The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof;
the world and all that dwell within.
Psalm 24:1

“The crisis of climate change presents an unprecedented challenge to the goodness, interconnectedness, and sanctity of the world God created and loves. … [the] acknowledgment of global warming, and the Church’s commitment to ameliorating it, is a part of the ongoing discovery of God’s revelation to humanity and a call to a fuller understanding of the scriptural imperative of loving our neighbor.”

-The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
US Senate Testimony, June 7, 2007

“For the Church of the 21st Century, good ecology is not an optional extra but a matter of justice. It is therefore central to what it means to be a Christian.”

-The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dr. Rowan Williams
Archbishop of Canterbury

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

-Book of Common Prayer

MISSION

Ecologists and spiritual leaders around the world are in agreement that the ecological crisis is, at root, a spiritual crisis. Underlying the degradation of the earth, are a myriad of human choices. All our choices need to be grounded in reverence for all that God has created.

The Commission for the Environment (COE) responds to the urgency of the environmental crisis that confronts us and acknowledges the importance of the Church in addressing the global problem of environmental degradation. Its purpose is to engage the Episcopal Diocese of California in a deeper understanding of the spiritual dimensions of ecological problems and to formulate those responses that will enable Episcopal Churches to become centers of ecological understanding, action, and healing.

By supporting environmental committees within all the parishes of our diocese, we seek to help others to live their faith.

PROGRAMS

• Provide resources to parish liaisons for the creation and support of parish environmental committees
• Enable parish liaisons to network with each other
• Provide theological and liturgical resources relevant to environmental issues
• Offer Adult Education materials (DVDs, Curricula)
• Host special events and workshops
• Facilitate communication within the diocese regarding environmental issues

ACT NOW!

Almost every church in our diocese has an Environmental Committee, with a Liaison to this Commission. Involvement in your church's Environmental Committee is a wonderful way to heal the Earth, transforming faith into action. Contact your parish COE Liaison to see how your gifts may be used in this vital ministry. Your Parish Adminstrator will have their contact information, or email Barbara Bisel (below).

Barbara Bisel, COE Co-Chair
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925-377-5953

The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham
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Our COE Members: An Advisory Resource for Your Parish
Since its inception the COE has been guided by members representing clergy and lay individuals in environmentally relevant backgrounds. Their bios and contact information are provided in a downladable PDF (312 KB) as a resource for liaisons and parishioners. Please feel free to contact these COE members should you need help or advice in your Creation Care committee work.

 

COE Liaison Monthly Newsletter: Check here for current events and hot topics for our parish Creation Care committees and the communities we serve.
May 2008 (PDF, 750 KB; includes Earth Day 2008 report and Earth Service from Church of the Resurrection, Pleasant Hill)
June 2008

 

Encourage your parish to become a member of California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL). With over 450 congregations in California, and working with other interfaith environmental organizations nationwide, CIPL has been instrumental in supporting effective environmental legislation and promoting awareness across many religious groups. Headquartered in San Francisco, offers speakers, materials, films, and promotes legislative activity. www.interfaithpower.org

 

To borrow educational dvds, learn about local speaker events, purchase CFL bulbs at discount – and more – visit the California Interfaith Power and Light site, www.interfaithpower.org.

 

IN THE NEWS

Presiding Bishop Speaks at Congressional Hearing on Global Warming. Citing the need for immediate attention to serious issues of global warming, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori represented the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) at a June 7th Congressional hearing on global warming. Jefferts Schori testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The Presiding Bishop, who in 1983 earned her doctorate from Stanford in oceanography, approaches the issue of climate change from both scientific and theological perspectives. Her testimony to the Senate Committee notes the specific effects of climate change on those living in poverty. Jefferts Schori regularly emphasizes care for the environment as part of the Millennium Development Goals, affirmed within the Episcopal Church's current top mission priority. http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Testimony&Hearing_ID=e39940af-802a-23ad-4371-252edd78194f&Witness_ID=4d7e1aae-f883-4527-9b14-b3db7dc417b8

Reflections on Poverty and Climate Change. "Before I became a priest, I was a professor of oceanography. One of the things I learned was that oceanographers couldn't just study squid or fish in isolation. We had to study interconnected systems. We had to understand not only the animals' environment, such as the water, but its chemistry and circulation, the atmosphere above the ocean and the geology below it. And that, I believe, is how we must understand our world: We must see everything, and everyone, as interconnected and intended by God to live in relationship." by Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, San Francisco Chronicle Open Forum, Sunday, May 20, 2007; http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/05/20/EDGHQP1IR11.DTL

The Rev. Sally Bingham, Founder of Interfaith Power & Light and The Regeneration Project, Receives EPA's 2007 Climate Protection Award http://www.epa.gov/cppd/awards/2007winners.html

Go Green, Churches Urged. The Church of England is taking a big step towards going green. Every parish church is being invited to audit its current energy use to determine the size of its 'carbon footprint', a term for the impact that carbon emissions have on the environment. A series of creative initiatives from draught-exclusion and energy-saving light bulbs to water management and car-sharing are set to follow, which will help churches as they attempt to reduce the dent they make in the environment. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/yearreview/dec06/gogreenchurchesurged.html

Science and Religion Unite on Climate: An excellent discussion of the religious/moral imperative for religion and science to unite in caring for the earth. Dr. Stephen H. Schneider is a professor of biological science at Stanford University. He has been studying, writing and speaking about the issue of climate change for 30 years. The Rev. Sally Bingham is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of California and a member of the board of Environmental Defense. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/13/EDGRJN76V51.DTL

