Presbyterian Grass Roots

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

Volume Five, Number Six
September/October 1996

PRESBYTERIANS FORMALIZE GRASS ROOTS STRUCTURE FOR 'RESTORING CREATION'

In June 1996, volunteers from thirty nine Presbyteries (administrative units of the Presbyterian Church) across the country received their commissions to bring the message of caring for creation into all the Presbyterian churches in their Presbyter. The commissioning followed a five day conference "God's Earth, Our Home," sponsored by the Presbyterians for Restoring Creation, and the Environmental Justice Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Surrounded by the majestic beauty of Ghost Ranch Conference Center in New Mexico, participants spent five days in lectures, seminars and discussion. Topics included sustainability and development, lifestyle integrity, building an effective eco-justice program, resacralizing our lives, advocacy and strategy, and updates on hot environmental issues.

At the end of the conference, Earthkeeping News asked several people how they saw the role of Enabler, and what challenges they anticipated. Some answers follow:

Jim from Wisconsin: "As I understand it, the position is under a committee of Presbytery to bring the issue of creation to every interested congregation in the Presbytery, to help them pick up on it. It should be an expanding group of enablers. Challenges? Lack of interest in the church. Or, individuals may be interested, but there's not enough support from clergy. Or, lack of peacemaking funds in the Presbytery.

David from North Carolina: "When I go back I'm going to work on starting a project so people have something to do to get involved, and to work with other churches already doing things."

Lehr from South Carolina: "Every one will do it differently. I have a different perspective since I'm a full time research scientist on radioactive contamination of the environment. It is an issue because the Presbyterian Church has a policy on record that nuclear energy is a sin. That's what people in my congregaton do for a living (at the Savannah River site). We have debated this in my congregation. Now we will open a debate in the Presbytery for reconsideration of that policy. What I'm lacking is time for meeting with grass roots people. I need people who are retired and can work full time on this."

Beverly from Ohio: "An Enabler is a resource person, an activist. They have to know theology and science and put them together in a way that is understandable. They should be enthusiastic about that. Challenges? No time; people are too busy. We have 80 churches in the Presbytery. We have to get a committee going. How do you get people to join you?"

Peggy from New Jersey: "Being an Enabler is a way to apply our faith to the issues of restoring creation. An Enabler is a midwife, or coach, helping people and congregations apply their faith on these topics. My blocks are no time, and busy people. In my Presbytery there are affluent people, but in downsized companies, they are doing the work of six."

Barbara from Kansas: "It is about how we take care of creation. I've worked with environmentalists, and with them its got to be one thing, either soil, or toxics, whatever. Here, I feel total concern. People have mixed motives for being in church. Many have enthusiasm, but no one has come to them and asked, 'Have we thought about this in the context of the whole of God's creation?"

Joan from Illinois: "Enabler's role is to bring environmental awareness to people and inspire them. My challenges are to get people to work with me, and keep people moving. My Presbytery has 120 churches. And there is no committee in Presbytery. So I will be working from ground up."

For information on Presbyterians for Restoring Creation , write Cathy Yost, 240 Horseshoe Dr., Kirkwood MO 63122; 314/ 965-3861.

For more on Restoring Creation Enablers write Office of Environmental Justice, PCUSA, 100 Witherspoon, Louisville KY 40202; 502/ 569-5807.