Creation Care
PURPOSE:
To educate and encourage new actions and thought processes so that Creation Care – namely, thought processes and actions that benefit the earth and its inhabitants rather than harm them – becomes a way of life, embodying our Christian call to love God and neighbor.
DIOCESAN GOALS & STRATEGIES:
The purpose listed above is an invitation to the creativity and ingenuity of our churches to help us accomplish our priority objective. We do, however, have diocesan-wide goals set to help guide the work. Your gifts are needed, whether to achieve the diocesan goals or to show us additional ways to fulfill our purpose.
Download the in-depth summary of goals and resources (Coming Soon)
Goal 1: Become Deeper Green Churches
Strategies:
- Collaboration with Center for Religion and Environment at Sewanee
- Connect Creation Care with church life and God’s plan for salvation
- Look to the gospel for right relationships
- Develop spiritual connections between ecosystems and church
- Promote Creation Care curricula and green liturgical resources
Goal 2: Look at Creation Care through a racial equity lens
Strategies:
- Networking/Planning with Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice
- Episcopal Farmworker Ministry
- Assess the racial/social justice implications of every Creation Care project in which we are engaged
- Coordinate advocacy efforts around issues of environmental justice
Goal 3: Commit to climate stabilization through emissions reductions
Strategies:
- Assist churches in setting up energy assessments
- Assist churches in exploring solar energy
- Explore opportunities for churches as electric vehicle charging stations
- Promote Zero Waste Churches and encourage congregations to implement
Goal 4: Restore the Earth using natural systems
Strategies:
- Conservation of resources
- Restoration of resources
- Improved land management
- Restore and maintain wildlife habitats
- Reverse biodiversity decline
- Increase food security
Goal 5: Engage in environmental advocacy
Strategies:
- Collaborate with Bishop’s Council of Advice on Public Policy (CAPP)
- Continue to participate in advocacy efforts through affiliation with NC Council of Churches, GreenFaith, Episcopal Public Policy Network, NC Interfaith Power & Light, NC Conservation Network, RAFI-USA and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
- Collaborate with neighboring dioceses to address state environmental concerns
- Identify and address local, state and federal advocacy opportunities
WATCH:
Shared at the Special Convention on March 5, 2022, this video provides an overview of what we're trying to accomplish with the priority along with stories of work already happening.
GET STARTED:
- Start small and gradually go deeper.
- Explore the theology of creation in your life of worship.
- Form a congregational Green Team.
- Implement and/or share green tips.
- Talk about ways to reduce paper, plastic, and food waste.
- Get a free energy audit. Turn off the lights when rooms are not in use.
- Consider reusable dishware.
- Become more intentional as a congregation in highlighting the natural world around us.
- Plant a garden or perhaps just a tree.
- NEW: Implement COP Prayer Cards into your daily spiritual practice (a gift shared by the Diocese of California)
GO DEEPER:
- Explore installing solar panels
- Initiate a community composting program
- Implement spiritual and educational programs around the nature present on your church campus
- Identify and
address local, state and federal advocacy opportunities
RESOURCES:
- Green Tips
- Zero Waste Church
- NC Episcopal Church Foundation Green Grants
- Green Grants (from Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry): $250-500
- Green Grants (the NC Episcopal Church Foundation): $5,000
- Creation Care Grants (The Episcopal Church): $15,000-40,000
- Thinking about starting an Environmental Stewardship Committee? Good!
- Continuing Work for Environmental Stewardship Committees
- A Liturgical Guide to Celebrating God's Creation
- A Pastoral Teaching on the Environment from the House of Bishops
- Recommended Films and Documentaries
- Recommended Books on Creation Care
- A Catechism of Creation: An Episcopal Understanding
- To Serve Christ in All Creation
BE INSPIRED:
- Baptized in Dirty Water (Disciple, Spring 2023)
- Going Solar for Mission (Disciple, Spring 2021)
- Moving to Zero (Disciple, Spring 2018)
- The Piedmont Patch Project (Disciple, Spring 2019)
- The Edible Landscape (Disciple, Spring 2021)
- All Saints', Concord: Growing Native Tree Saplings - A New Creation Care Ministry