Drink bottled water? You'll rethink that after reading this: "The Real Cost of Bottled Water" ( http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/18/EDG56N6OA41.DTL)

 

ECUSA GENERAL CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS

1991 (reaffirmed in 2006):

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirming our responsibility for the earth in trust for this and future generations:

1 Declares that Christian Stewardship of God's created environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency;

2 Calls on all citizens of the world, and Episcopalians in particular, to live their lives as good stewards with responsible concern for the sustainability of the environment and with appreciation for the global interdependence of human life and the natural worlds…

New in 2006:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention affirm that Global Warming threatens the future of God’s good creation, and the effects of Global Warming disproportionately hurt the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the United States and around the world; and be it further Resolved, That Episcopalians and The Episcopal Church at every level support efforts that seek to reduce Global Warming, including national and international legislation that increase the supply of clean energy and reduce consumption of fossil fuels…

RELATED LINKS

RELIGION & ENVIRONMENT

 

California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL), headquartered in San Francisco, offers speakers, materials, films, and promotes legislative activity: www.interfaithpower.org

The Regeneration Project: An interfaith ministry devoted to deepening the connection between ecology and faith. Related to CIPL, their goal is to help people of faith recognize and fulfill their responsibility for the stewardship of creation. Specifically, the IPL campaign is mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation. People of faith have an opportunity to put their faith into action and help reduce the devastating effects of global warming. www.theregenerationproject.org.

The Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN) is a nationwide network within the Episcopal Church USA that coordinates with the Peace and Justice Ministries Office of the Episcopal Church USA. As such we are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and find our roots in the Celtic Spirituality of this tradition. The EpEN includes all concerned Episcopalians who are helping our Church assume a leadership role in the worldwide environmental movement, just as our Church leads in other peace and justice issues. http://eenonline.org

The Living Church Foundation promotes and supports orthodox, catholic Anglicanism within the life of the Episcopal Church. The following is a cover article, "Churches are taking the lead in conserving resources," by Michael O'Loughlin: www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=28

California Interfaith Assistance Project: High-energy costs have forced many low-income families to choose between paying their utility bills, their rent or mortgage, buying groceries or paying for badly needed medical expenses. To help mitigate this problem, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has provided funding for the California Interfaith Energy Assistance Project (CIEAP) since January of 2002 http://calchurches.org/projects2.html

The Episcopal Café: The Café is collaborative effort by more than two dozen writers and editors, and an ever-growing list of visual artists. Together, we aspire to create a visually appealing, intellectually stimulating, spiritually enriching and at least occasionally amusing site where Episcopalians and those interested in our church can read, watch, listen and reflect upon contemporary life in a context informed by faith and animated by the spirit of charity. The Café includes essays and art on a variety of topics, including environment. http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/environment/

RESOURCES

The PG&E Energy Center Information about making your work and home "green." www.pge.com/pec/compostprogram. A listing of classes is available at www.pge.com/pec/classes.

About Energy Learn how our gas, electric and hydro systems work, and get info on Diablo Canyon Power Plant.http://www.pge.com/education_training/about_energy/

California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Resources for preventing and reducing waste at home, as well as guides on recycling. www.ciwmb.ca.gov/schools

Ecoproducts Biodegradable products and products made from recycled materials, everything from cups and utensils, to packaging, carpeting & furniture. www.ecoproducts.com.

Electronic Waste Management EWM and ACQuisitions Office work to keep e-waste out of California landfills through community “Free Drop Off” event opportunities, scheduled “Free” facility drop off, and education. www.noewaste.com

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations

Native Energy's Carbon Footprint Calculator: provides an easy and interesting means of calculating your family's current CO2 emissions, and for getting ideas for lowering your impact on the environment. www.nativeenergy.com/lifestyle_calc.html

Solar Energy PG & E provides excellent solar classes on topics including PV (PV) systems, solar water heating, and financial analysis for PV systems. www.pge.com/solarclasses.

Recycling CFL bulbs, etc. Are you having trouble finding a place to recycle your energy saving compact florescent lightbulbs or other things? Click on this website and enter your zip code in the green box at the top. http://earth911.org/

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

California Energy Commission -- Energy Quest Energy Quest is a Web site for young people, and includes interactive energy games and puzzles, resources, newsletters, projects, homework help and more. Teachers may also find resources, including background material, recommended books and extensive links to k-12 energy education lesson plans on other sites. www.energyquest.ca.gov

U.S. Department of Energy -- Energy Information Administration A listing of energy education resources for teachers of grades K-12. www.eia.doe.gov/kids/

U.S. Department of Energy -- Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for lesson plans, curriculum, and educational materials for teaching students and children about energy, particularly energy efficiency and renewable energy. www.eere.energy.gov/education/lesson_plans.html

GOVERNMENT

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the voice for the environment in the United Nations system. It is an advocate, educator, catalyst and facilitator, promoting the wise use of the planet’s natural assets for sustainable development. www.unep.org

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by WMO and UNEP to assess scientific, technical and socio- economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. It is currently finalizing its Fourth Assessment Report "Climate Change 2007". The reports by the three Working Groups provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the current state of knowledge on climate change. www.ipcc.ch/

California Energy Commission's Energy Efficiency Financing: www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/financing/index.html

Current Energy Supply of and Demand for Electricity in California For a graphic representation of electricity used in California in real-time over the course of a day, go to this Web site. www.currentenergy.lbl.gov/ca