EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Four, Number Three January/February 1995 Call to Action: Practice Stewardship of Public Life "Look," said Jesus, "I send you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents, yet as harmless as doves. Be on your guard, for men will hand you over to their courts, and flog you...for my sake." (Matt. 10:16,17) Not a very reassuring command to individuals and communities of faith who, in Christ's name, would Transform the System in favor of equitable distribution of resources, elimination of poverty, limits to consumption and economic growth, preserving biodiversity, reversing the continuing degradation of nature, and peace on earth. It is easy to wring hands and pray on Sunday for Those in Authority. It is risky to act politically. Yet, we as citizens and faithful congregations are called to do just that. Most religious bodies maintain offices to track public policy at the national and international levels; many, at the state level. Example: The draft declaration of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Copenhagen in March 1995, came under criticism from the World Council of Churches (with 324 member churches worldwide) for defining economic growth as the "engine of development." The WCC offered the alternative view that the central issue at the summit should be placing people, "particularly the poor, the vulnerable groups and the marginalized," at the centre of social development strategies. Sustainable Development is a local as well as global topic; it concerns every congregation and community. Religious communities are struggling to understand what it means. Example: The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA (PCUSA) has established a Task Force on Sustainable Development, the Reformed Faith and U.S. International Economic Policy to develop policy recommendations to the 1996 General Assembly. It is inviting churches throughout the country to form study groups to educate people and generate policy positions for the final document for consideration by the General Assembly. The eight topics for study and discussion are: What does Sustainable Development Have to Do with Me? What is Sustainable Development? The God Who Accompanies (Partners with God) Four Ways to Get the Job Done (Four Approaches to Development) Sustaining the Global Community How Do We Offer to Help? (Why Foreign Aid?) Who Owns the Money? (Debt and Structural Adjustment) Who is My Neighbor? (Global Economy) Ask your own denominational headquarters what public policy positions they have taken on the issues of sustainable development. What public policy study materials do they have for congregations? Or, join InterfaithIMPACT for Justice and Peace (110 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington DC 20002; 800/848-5680), a coalition of over 35 member agencies and several thousand individual members. This organization helps congregations become effective advocates on the issues that concern them. Available from the Peacemaking Program of the PCUSA, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville KY 40202-1396; 800/524-2612. Also, available from PCUSA Distribution Management Services, Making a Difference in the Public Arena, by Rev. James Watkins, DMS # 259-94-958 ($1.95); a handbook on communicating effectively with congressional offices. And Making Peace With the Earth in the Public Arena, DMS # 259-91-909 (pamphlet $0.25). Home     Table of Contents