs is inadequate;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the [UUA] urges its member congregations, affiliate organizations, and individual [Unitarians] to increase their efforts to:

1.   Protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats;

2.      Advocate for clean air, both indoors and outdoors, and clean water;

3.      Promote the protection of public lands and water resources, and the responsible stewardship of private lands;

4.      Support and practice energy and water conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy;

5.   Use and advocate the use of public transportation and other environmentally sound alternatives;

6.   Reduce the waste of resources in our homes, congregations, and communities by recycling, using recycled products, and reducing consumption;

7.      Educate ourselves and our congregations on the need for these efforts and how best to undertake them; and

Increase government support for environmental protection and energy conservation programs.”

United Church of Christ (www.center1.com/NEER/NEER1.html)

Excerpted from the UCC Network for Environmental and Economic Responsibility’s web site, which can be found here.

“We believe that our planetary future is radically jeopardized by economic competition and growth unrestrained by a sense of limits about our place in the whole. Our love for our children and our children’s children requires us to raise serious questions about the level and methods of production and the wasteful style of consumption in the United States and other affluent nations and people. We affirm that a responsible, global economic system must distribute goods more equally and must recycle more effectively. We look for sustainable development and transparent, participatory decision making. We affirm the use of technologies which cooperate with the non-human roots of life on earth, instead of polluting and destroying them.

“We seek to cultivate attitudes of sacred covenanting among peoples and between humanity and the non-human creation. We call upon all members and instrumentalities of the United Church of Christ to display courageous leadership in:

modeling ecologically responsible life-styles;

developing a communal spirituality able to connect persons creatively to the one, good creation of God; and

advocating for economic and technological change so that our earth has a green and sustainable future of just peace for all.”

United Methodist Church (www.umc-gbcs.org/mgc.htm)

Excerpted from the current UMC Social Principle, “The Natural World.” Full text available at www.umc-gbcs.org/natural.htm.

“All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. Therefore, we repent of our devastation of the physical and non-human world. Further, we recognize the responsibility of the Church toward lifestyle and systemic changes in society that will promote a more ecologically just world and a better quality of life for all creation.”

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