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Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
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US Conference of Catholic Bishops
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National Religious Partnership for the Environment
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National Council of Churches of Christ
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Evangelical Environmental Network
God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations.(Gen 9:12)

Caring for God's Creation

Love and gratitude for God's creation lie deep within religious life. From mountaintops to forests, green pastures to still waters, stars in the sky and lilies of the field, we experience the grace of our Creator and the gift of our presence here.

With Earth in grave environmental peril, many religious Americans are seeking to respond through our faith. Through the many gateways and galleries of this website, we offer resources and accounts of how people of faith are acting upon God's mandate to be stewards of our precious Earth.

Partners in Stewardship

The National Religious Partnership for the Environment is an association of independent faith groups across a broad spectrum: the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Council of Churches U.S.A., the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network.

Each Partner — in common biblical faith but drawing upon its distinctive traditions — is undertaking scholarship, leadership training, congregational and agency initiative, and public policy education in service to environmental sustainability and justice. Together, they seek to offer resources of religious life and moral vision to a universal effort to protect humankind's common home and well-being on Earth.

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Events: Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign

Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign Signing

50 Jewish leaders commit to reduce energy use, advocate for energy security: leaders across the political and religious spectrum celebrate Tu B'shvat by setting goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 14% by 2014.  Read the declaration...  List of signatories...

St. Francis Pledge

Catholic Climate Covenant: Care for Creation. Care for the Poor.
Take the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor.  Join Catholics taking action in our families, parishes, schools, and communities to reduce our carbon footprint, care for the "least of these" (Mt 25) and raise our voice on behalf of Creation and the poor.

Events: Upcoming NCCC Eco-Justice Events

Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2013 The 11th annual Ecumencial Advocacy Days will be held April 5th-8th, 2013.  Join the NCC and other Christian advocates in Washington DC to seek Food Justice for a Healthy World.  To register, click here.

Mission 4/1 Earth The United Church of Christ has announced an all-church initiative to complete 1 million hours of earth care, 100,000 tree plantings, and 100,000 advocacy letters on environmental issues during the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost (April 1st-May 19th).  To learn more and get involved, click here.

Events: The Creation Care Teaching Institute

Evangelical Environmental Network
 
 
The Teaching Institute is for Christians who are passionate about their care for God's creation, and are looking for ways to become further equipped and engaged on their area of passion.  Click here for more information.  
 
 


Partners Encourage Congress to Take On Climate Change

NRPE's four partners have all written individual letters to the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change. 

Please click on the partners to read the individual statements:



RECENT NEWS

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Refugee Community Garden

Jewish

Refugee Community Garden

Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel Boise, Idaho In 2003, Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel moved their...

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Catholic

Managing Business as an Ecosystem

Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI Article by Holly Knight, IHM Sisters Communications and Marketing Director, taken from The Immaculate Heart Of Mary Quarterly, Autumn 2008. In 2003, before the sisters' big move back to the Motherhouse, they decided to produce a DVD on the sustainable renovation of this grand, old convent.  Toward the end of the production, several sisters were interviewed and taped about their newly "green" home. Sister Paula (Marie Paula)...

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Oklahoma Food Cooperative

Catholic

Oklahoma Food Cooperative

Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House Oklahoma City, OKVisit site... Daily contact with small, struggling farmers, combined with commitment to the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church, led members of the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House in Oklahoma City to begin thinking of ways to re-create the local food system. Local residents desired fresh, healthy foods and farmers needed a way to sell their goods directly to the public. Connecting local producers and consumers...

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A Different Kind of Car Show

Mainline Protestant

A Different Kind of Car Show

Northaven United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX Most Texas car shows show off the biggest and boldest new cars, trucks, and SUVs out there, according to Rev. Eric Folkerth of Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX. So when church members proposed a hybrid car show four years ago, the idea was a semi-serious joke. Now that joke has turned into a rallying event for the church’s annual Earth Day Celebration.  Fuel efficiency has become a...

