Proposed Environment and Climate Oriented Vestry Motion

Churches are exploring a number of different ways of engaging ecological action including vestry motions. Parishes are encouraged to discuss and adopt the following motion at their 2015 vestry meetings:

WHEREAS our baptismal promises inspire us to strive for justice and to safeguard the integrity of God's creation while renewing the life of the Earth;

AND WHEREAS the national leaders of the Anglican and Lutheran Churches in North America recently issued a joint pastoral message on climate change which articulates a “responsibility to act together for the common good” and to use our voices to contribute to public discussion regarding environmental justice issues;

Faith Based Environmental Leadership

Faith based communities are coming together around the shared understanding that protecting our planet is one of the most important issues of our times. In recent years, there has been unprecedented ecological action from a diverse array of faith groups.

This past summer, in an online campaign titled "Our Voices: Bringing faith to the climate," faith groups were urged to join the global conversation on climate change. 

This is an invitation to "people of all faiths around the world to raise their voices and add their perspectives in political discussions about climate change,” said the Canon Ken Gray, who is rector of the Church of the Advent in Colwood, B.C., and the ecclesiastical province of Canada's representative in the ACEN.

Interfaith Climate Summit Declaration (2014)

Climate, Faith and Hope: Faith traditions together for a common future

As representatives from different faith and religious traditions, we stand together to express deep concern for the consequences of climate change on the earth and its people, all entrusted, as our faiths reveal, to our common care. Climate change is indeed a threat to life, a precious gift we have received and that we need to care for.

Bishop Barry Clarke on Ecology (Excerpted from Bishop's Charge 2014)

Announcing the Stewardship of the Environment Committee's Plans for the First Quarter of 2015

The Stewardship of the Environment committee (SEC) wishes everyone a happy New Year and we want to share some of the actions we have planned for the first part 2015.

We will kick off the new year with a statement from Bishop Barry Clarke on Ecology followed by an article that reviews some of the environmental initiatives of different faith communities. Then we will an explore how these communities are working together on ecological oriented actions. We will examine Christian eco-ecumenicism and interfaith environmental stewardship efforts. Then we will take an in depth look at how Pope Francis is leading Christians and the Catholic Church in a more environmentally responsible direction.