Christmastide 2001-2002

The National Council of Churches of Christ
Calls for Renewed Commitment to Environmental Justice

NCCC General Secretary Bob Edgar sent out a communication publicizing the "Deny Them Their Victory" statement signed by some 3,985 U.S. religious leaders, as it appeared in the New York Times on November 19^th, 2001.

He also said, that "amidst the smoke and the dust a still small voice kept asking, "What really matters." What matters are Faith, Family, friends and those few causes in which we truly believe.

"For many of us the stewardship of the Lord's creation is one of those "few causes" in which we truly believe.

For nearly 20 years the environment has been a Council priority. We have brought together those concerned with the environment from across the faith community to share ideas, best practices, concerns and a broad commitment to stewardship.

After 20 years a pessimist would say that we are drowning in 12 feet of water rather than in 20 feet. We produce unsustainable amounts of greenhouse gases; we remain a fossil fuel-based economy; our agricultural practices constitute top-soil mining; we continue to reduce biodiversity and to foul our oceans.

An optimist would cite the parable of slavery:

In 1776 all but one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were somehow engaged in slavery By 1866 slavery, an institution as old as recorded history, had been abolished. In 90 years a campaign led by the faith community wrought a vast social and economic change.

Working through the National Religious Partnership for the environment, which brings together Roman catholic, Evangelical, Jewish and main-line Protestant and Orthodox communions, the environmental commitments of our communions and the ecumenical commitment of state and local councils of churches, the environmental movement has evolved from a loose sharing of concerns and programs to a linked set of state and national movements. Its principal components include:

§ Global Warming Coalitions in 21 states
§ A network of more than 1,000 "Green Congregations"
§ Earth Day observances by nearly 100,000 churches
§ A training program through which more than 1500 congregational leaders have been trained
§ A national campaign office - with thanks to the Pew Foundation and the Turner Foundation - to make our voice heard in Washington
§ Rapidly growing links to existing environmental organizations and the growing for-profit environmental industry
§ Improved communications, including a 25,000 person interactive list-serve and website developed with the support of the Turner Foundation.

At this season when we honor the arrival of the poor Child who transformed our lives it is fit to dedicate ourselves to preserving the environment so that poor children for generations to come will have a planet to be born into.

We invite you to join us to build and support a sustainable world! May the Lord bless and keep you!"

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