Public witness
Eco-justice/environmental ministries
Environmental work in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
History
Eco-justice ministries in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) grew out of the 1977 General Assembly resolution that called for the development of a Task Force on Ecology. This group, comprised of 18 persons, six of whom represented denominational staff, was active for a number of years and authored the Alverna Covenant. Eventually, as the lifetime of that group ran its course, its responsibilities were moved to the general unit of the denomination that works most directly with congregations, Disciples Home Missions.
In recent years, a new effort at environmental stewardship has taken root. General Ministries have recognized their part in caring for creation, for example, by creating programs for congregations to green their buildings (Church Extension) and their grounds (DHM). Christian Board of Publication has committed to using recycled paper stock in their publications. DHM and Week of Compassion have partnered to make Equal Exchange coffee available to Disciples.
At Disciples Center
Staff within Disciples Center have recognized the need for better stewardship of resources. Since 2006, in partnership with Central Indiana Commuter Services, 25 Disciples Center staff have committed to alternative means of commuting to work, including cycling, walking, carpooling, or taking the bus. Additionally, General Ministries have been looking at ways they can make a difference, from serving Fair Trade coffee, using recycled paper stock, recycling within the offices, and more. Some staff even save egg cartons to deliver to the Wednesday Farmers’ Market egg vendor.
General Assembly Resolutions/Green Events
A number of resolutions have been passed at the General Assembly over the years, including the 2001 resolution calling for Disciples to hold “green,” ecologically friendly events. In 2009, organizers called for a green General Assembly in Indianapolis. Some Disciples Regions and constituencies already have held green events.
All environmentally related resolutions can be found online.
Alverna Covenant
The Alverna Covenant was written by members of the Task Force on Christian Lifestyle and Ecology of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) while meeting at Alverna Retreat Center, a Franciscan retreat in Indianapolis, Ind. The name has added significance. Alverna is named for Mt. Alverna in Italy, the mountain retreat given to Francis of Assisi. Francis is honored for his concern for the care of and relatedness of all creation. The 800th anniversary of Francis' birth was celebrated in 1981, the year the Alverna Covenant was first introduced at the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Learn more and make the covenant >
Earth Sunday
DHM supports Earth Sunday. Visit the National Council of Churches of Christ to get the latest Earth Sunday resources. (You will be prompted to join their network. We encourage you to do so.)
Network
The Disciples eco-justice/environmental network provides Disciples with an opportunity to find out what others are doing, learn new ideas, and work together for a common goal. Responses to the online registration form will provide the framework around which the Disciples eco-justice/environmental network can evolve.
More >
Return to the Garden
At the 2005 Portland General Assembly, DHM, Volunteers in Mission, Yakama Christian Mission and Week of Compassion launched the nationwide program, Return to the Garden. The program will continue at the 2010 Quadrennial Assembly.
The vision is for Return to the Garden to be a regular component of all Disciples Assemblies. So far we have provided training to more than 60 participants on how to return to their local communities and start community gardens. Two years from now, can we double that number? Four years from now—the sky is the limit!
More >
Green Buildings
For more than a year, Church Extension has been exploring with congregations and organizations, ways to help them lower their energy bills and improve their stewardship of creation. In June 2007, Church Extension began a process to design a service for congregations to become better stewards of resources through green building options. An energy audit of an Indianapolis congregation revealed a number of ways in which that church could save money and reduce energy usage.
Church Extension now offers Green Loans, which are designed to assist Disciples congregations that wish to make environmentally-friendly improvements to their facilities.
More >
Outdoor Ministries: Handle with Care
Christian Board of Publication, through New Earth Publishers, has an entire camp curriculum available on earth care. “Handle with Care” is the eighth title of New Earth: Christian Resources for the Outdoors. This curriculum is developed by the New Earth Publishers, a cooperative group of denominational publishing houses, in cooperation with the Committee on Outdoor Ministry (COM) of the National Council of the Churches of Christ. Christian Board of Publication has published these resources on behalf of the other denominational partners and COM.
Disciples Women
Several new resources have been produced by Disciples Women on Earth Stewardship. Visit www.discipleshomemissions.org/Women/GeneralProgram.htm to download the Environment Study and Leader’s Guide. A new General Program study was released in time for the 2009 Earth Sunday. A recycling guide is also available online.
Overseas Ministries
Addressing climate concerns is a priority of Global Ministries. Earthcare is a new UCC emphasis on care for the environment in our churches. In April 2009, the Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ released a significant theological statement on the environment and climate change, "And Indeed It Is Very Good – A Pastoral Letter on Faith and Environment: Living in Community with God's Creation."
On the Earthcare Web site you can find worship and study materials and a video related to the Pastoral Letter and helpful links to other environmental resources. Consider using some of these resources in worship or bible study on Integrity of Creation Sunday, the Sunday before Earth Day.
More information can be found at
www.globalministries.org/get-involved/justice-and-advocacy/climate-change/ and
www.ucc.org/earthcare/.
Global Ministries has promoted Cell OUT, an organized cell phone usage boycott each October to bring awareness of the Congo conflict over natural resources. Coltan, used in many electronic devices, has caused many Congolese people to be killed since 1996.
Ecumenical
For many years, DHM has contributed support to the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice programs. Disciples have access to useful resources produced by the NCCC's Eco-Justice staff. DHM staff, Angela Herrmann, has served as the denominational representative to the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group since 2000.
Integrating environmental concerns into the life of Disciples congregations
Check out links to more resources , including links to study guides, for ideas on actions you can take.
Contact Angela Herrmann for more information at (317) 713-2683.
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