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Mainline Protestant

Polar Explorer Inspires Lutherans to Action

Minnesota — He has spent his life leading some of the most significant polar expeditions in history. Now Minnesotan Will Steger is working for the preservation of the Arctic and the earth through the Will Steger Foundation. As a part of his preservation efforts, Steger worked with the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy (LCPP) in Minnesota to offer Global Warming Solutions forums throughout the state. Communities participated enthusiastically, often with 500-1000 people turning out to hear Steger speak.

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Evangelical

Boise Vineyard

Tri Robinson is the pastor of Boise Vineyard, an Evangelical Congregation in Boise, Idaho. He has spearheaded many environmental projects during his time there, including recycling initiatives, an organic community garden, and service projects in nearby wilderness areas. He is a great leader and his work is a wonderful success story in how congregations can be leaders in sustainability. Some of his focus includes his service work in Idaho’s wilderness areas. This work is unique to his congregation rather than...

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Mainline Protestant

Environmental Stewardship Committee

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church Yarmouth, ME “Becoming a beacon of environmental stewardship has truly been the sum of many small, enduring, ...

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The Vine and the Branches

Evangelical

The Vine and the Branches

Abiding Peace Lutheran Church Kansas City, MO Eight years ago, Mary Gerken described the grounds of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri as "the most desolate four acres." She and some other members of the church began developing a creation awareness ministry. Their vision was to create a sanctuary with their facility and grounds that would welcome people and wildlife. After seeking advice from a local gardening expert, they began planting and changing their surroundings one step at a...

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CenterEdge Project

Catholic

CenterEdge Project

Connecticut Catholic Conference The CenterEdge Project emerged as a coalition building effort of the Connecticut Catholic Conference to tackle problems caused by Connecticut’s urban sprawl, especially the effects of sprawl on low-income communities and on water quality. The coalition is made up of religious, environmental, business, civil rights, educational, government and civic-minded organizations, as well as groups with a focus on housing and social services. One of the most important contributions of the CenterEdge project has been the publication of "Connecticut...

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Light Up the Night --- A Faith Community Acts Together

Catholic

Light Up the Night --- A Faith Community Acts Together

St. Bridget Human Concerns Ministry, Richmond, VA Light Up the Night, a campaign of the St. Bridget Human Concerns Ministry in Richmond, VA, gave parishioners the opportunity to purchase energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to replace inefficient existing incandescent light bulbs. Members at St. Bridget got a head start on complying with the new energy law passed by Congress on December 19, 2007, which requires the incandescent light bulb to be phased out...

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Temple Emanuel Environmental Policy Statement

Jewish

Temple Emanuel Environmental Policy Statement

This is a support document for the Jewish Stewardship Story, "Over a Decade of Jewish Environmental Activism at Temple Emanuel: a Model for Greening Your Synagogue," and is an example of a congregation's environmental policy statement: Adopted by the Board of Trustees, December 19, 2003 Introduction In 1992, the Temple Emanuel Board of Trustees ...

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Evangelical

Creation Care Worldwide

Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies Grand Rapids, MI A partnership in missions is flourishing on the ...

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A Texas-Size Energy Deal

Mainline Protestant

A Texas-Size Energy Deal

United Methodist Conference of North Texas, TX The North Texas Annual Conference has created a groundbreaking opportunity for its churches to go green. It negotiated for its 200 churches to buy the equivalent of 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources within Texas.Some congregations are taking greening a step further. Northaven UMC in Dallas, TX, plans to pay a premium to buy 100 percent green energy. According to Pastor Eric Folkerth, “It’s consistent...

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Jewish

A Jewish Route to ENERGY STAR Certification

The Ohev Sholom, the National Synagogue, is the oldest Jewish orthodox congregation in Washington, D.C. For members of the orthodox congregation, remaining sincere and committed to halakhah (Jewish law) means following numerous requirements. As a kosher member, one must adhere to the mitzvoth (commandments), which means following the weekly practice of Shabbat. The Shabbat is a period of religious observance that starts Friday evening and goes until Saturday evening. In 2007, Jen Singer and her husband joined the National Synagogue. Soon...

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