January 2007 Edition

Caring for Creation:
Caring For Creation: Eco-Justice for the Environment and People (Lake Junaluska, NC, on April 12-15, 2007) is an event open to both laity and clergy interested in eco-justice and learning how faith communities can make a difference. Click here for a brochure and to find out more information, or contact Loy Lilley at 825-454-6750.

Coffee the Right Way
Sign up to participate in our current Adamah Challenge by encouraging your congregation to serve fairly traded, organic and shade grown coffee during fellowship hour. Sign up now and receive a free gift from Equal Exchange.

Eco-Palms
Lutheran World Relief will again promote social and environmental justice while commemorating Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday by selling Eco-Palms.Click here to learn how Eco-Palms support indigenous communities in South America and environmentally sustainable harvesting of palms.

Building a Firm Foundation
A practical creation-friendly building toolkit to save money and creation in your house of worship. Available for free download (sign up for the Network and download).

Environmental Racism Resource
Many people of color live in communities where it is unsafe to work and play because of the presence of toxic industries. Invite your congregation to hold a theological discussion on race and environmental justice during the upcoming Black History Month in February with Environmental Racism: An Ecumenical Study Guide. Available for free download (sign up for the Network and download).

"Is God Green?" Moyers on America
Originally aired on October 11, this PBS documentary is a valuable resource for exploring the complex relationship between religion and ecology in the 21st century. Its great for fostering discussion about the need for church environmental action. Click here to order a DVD of this program from PBS.

Church of the Brethren

Environmental Justice Office of Presbyterian Church (USA)

Presbyterian Washington Office

Episcopal Ecological Network

Greek Orthodox Church in America

Lutheran Earthkeeping Network of the Synods

Reformed Church in America

United Church of Christ

United Methodist Board of Church and Society

Make Your Voice Heard! Attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days

On March 9, more than 900 people of faith will converge upon Washington, DC, for one of the largest national gatherings of religious activists. The Eco-Justice track this year will focus on issues surrounding global warming and how they affect the world's children. The event concludes on March 12 with a lobbying day on Capitol Hill. To register, visit the Advocacy Days website.

Victory! Faithful Call Helps Protect Rocky Mountain Front

People of faith recently helped to protect the Rocky Mountain Front by encouraging the passage of legislation to protect this valuable part of God's creation from new oil and gas development. To read the faith community's letter on protecting the Rocky Mountain Front, click here. To learn more about the NCC's land and wilderness program, or to view the NCC's new theological study guide "Out of Wilderness: Building Christian Faith and Keeping God's Creation," click here.

Poll Notes that Global Warming is Important to Voters

Half of Americans who voted in the mid-term elections said concern about global warming made a difference in who they voted for on Election Day 2006, according to a recent Zogby International post-election survey. Eighty-five percent of these voters who felt global warming was important cast their votes for Democratic Congressional candidates, including 48 percent of Independents and 7 percent of Republicans. Read More!

Learning Tours Held in Guatemala, Amazon, Arctic, and More...

The New Community Project is sponsoring Learning Tours to areas where God's creation and the humans who depend on it are being threatened. Upcoming trips include: Guatemala (March 5-14; $575) Ecuadorian Amazon (May 15-26, $1075), and Honduras (July 19-29, $600). Participants will encounter native communities and directly experience of local ecosystems. The trips are open to all ages, and require cultural sensitivity, openness to spiritual growth and willingness to endure basic living conditions. Click here for more information or to register.

400 Synagogues Change Lightbulbs to Stop Global Warming

The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) has launced a nationwide campaign to engage the Jewish community about global warming by encouraging synagogues to use Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs). Click here to find out how CFLs can help stop global warming. Four hundred synagogues have already signed up to participate in this campaign, and churches are starting to make the switch as well. Beginning in February, the Eco-Justice program's Adamah Challenge will ask churches to make the switch to CFLs.

NCC Announces Environmental Sermon Writing Contest

The NCC Eco-Justice program is looking for sermons that can eloquently describe the environmental issues that face God's creation today, and present ideas that call us to action. The winner will receive a set of Earth Bibles. This contest is open to both laity and clergy. Sermons can focus on any issue that relates to the environment. Submissions are limited to 1,500 words. The deadline is March 1, 2007. Click here for more details and to read the rules. For theological inspiration, take a look at our new theological resource, Opening the Letter: Theology and the Environment Resource (free download from our Network).

Apply for Eco-Justice Young Adult Fellowship Program

The NCC Eco-Justice Program is now accepting applications for its Young Adult Fellowship Program. The goal of the fellowship is to provide training and other learning opportunities for young adults engaged in faith-based environmental work, and to connect these leaders with their peers to build an effective network. Those chosen to become fellows will attend a 3-day retreat on Tangier Island, VA in July. To find out more about the program and to apply, click here or contact Adam Bray at abray@ncccusa.org. If you would like to support this program, click here to make an online donation.