Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

The MEESC met December 12, 1996 at the wilderness of Roger and Kathy Weaver near Tower, MN. Present were: Wanda Copeland and Nelson Thomas (Co Chairs), Roger and Kathy Weaver, Helen Hanten, Nan Stokes (Acting Secretary), and Carol and Chuck Morello.

Finances: The MEESC is in the Social Ministries line item in the Diocesan budget. There will be a meeting in January to decide how moneys will be allocated. Bishop Jelinek will appoint a group of people to help with that allocation. Funds remain which should be spent before the end of 1996. We may be eligible to apply for a New Ministry grant, which will be part of the 3-year budget cycle.

We need a banner/sign for our booth at Diocesan Convention and other events. Bert will design it so that our complete title will fit into the design.

Ecumenical: Do we want to network with the organization that publishes Earthkeeping News?  We will subscribe to the newsletter from Minnesota Interfaith Ecology Coalition because it has local events.

Communication:  The Web Page is online. We do not know if we have had any "hits" as yet. We can register our Web Page with a search engine. Are there any other dioceses doing an environmental Web Page? We could try to be part of the Episcopal Web Page ( Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society). We could ask for questions about environment, creation stewardship, and create a dialogue. We would need people to answer those questions within a certain length of time and would need to choose our comments carefully. Who are we targeting -- clergy, lay people, environmentalists --? We could get one person/congregation to be a contact person, either by letter or computer. We could make a link with Worship that Works.
After much discussion, we decided to:

• Put a notice in Soundings about our Web Page.
• Helen's comment on the Lectionary for Advent 3 will go into the next Diocesan mailing. This will be two-sided along with the statement about the BWCAW which we distributed at Convention, and will have a note about our Web Page.
• There will be a notice on the Web Page with an address for people to respond by mail or e-mail for continuing contact.

 
• Continue with Lectionary comments on the Web Page
• Encourage Environmental program at Diocesan Convention
• Conduct Diocesan Youth Event weekend

• Conduct a workshop at Diocesan Training Event
• Continue with Lectionary comments on the Web Page

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW): We need to make people aware of our statement about the BWCAW being sacred ground so that the can continue (or begin) discussion on that statement. We will start mentioning it in Soundings. Roger will e-mail articles to Soundings for each issue, starting with an article about the MEESC and then focusing on the BWCAW.

The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC): The JPIC will be meeting in Cincinnati. No one from MEESC will attend.

Episcopal Environmental Network (EEN): Wanda is the Provincial Delegate to EEN. There will be a conference call on Jan 13, 1997. They will meet after General Convention, probably in September, and since they are focusing on watersheds, they could meet at Mankato and focus on the Minnesota River, or at Prairie Island where there is controversy about storage of nuclear waste. They like to piggy-back on organized meetings which makes planning easier.

Membership: Several people on the membership list are not active and some people would like to be. Our mailing list should include all interested persons, whether or not they are able to attend all of the meetings. We recognize many people are unable to attend meetings. Members can farm out duties as needed. This effort is a long-haul: the environment will still be here! We should encourage high school and college students to be part of the effort. Minutes will be sent to more people.

Youth Event: Senior High will meet at Camp Friendship at Annandale Feb 28 to Mar 2, 1997. The MEESC has been asked to do a program. Schedule to date is:

• Friday night: Small groups; compline
• Saturday: Gathering with music and worship; small groups. Possible repeat in the afternoon
• Sunday: Pull activities together at Eucharist, finish by noon.

Native Americans: We still would like to have input to this Commission from the Native American Community. Mark MacDonald has said he would be able to help with that, but needs to have time. Our June Solstice meeting will be held in Bemidji in June 19-20. We can camp at Bemidji State Park (reservations are possible) and meet at St. Bartholomew's in Bemidji.

Spring Solstice Meeting: The meeting will be held April 11 at St. Mark's Cathedral. The following tentative Agenda will be used:

• Review Web Page
• Link with Worship that Works
• Review Youth Weekend
• Diocesan Convention Plans
• Other items as added

We are looking for your input!

The MEESC assumes that all correspondence received is for publication on this web site. If your comments are not for publication, please so note on your correspondence. The MEESC reserves the right to decide which items are included on the web site.

and maintained for the MEESC by .