Faith and Ecology Groups

EARTHKEEPING NEWS
A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY

Volume Two, Number Five
May/June 1993

FAITH AND ECOLOGY GROUPS, LIKE SMALL FAITH COMMUNITIES, BALANCE SUPPORT, REFLECTION AND MISSION

Over the last 15 years in the USA there has been a significant restructuring of the Catholic church through the Renew program and, more recently, in the formation of parish based small faith communities patterned after the Base Ecclesial Communities of Latin America. The groups build the trust and support necessary to practice what members believe in, through prayer, learning, sharing, mutual support and mission. Each group chooses its own structure and emphasis. For many it is a struggle to keep a balance between being a supportive family and being the church, called to put the gospel into action.

A small faith community is like a family, and at the same time, like an organization which is committed to accomplishing a task. On one side is belonging, bonding; on the other side is the mission. Groups cannot choose one over the other; they need both to remain viable.

The same is true of the growing number of small ecumenical faith and ecology groups, among which are the four described in this report. In order to survive, the faith and ecology groups must be more than task forces. They too need to sustain themselves through study, reflection, and celebration.

It is NACCE's purpose to promote and to link these small faith and ecology communities in an empowering network around the country.

For more on SFC's see Creating Small Faith Communities (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1988) by Arthur Baranowski, National Alliance of Parishes Restructuring into Communities, PO Box 1152, Troy MI 48099.

FOX VALLEY, IlLLINOIS CHURCHES FORM ECUMENICAL ECOLOGY GROUP

Last November, 24 people from 11 area churches - Presbyterian, Congregational, Methodist, Lutheran and Catholic - gathered in the First Congregational Church, Geneva, IL for a workshop focussing on the question "Every Church a Creation Awareness Center - How to Get There from Here?" Recruited by Linda Sonner of Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, and facilitated by two NACCE Board members, participants shared their visions for the church, identified the challenges facing them and brainstormed actions to address the challenges.

Twenty three people from nine churches attended the second meeting in March 1993. They plan to meet regularly and help each other as they work for ecological responsibility in their own churches. For example, members have offered to loan china dishes for church events to prevent the purchase of additional disposable plates. Their action plan includes implementing an annual project; having a legislative watchdog; and providing churches with Earthday displays, speakers and information.

For more information, contact Linda Sonner, 1168 Pine St., Batavia IL 60510, (708) 879-7965.

MINNESOTA INTERFAITH ECOLOGY COALITION (MIEC) LAUNCHES WHITE BEAR LAKE CLUSTER

In February 1993 representatives of Presbyterian, Episcopal, Unitarian, Lutheran and Catholic communities in the Minnesota towns of White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi gathered to address the question "How can we help our churches become leaders in caring for creation?" Facilitated by two members of MIEC, the group brainstormed a vision of what they wanted to see happen. They identified as obstacles to action the distorted interpretation of dominion, worship of technology, fear of risk and "educated ignorance." They brainstormed strategies and decided to implement two immediately: ecumenical Earth Day activities in April and an Ecology Fair in June.

At its third meeting in April the group adopted a three part meeting format of fellowship and celebration, study and reflection, and action planning, with a rotating team leadership.

For more information contact Kathleen Burke, 4955 Lake Ave., White Bear Lake MN 55110, (612) 429-9188.

COSHOCTON, OHIO COUNCIL OF CHURCHES SPONSORS BIOREGIONAL COUNCIL

Early in 1992 Sister Pat Rooks, SND, the Christian Education Director of the Coshocton Catholic parish, secured the sponsorship of the Coshocton County Council of Churches for a bioregional group. Twenty people joined, from 8 churches. The Coshocton Bioregional Council serves the residents of the area through research and mapping of the territory; monitoring the bioregion against any threats to any species, habitats, cultures or resources; providing education; and nurturing projects that work for positive change.

They also promote spiritual community and celebrational activities. Last summer the Council sponsored a week long Earth Stroll,* led by environmentalist Eugene Wilhelm. Participants learned to use all their senses to experience and learn the habitats and inhabitants of their bioregion.

Last Thanksgiving they conducted an ecumenical earth liturgy. They plan library displays for Earth Week, a version of the Earth Stroll for children this summer, and an All Species project for Halloween.

For more information contact Pat Rooks, SND, 552 S. 5th St., Coshocton OH 43812, (614) 623-9927.

EARTH MINISTRY, SEATTLE WASHINGTON INITIATES EARTH MINISTRY GUILDS

Earth Ministry, an ecumenical environmental ministry, begun by Rev. Carla Berkedal and affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, has been developing church-based ecology and spirituality study groups in individual congregations and in ecumenical gatherings in the Puget Sound area since 1991. The Earth Ministry Resource Center links Earth Ministry Colleagues in over 35 congregations of several denominations in Seattle, Tacoma, and Whidby, Vashon and Bainbridge Islands.

The Whidby Island group started when two volunteers on the Earth Ministry Guild Support Team met in January with a small group of Episcopalians, Lutherans and Methodists in a home to start an Earth Ministry Guild on the island. They have met monthly, with a potluck, time for reflection and discussion. Since the first meeting, representatives of the Unity, Friends, and Catholic churches have joined the group. Their focus has been on how to approach the different congregations with the Care for Creation message, and how to address the challenges, e.g "new age heresy" and the fear that environmentalists are antichristian.

The Earth Ministry publishes the Earth Letter journal and brings colleagues together in quarterly gatherings for a full day of networking, celebration, inspirational speakers and workshops.

For more information contact Rev. Carla V. Berkedal or Rev. James Mulligan, Earth Ministry, 1305 NE 47th Street, Seattle WA 98105, (206) 632-2426.