Environmental Stewardship Commission

Note: The text, below, was approved at the 148th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota (October 28-30, 2005). To see the originally submitted resolution (before changes), click here.

Recommending the Celebration of a Creation Season

Whereas, God declares the creation Good, and, Whereas, we find God in and through the creation, and, Whereas, celebrating creation strengthens our spirits and moves to care for Gods world, and, Whereas, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, has written in A Planet on the Brink: The loss of sustainable environment protected from unlimited exploitation is the loss of a sustainable humanity in every sense not only the loss of a spiritual depth but ultimately the loss of simple material stability as well. It is up to us as consumers and voters to do better justice to the house we have been invited to keep, the world where are guests. and, Whereas, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold joined 30 national religious leaders and prominent scientists in signing a letter to U.S. Senators, bringing attention to global climate change and pressing Senate leaders to revisit consideration of legislation to reduce human-created greenhouse gases. In an Episcopal News Service news story headlined Scientists and Religious Leaders Issue Letter on Climate Change, it was noted that Nobel Prize winners, evangelicals, Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Jewish leader joined Bishop Griswold and other mainline church leaders in this effort lead by the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, and, Whereas, a number of congregations in the Diocese of Minnesota celebrate a creation season that enriches their spiritual and daily lives, and, Whereas, the Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC), in consultation with the Department of Faith Formation and the Commission on Liturgy and Music, has resources and personnel available to assist congregations, Therefore, be it Resolved, that the 148th Diocesan Convention asks Bishop Jelinek to declare a period of celebration of the Creation and asks the 75th and 76th General Conventions of the Episcopal Church to consider similar resolutions.

Note: The resolution, below was offered to the 148th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota (October 28-30, 2005) but did not pass.

A Resolution asking Bishop Jelinek to call for the Celebration of a Creation Season

Whereas God declares the creation Good, and, Whereas we find God in and through creation, and, Whereas celebrating creation strengthens our spirits and moves us to care for God's world, and, Whereas Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury has written, "The loss of sustainable environment protected from unlimited exploitation is the loss of a sustainable humanity in every sensenot only the loss of a spiritual depth but ultimately the loss of simple material stability as well. It is up to us as consumers and voters to do better justice to the 'house' we have been invited to keep, the world where we are guests." (Note 1), and, Whereas the 72nd, 73rd and 74th General Conventions of the Episcopal Church encouraged its bishops, clergy and lay persons through numerous resolutions to support, be informed, and respond to all pertinent environmental challenges, issues of water, air, food stuffs, energy, biodiversity, and social justice, and, Whereas the Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold joined 30 national religious leaders and prominent scientists in signing a letter to US Senators, bringing attention to global climate change and pressing senate leaders to revisit consideration of legislation to reduce human-created greenhouse gases. Nobel Prize winners, evangelicals, Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Jewish leaders joined a number of mainline church leaders in the effort lead by the National Religious Partnership for the Environment," (Note 2) and, Whereas a number of congregations in the Diocese of Minnesota celebrate a creation season that enriches their spiritual and daily lives, therefore be it Resolved that through this resolution the 148th Diocesan Convention asks Bishop Jelinek to call for the annual celebration of a Creation Season 4 to 8 weeks in length within the season of Pentecost in each congregation of the Diocese and to echo this theme throughout the year, and be it further Resolved that the Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC), in consultation with the Department of Faith Formation and the Commission on Liturgy and Music, shall provide liturgical and educational materials, and personal assistance to congregations, clergy, lay leaders, and parishioners of the Diocese of Minnesota for use in the Creation Season, and be it further Resolved, that the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, through its Deputation and in coordination with Province VI and the Episcopal Ecological Network, shall offer a similar corresponding resolution to the 75th and 76th General Conventions of the Episcopal Church, USA.

NOTES: 1- "A Planet on the Brink" by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (as quoted in The Independent, UK, Sunday, 17 April, 2005) 2-"Scientists and Religious Leaders Issue Letter on Climate Change" by John Johnson (ENS) 051904-2 Wednesday, May 19, 2004.

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