Environmental Stewardship Resolution
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 God’s 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 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 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.
To other resolutions of the
Environmental Stewardship Commission
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