EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Eight, Number Four May/June 1999 MORE ON ECO-CHURCH A Message from NACCE President, Rev. Finley Schaef, 87 Stoll Rd., Saugerties NY 12477; 914/ 246-0181; <schaef@ulster.net> Eco-Church is our way of enlisting many people in the Great Work of entering the ecological age. Our dream is to advance the Christian faith and the Church towards ecological sensitivity by celebrating God's Creation and restraining Earth's degradation. Our strategy is to initiate and nurture small groups of committed people meeting weekly, celebrating the Christian and the natural seasons as sacred time, reflecting on Bible passages, studying issues related to Christianity and ecology, creating holy day rituals, exploring bioregions, involving children, engaging in advocacy and supporting one another. Eco-Church is a bold concept. The excitement of creating our own rituals, re-interpreting scripture and sharing those interpretations with all other Circles nationwide, getting outdoors to know the bioregion intimately -- these are the religious experiences that will create the staying power and commitment God wants from us in these turbulent times of transformation. The Circles are inter-related through (1) a common structure, (2) a common curriculum, and (3) ongoing communication through a newsletter and annual gatherings. Local Circles will have ample room for creativity and the exercise of imagination. They may be related to local churches or be independent. Approximately 40 people across the country have already expressed an interest and will be receiving documents further elaborating the process. An NACCE board member will contact them personally. Let us know if you want to join us at the beginning of this significant new movement. If so, we promise to stand behind your efforts and give you the support you need. Home     Table of Contents