Streams of Mercy
Climate change and its impact continue to make headlines. World leaders and ordinary citizens alike are seeking way to better care for the earth. People of faith have a particular call to be good stewards of God’s creation. Throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), individuals, congregations, presbyteries and agencies are joining efforts to respond to this rapidly growing global crisis.
Columbia Seminary issued this statement:
“The two latest climate reports, Fourth National Climate Assessment and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming are the most dire reports yet to be produced by expert scientists. Within the next 10 to 15 years, the human race will largely determine its own survival, and that of countless other species, in our ‘common home.’ We are at a crossroads and radical changes in current energy policies, capitalist economies and collective and individual lifestyles are required to mitigate and prepare for an ecological collapse never experienced in all of human history.”
Presbyterian Camp and Conference Centers are responding to these reports in the following ways: making a commitment to serve at least one completely meatless meal during their programs; eliminating the use of Styrofoam and minimizing other single-use plastic and disposable items; and educating guests about these issues and commitments. In their programming, they pledge to increase recycling and recycling education; design projects in composting and gardening; make use of eco-friendly and fair trade products for consumption and sale; use natural and sustainable materials for program, such as arts and crafts; make use of energy conservation elements, such as motion-lighting and hybrid/electric vehicles; and look into divesting endowments and pension plans from coal, gas and oil production.”
Presbyterian congregations help by including in their services hymns, prayers, sermons and litanies that focus on our responsibility for the Earth’s renewal. Creation Care Teams at churches across the country teach that we serve God by stewarding God’s earth. Congregations are working to eliminate waste and to recycle in every area of the facility. The Restoring Creation loans granted by the Presbyterian Investment Loan Program help churches make buildings more energy efficient, with solar, HVAC upgrades and energy conservation projects.
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a fresh new hymn text, “God, Creator, You have Taught Us,” addressing issues of concern:
We have faith that you created and you called creation good.
You gave everything we needed: streams of water, shelter, food.
Then you told us, “Have dominion!” So you called us all to care
for the blessings of creation – creatures, water, land and air.
As we look into the future, we confess the news is grim;
we’ve polluted till each creature feels the stress of human sin.
Yet we hope because you’re working and we’re called to struggle, too.
We have hope because you love us and you’re making all things new.
Our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)Book of Order (W-5.0305) says this about the Care of Creation:
“God sends the Church to share in the stewardship of creation, preserving the goodness and glory of the earth God has made. God cares for us through the gifts of creation, providing all that we need in abundance. As caretakers of God’s creation, we are called to: tend the land, water, and air with awe and wonder at God’s gifts; use the earth’s resources wisely, without plundering, polluting, or destroying; use technology in ways that preserve and enhance life; measure our production and consumption in order to provide for the needs of all; foster responsible practices of procreation and reproduction, and seek beauty, order, health, harmony, and peace for all God’s creatures.”
May God help us to be faithful stewards of all of life.
Elizabeth