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, more than 30 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 farmers' market egg vendors.

Ministries

Disciples Home Missions

DHM has worked in behalf of the environment through the promotion of the Alverna Covenant as well as serving as a liaison to the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group and congregations. Recent work has included the Green Church Program as well as Return to the Garden.

Disciples Women

Several new resources have been produced by Disciples Women on Earth Stewardship. Download the Environment Study and Leader's Guide from Disciples Women. A General Program study was released in time for the 2009 Earth Sunday. 

Church Extension

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.

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.

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. 

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 are posted online.

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, as well as Dr. Laura Hobgood-Oster, faculty at Southwestern University, serve as the denominational representatives to the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group.