Tuesday, 01 November 2011 19:36

Southeastern Minnesota Synod 2009 Resolution: Environmental Stewardship

WHEREAS, the ELCA adopted the “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice” social statement at the Churchwide Assembly in 1993 to address the church’s understanding of God’s call to use to care for the earth; and,

WHEREAS, the ELCA has created materials to guide congregations, schools, and other groups in conducting environmental audits; and,

WHEREAS, the knowledge and understanding of the impact of our individual and congregational uses of natural resources in documented (for example, The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment); and,

WHEREAS, scripture shows God’s love for creation and mandates humans to serve and keep the earth; and,

WHEREAS, a Green Team can be a catalyst for transformation in a congregation; and,

WHEREAS, there is a relationship between global injustice and the degradation of nature. Our Companion Synods in the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Colombia and the Central Dioces in Tanzania struggle from the imbalance of the use and exploitation of the world’s natural resources,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Southeastern Minnesota Synod live out more fully of the ELCA conduct the ELCA’s Environmental Audit; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that congregations of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA study caring for creation issues in Sunday School and Bible Studies, to learn more about our call to be God’s stewards of the earth; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA establish a committee or task force to address environmental issues in the synod of congregations; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a goal be set for the year 2011 for 75% of all products used by the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA office and its congregations be environmentally conscious.This goal would include attention to the use of fairly traded products.

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