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June 2007 Edition
YAEF Conference Eco-Justice Conference PRC National Conference Ecumenical Work Week
Green 'Reflections' Earth and Word 2007 Energy Star Awards
Environmental Justice Office of Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Washington Office Greek Orthodox Church in America Lutheran Earthkeeping Network of the Synods United Methodist Board of Church and Society
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Faith Community Helps Pass Fuel Efficiency Standards in Senate
Episcopal Presiding Bishop testifies at Faith and Global Warming Hearing
Faith Principles on Global WarmingThe National Council of Churches, in conjunction with our interfaith community, has developed a set of global warming principles that outline the elements we feel must be addressed in any national climate change legislation. Already, 18 national religious organizations have signed on. Click here to read these principles and to endorse them. Environmental Health Initiative LaunchedThe National Council of Churches recently launched its new environmental health initiative with briefings and visits to Minnesota and Maine. This initiative, which focuses on protecting vulnerable populations from toxics, will feature resources for worship, education and ways that congregations can take action. For more information or to reserve a copy of the upcoming environmental health resource, contact Chloe Schwabe at cschwabe@ncccusa.org Ride for Climate
Janet Parker wins Eco-Sermon Contest
The sermon award was created as an outgrowth of an eco-theology study guide for congregations entitled "Opening the Letter" available for download here. Parker, pastor for parish life at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, Arlington, Virginia, was selected from among 50 sermon submissions from across the country and as far as Australia and Brazil. Read the award-winning sermon here. From the Desk of...
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For the first time in 30 years, the Senate passed higher fuel efficiency standards for automobiles as part of its energy bill. Thank you to all who contacted their member of Congress and helped pass this bill. This is a huge step in the right direction for reducing our nation's dependence on oil and decreasing our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Our eyes now turn to the House to see if they too will pass higher fuel efficiency standards. 
Testifying
before the Environment and Public Works Senate Committee on June 7th, Episcopal
Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori,
joined with other major faith leaders representing Protestant, Catholic,
and Jewish organizations to call for the U.S. Congress to create a national energy policy that alleviates the burden
on people in poverty by reducing U.S. carbon emissions. 
The National Council of Churches USA's (NCC) Eco-Justice Working Group recently honored the Rev. Dr. Janet Parker for her sermon, "
Recently, a friend of mine and I were debating the ins and outs of an environmental issue while taking a walk one sunny Sunday afternoon with Jax by the water. While we were focused on making articulate points and intelligent remarks, Jax was concentrating on jumping in the water and finding appropriate sticks to fetch. At one point, while in the throes of intense dialog, I looked over at Jax, who was alternating between enthusiastically digging in the sand and expectantly smiling up at us hoping for a stick toss into the Bay, wondering why we weren’t joining in on the fun. And at that dichotomous moment, I realized that I was missing the point entirely. I had to laugh at myself, thinking about how God must sometimes feel like Jax, pulling out all the stops of exuberance, joy, beauty, and fun, while we ignore the bounty and spend our moments anxiously debating problems and issues.