Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska affirms and supports:
Humanity’s responsibility to care in and for creation;
The recognition that land ownership is not absolute, but a sacred trust given by God from the past for the present and the future;
Economic vitality linked to social justice and environmental sustainability;
Protection of land, air and water through laws and policies that phase in prohibitions against the discharge of harmful emissions and effluents;
Restoration of air, land, and water quality whenever disrupted by harmful environmental practices;
Sensitivity to the traditional values of Native Americans concerning land use; and assessment of the environmental impacts of alterations to Nebraska’s ecosystem using scientific data gathering procedures.
We call upon all citizens, corporations, and our governmental representatives to seek ways to safeguard the quality of the air, land and water that we and our descendants need to live healthy lives and to have productive employment.
Our efforts to protect both the human community and the natural ecology are based on scriptural values that call us to protect human dignity, respect creation, ensure a safe environment, promote just and sustainable economic development, and protect ecosystems. All of us are called by God to be responsible in our creativity and in protecting and sustaining that part of creation placed in our care.
"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." Gen. 1:31. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it." Humanity is intimately related to the rest of creation. We, like other creatures, are formed from the earth (Gen. 2:7,9,19). Scripture speaks of humanity’s kinship with other creatures (Job 38-39,Ps. 104). God cares faithfully for us, and we look forward to a redemption that includes all creation (Eph. 1:10) According to Gen. 2:15, our role within creation is to serve and 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 take care of the earth as God keeps and cares for us (Num. 6:24-26). We are called to name the animals (Gen. 2:19-20). As God names Israel and all creation (Ps. 147:4; Isa. 40:26, 43:1) and as the shepherd calls by name each sheep (John 10:3), naming unites us in a caring relationship. Further, we are to live within the covenant God makes with every living thing (Gen. 9:12-17; Hos. 2:18), and even with the day and night (Jer. 33:20). We are to love the earth as God loves us.
The earth is a planet of beauty and abundance; our global ecology is wonderfully intricate and incredibly complex. But today living creatures, and the air, soil, and water that support them, face unprecedented threats from global warming and climate change, which is being affected by human activity.
If all are to have enough in a world of finite resources, those among us with more than enough will have to address our patterns of acquisition and consumption. In a state blessed with rich soils and abundant water resources we must take care of our arable land so that sufficient food and fiber will continue to be available for human needs. The Sabbath and jubilee laws of the Hebrew tradition remind us that we may not press creation relentlessly in an effort to maximize productivity (Exod. 20:8-11; Lev. 23). The principle of sustainability* means providing an acceptable quality of life for present generations without compromising that of future generations. Protection of species and their habitats, preservation of clean land and water, energy conservation, reduction of waste, care of the land—these are priorities.
As faith leaders we affirm that the care of souls, so long a central concern for the Church, must necessarily entail the care of soils. We are encouraged by farmers who are turning to sustainable methods, businesses and industries who are finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint and Government officials and agencies who enact and enforce such laws and policies as are required to promote community health and well-being. We believe that each of us in Nebraska can have a part in the care, protection and restoration of this land that we love.
In a spirit of praise and thanksgiving to God for the wonders of creation, we call for civil dialogue and prudent and constructive action to protect God’s precious gift of creation with a sense of genuine solidarity and justice for all God’s children.
*The process of nurturing, upholding, and preserving the dynamic balance that inhere in a biotic community.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES FOR USE IN WORSHIP, BIBLE STUDY, AND ACTIVISM
Books:
Barnes-Davies, Rebecca. Ways to Help Save the Earth: How You and Your Church Can Make a Difference. Louisville : Westminster John Know Press.
Barnhill, Carla. The Green Bible Devotional: A Book of Daily Readings. New York: HarperOne, 2009.
Cohen-Kiener, Andrea. Claiming Earth as Common Ground: The Ecological Crisis through the Lens of Faith. Woodstock : Skylight Paths Publishing, 2009.
Flegal, Daphna, and Suzann Wade. Green Church : Caretaker of God’s Creation. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010. (A Six-week Bible Study for Kids)
Green Bible, The. New Revised Standard Version. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2008.
Hamilton-Poore, Sam. Earth Gospel: a Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2008.
Simon-Peter, Rebekah. Green Church : Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice! Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010.
Simon-Peter, Rebekah. Green Church – Leaders Guide: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice! Nashville : Abingdon Press, 2010.
Simon-Peter, Rebekah. 7 Simple Steps to Green Your Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010.
Sleeth, J. Matthew, M.D. The Gospel According to the Earth: Why the Good Book is a Green Book. New York : HarperOne, 2010.
Wolpert, Daniel. Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2003. (This book contains prayer practices that can be performed
in nature which lend themselves well to a camp or VBS setting) Study Guides: National Council of Churches, “At the Lord’s Table: Everyday Thanksgiving.”
http://nccecojustice.org/network/downloads/AttheLordsTable.pdf . National Council of Churches. “Our Daily Bread: Harvesters of Hope and Gardeners of Eden.”
http://nccecojustice.org/network/downloads/Our%20Daily%20Bread.pdf . National Council of Churches, “Out of the Wilderness: Building Christian Faith and Keeping
God’s Creation.” http://nccecojustice.org/network/downloads/Wilderness.pdf . National Council of Churches, “Rooted in God’s Word and Land: A Celebration of the Earth
That Nourishes Us.” http://nccecojustice.org/network/downloads/landresource.pdf . National Council of Churches. “Sacred Foods: Youth Sunday School and Group Activities.”
http://nccecojustice.org/network/downloads/SacredFoods_8P.pdf .
Hymns/Songs:
http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/hymns.htm
http://seasonofcreation.com/resources/creation-songs/
http://seasonofcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/habel-hymns-volume-one.pdf (Habel Hymns, Volume One; “Songs for Celebrating with Creation”)
http://johnpitney.org/music.html (Rev. John Pitney is a United Methodist pastor who writes fun songs about caring for creation. His CDs include: Keeping the Garden, A Home Like This and Walk Lightly on the Earth)
Miscellaneous:
http://seasonofcreation.com/ Click on “Worship Resources” for Readings, Bible Studies, and Sermon ideas
http://www.presbyearthcare.org/resources-docs.html
http://hopeandaction.org/main/resources/study-guides/ (The United Methodist website for God’s Renewed Creation: a Call to Hope and Action, A Guide for Group Study, based on the Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church titled God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action)
http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/ (Homepage for “Consumer Consequences,” an interactive game designed to illustrate the impact of our lifestyles on the Earth )
http://nebumc.s3.amazonaws.com/D71AFB8B1BBC42A9B78FDC91156A2C03_Nebraska_UMW_Green_Team.pdf (The Nebraska UMW Green Team Certification and Idea Form)
http://nccecojustice.org/ (National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs. There are wonderful small-group study materials under the “Resources” tab.)
http://www.nebraskainterfaithpowerandlight.org/ (The Interfaith Power and Light is an effort to mobilize people of faith to deepen their connection between ecology and faith through the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy.)