September, 2000

The industrial revolution inaugurated what has become a dangerous experiment. While seeking to be faithful to God and to improve human living conditions, we have been testing the capacity of God's creation. We now have strong signs that the earth cannot sustain the way we live and that we may be putting future generations at risk.

In response to this growing conviction, ever since the first Earth Day in 1970 people across the world have acted to protect natural resources, regions and species. Out of concern and respect for planetary health, untold numbers of citizens--working independently, working within their faith communities, and working with companies and political entities--have modified their styles of consumption and brought about broad change. In many areas of our country, for example, water quality has dramatically improved in recent years.

All along, faith has informed these responses. From the New Testament of the Christian Bible, we learn that "in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to God's self all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross." Similarly, in Jewish tradition we are reminded that "the earth is the LORD's, and all that is in it, the world, and all those who live in it." In the Quran, we read that to the Lord "belongs everything that is in the heavens and on the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him." In native American teachings and other faith traditions we find similar affirmations.

Nonetheless, in spite of our efforts and contrary to the intent of our faith traditions, we continue to wound what sustains us. The fragile envelope of life that encircles our earth continues to be altered at a rate previously unknown in recorded history. Human activity caused carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to increase 30% since the beginning of the industrial revolution; CO2 levels are now expected to double by 2050. The nine warmest years of the last one hundred have occurred in the last fourteen years. The degree of this change, and its profound impact, may rival climate changes that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. As common sense suggests, the storms, droughts and diseases of the last few years call us to intensify our response.

We, people of faith, believe that human activity, governed significantly by our own self-centeredness, dramatically influences the current rate of change in the global climate and the impact of the changing climate on all life on earth. The impact of our self-indulgent activity, we believe, goes far beyond God's intention for us and for God's creation. We face an intensifying crisis of stewardship, of interdependence and of commitment by all people of faith. Having caused this change, we believe we must, with God's blessing, effectively address and work to resolve this crisis.

We therefore call on our brothers and sisters in faith to deepen our understanding of our role in God's creation through our worship and teaching. We commit ourselves to renew our identity as people of faith:

• subject to God's love and authority,
• created and living within the beauty and wonder of God's creative handiwork, and
• responsible for living appropriately and sustainably.

Alienation from God's creation seems to encourage alienation between human communities as well. Therefore, with a view of the wholeness of God's creation, as individuals and as institutions we commit ourselves to work for just and equitable livelihoods for all peoples as well as to ensure the survival of all species. In all our efforts we will address the disproportionate impact of environmental trauma on the poorest communities and people of color. We will work together:

• to reduce greenhouse emissions, to conserve energy (especially from non-renewable sources) and to increase use of renewable sources for energy;
• to address public policy and corporate practice; and
• to live more simply by consuming less, re-using more, and recycling as much as possible.

For additional information, contact the Ecojustice Program of the Minnesota Council of Churches, 612/870-3600.