God’s evolving creation is extravagantly interrelated. Significant environmental issues are before us. In the UCC, we celebrate that everything we do to tend and appreciate the diversity of earth community matters.
On April 8, the Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ released a significant theological statement, "And Indeed It Is Very Good – A Pastoral Letter on Faith and Environment: Living in Community with God’s Creation.” The letter offers a new prophetic word about the need to celebrate the beauty of the earth and engage in faith action on behalf of the interrelated components of creation. We want to make clear the UCC's extravagant hospitality with evangelical courage that extends to the environmental and the social, the local and the global.
"Worshipping God in prayer and communion, energizing community transformation, our efforts become a breathing with the world. We dare to move forward with practices of care and devotions of nurturing "creation communities.”
Endorsements for EarthCare
"If the Good News isn't Green News we are all a bunch of frauds."
"Hurray for the UCC’s Pastoral Letter! We can no longer equivocate. If the Good News isn’t Green News we are all a bunch of frauds. How can we love God and not be passionate lovers and caretakers of God’s marvelous creation?"
"Every church in America ought to commit to reducing its energy consumption by 20% within 4 years. Let’s say: 20 by 12!"
Nick Carter President Andover Newton Theological School
"Climate change affects us all,but it does not affect us all equally."
"One of the key lines quotes Ban-Ki Moon; 'Climate change affects us all,but it does not affect us all equally.' This pronouncement reiterates a theme that has been consistent in the UCC's approach to environmental issues - concern for stopping environmental degradation while also addressing issues of justice that are embedded in these environmental crises. Clearly, we not only need to know 'what to do' to save this planet but we need to find new ways to inspire human commitment to undertake such practices. What is emerging is a new form of spiritual discipline, one that focuses on self-limitation for the sake of the health and well-being of the whole.
Riess Potterveld President Lancaster Theological Seminary
Natasha Miller Environmental Justice Intern Program Team Based in Cleveland, Ohio Justice And Witness Ministries , earthcare@ucc.org
