EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Two, Number Two November/December 1992 READERSHIP SURVEY REPORT READERS WANT NETWORKING AND MORE PREACHING ON EARTH STEWARDSHIP To discover your ideas on the future direction of this organization and its publications, NACCE sent out 1,000 questionnaires in the January/February 1992 EARTHKEEPING NEWS, our third issue. We want to thank the seventy eight readers, or 7.8%, who responded. To the question What do you see as the main benefits of membership in NACCE?, 78 respondents in their weighted responses gave highest ranking to Earthkeeping News (23%) and networking (22%); slightly lower preferences were expressed for Firmament (17%), regional or national conferences (14%). In answer to the question What do you want to see happen, in terms of environmental care, in the different arenas of church life over the next 2 years? over half the respondents focused on changes in Preaching, Liturgy, Education and Management of church resources. Evangelism had the fewest responses, perhaps indicating that we need more clarity on what the Good News includes as too many of us go on exploiting the Earth. We chose the following to suggest the trend, or the diversity in some cases, of the responses. Preaching (56 responses, 72%) — more training in environmental theology; lectionary resources for pastors; concern for all creation, not just the soul; integration of earth stewardship, personal action and public justice in weekly sermon. Education (50 responses, 65%) — do gardening, recycling, etc; have designated staff to teach environmental ethics; experiential learning; curriculum for all levels; help us change our mindsets! Liturgy (46 responses, 59%) — connect liturgical rituals to entire community of life; inclusive rituals; use non-European sources; special liturgies for Environmental Sabbath and Earth Day. Management of Money and Facilities (40 responses, 51%) — more financial support for eco-justice; modelling of ecologically responsible management; combat environmental racism; recycling is not the answer to buying stuff we don't need; more church based land trusts. Mission (30 responses, 38%) — listen to the Third World; connect ecology and justice; ecology incorporated into all mission statements; care for the earth projects. Ecumenical Relations (28 responses, 36%) — hold ecumenical conferences; share environmental education resources; join with other religions to heal the earth; don't sacrifice the purity of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for ecological ecumenism. Evangelism (27 responses, 35%) — work for single world ethic based on all creation as sacred; view the Word of God as something more than the Biblical word; distinguish evangelism from recruiting; case studies of how the Gospel has changed people to Biblical Stewardship lifestyle. Readers had some good suggestions for EN, too. Thanks again. Elizabeth Dyson and Jenny Homes, editors Home     Table of Contents