Tuesday, 01 November 2011 19:08

Minneapolis Area Synod 2002 Resolution: Congregations as Creation Care Centers

WHEREAS we read in Genesis 1:31 that “God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good;”and we read further in Colossians 1;19-20 that through Christ, “God was pleased to reconcile to God’s very self all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of Christ’s cross;” and further in 2 Peter 3:13 that God will one day consummate all things in “new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home;" and

WHEREAS, the Social Statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice” acknowledges that “today living creatures, and the air, soil, and water that support them, face unprecedented threats, mostly from human activity” (paragraph II.B), and urges “each congregation should see itself as a center for exploring scriptural and theological foundations for caring for creation" (paragraph V.B.1) and further,

  • as a ‘Committed Community ..incorporate the principles of sufficiency and sustainability and...take other measures that work to limit consumption and reduce wastes” (paragraph V.C);
  • as a “Community of Moral Deliberation” enter into discussion of a wide rage of environmental issues (Paragraph V. D); and
  • as “an Advocate” engage in advocacy on behalf of creation “in partnership, ecumenically and with others who share our concern for the environment” (paragraph V.E); and

WHEREAS, the Minneapolis Area Synod and its member congregations are responsible for the implementation of this Social Statement in our area; therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Minneapolis Area Synod in assembly ask the synod council to assign a work group to establish a process by which congregations may be formally recognized by the synod as “Creation Care Centers” as understood in “Caring for Creation;” and be it further

RESOLVED, the Minneapolis Area Synod urge its congregations to engage in the process of becoming "Creation Care Centers," seeking appropriate assistance with the environmental assessment, educational initiatives, and advocacy information from ELCA resources and/or from the New Earth Partnership, a coalition of churches in the Twin Cities Area concerned to promote care of creation.Adopted by: Central Conference, April 14, 2002

Author: Rev. Dennis Ormseth (952-929-0439)

Contact person: Rev. William Heisley, Central Conference Dean

Reference and Counsel forwards without recommendation.

Background Information

The ELCA Social Statement on "Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice" was adopted by more than two-thirds majority vote by the third Churchwide Assembly on August 28, 1993. As stated in its introduction, the Statement:

"offers a vision of God's intention for creation and for humanity as creation's caregivers;

  • acknowledges humanity's separation from God and from the rest of creation as the central cause of the environmental crisis;
  • recognizes the severity of the crisis; and expresses hope and
  • heeds the call to justice and commitment.

"The call to justice is articulated according to four principles of: participation, solidarity, sufficiency and sustainability:

  • The principle of participation means that because all living things are included in God's covenant, they are "entitled to be heard and to have their interests considered when decisions are made."
  • "The principle of solidarity means that we stand together" in interdependence with other creatures "as God's creation."
  • "The principle of sufficiency means meeting the basic needs of all humanity and all creation."
  • "The principle of sustainability means providing an acceptable quality of life for present generations without compromising that of future generations"

The Statement commits the ELCA to these principles and urges both individual Christians and Christian communities to appropriate action. The statement challenges individuals to tithe environmentally. "Tithers would reduce their burden on the earth's bounty by producing ten percent less in waste, consuming ten percent less in non-renewable resources, and contributing the savings to earth care efforts."

Resources and support for actions called for by this Statement and this Resolution on "Congregations as Creation Care Centers" are available from:

  • the ELCA Division for Church in Society;
  • the Minneapolis Area Synod Task Force on Climate Change (contact Keith Olstad, chair, at 612 940-1534); and
  • The New Earth Partnership, an ecumenical coalition of congregations in the Twin Cities area committed to worship of God as Creator and to care for God's creation. NEP offers an environmental inventory for use by congregations in evaluating building and grounds, worship, education, outreach and advocacy as they develop their own plans for improving its earth care; technical assistance with the inventory; resources for worship and theology, education, 'green buildings,' advocacy, and hands-on projects; and linkages between environmental and faith communities (contact Betsy Barnum, organizer, at 952-929-0439).
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