EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Nine, Number Four May/June 2000 RELIGIOUS GROUPS CALL FOR FOREST PROTECTION Interfaith Coalition Lobbies Congress for Forest Conservation From February 27th through March 2nd, 2000, the Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation (RCFC) conducted a week of education and lobbying of the U.S. Congress. Forty-two representatives from a broad spectrum of religion in America converged to tell legislators that concern for the forests is a religious issue of importance to the churches and synagogues of this land. The Washington Week program began with a Monday morning prayer breakfast at the Willard Hotel. Rev. Owen Owens, director of the Eco-Justice program for the Office of National Ministries of the American Baptist Church, and Rabbi Warren Stone, chair of the environmental department for the Central Conference of American Rabbis, shared the moderating duties. Father Al Demos, representing the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, gave the opening prayer and was followed by representatives of all the major denominations who prayed for the healing of our nation's forests. The RCFC delegates over the next four days visited over 250 congressional representatives or their staff plus numerous senators and their legislative assistants. They spoke of the growing plight of America's forests and how trees are the biblical symbol of God's good creation. The time in Washington culminated with a congressional Staff Briefing in the Rayburn House Building. All of the RCFC speakers joined in calling for an end to commercial logging in the national forests. Individuals who wish to participate in the Year 2001 Washington Week program should contact Fred Krueger, Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation, 409 Mendocino Avenue, Suite A, Santa Rosa, CA 95401; 707/ 573-3162; fred@ecostewards.org. Home     Table of Contents