EARTHKEEPING
NEWS
A NEWSLETTER
OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY
Volume Fourteen, Number Four
July / August 2005
Church of South India Begins Greening The Congregation
In his address to the CSI Kerala Regional Ecological Conference in February in Kottayam, The Rt. Rev. Dr. George Issac, Chairman of the Church of South India (CSI) Synod Ecological Concerns Committee, equated the exploitation of nature to sin. Bible teaches us the total redemption of the Universe. Emphasis on individual salvation alone has paved the way for the total exploitation of Nature. The Bishop emphasized that the relationship between human beings and God, between human beings, between human beings and Nature should be restored. Total alienation has occurred in all spheres of life.
The Bishop requested all the Dioceses in Kerala to come up with various activities to make the Green Dioceses Programme launched by the CSI Synod a success.
Green Parish award was given to CSI Church Quilon.
Mr. Abraham Poovathany, Project Director of Malanadu Development Society, explained some of the projects possible with Church groups:
- The Church can start some model organic farms.
- One day can be celebrated as Noah’s day, to assess the effort the Church has made to conserve biodiversity.
- Saplings can be planted in memory of important functions of the Church. A sapling can be planted in the name of a pastor during his transfer to another pastorate. Churches in coastal areas can start planting of Mangroves. It is worthwhile to note that Tsunami has not affected the places rich in Mangroves.
- Church should take a bold stand in avoiding throwaway plastic cups and bags for Church functions.
- Avoid Colas and offer indigenous drinks. Paper /Cloth bags may be popularized. Indigenous consumables may be promoted instead of branded items.
- Biogas plants may be popularized. Human excretions in the toilet tanks can be used in biogas plants. Such plants are working effectively in many places.
- Church picnics should be pilgrimages to see the beauty of nature.
- Every parish should start an Ecovigilance cell.
Additional activities planned for 2005 in the four Dioceses in Kerala include rain water harvesting pits in Church compounds, memorial plants, Sunday School classes in environment planning, pilgrimage to ecologically important places, celebration of Green Christmas, Green liturgy to be used for worship, trade fair of organic goods, eco-painting competition, a tree for a child, and watershed management.
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