Public Policy and Advocacy Resources for Congregations

As people are moved by a religious vision of a thriving humanity on a flourishing earth, or angered by the degradation of a beloved landscape, or concerned about threats to the health of their children or community, many are drawn into the public policy arena.

Persons of faith can sincerely differ over matters of public policy, and deep concern for creation's plight recognizes no political boundaries. Religious communities engage environmental policy with diverse approaches and priorities. Advocacy is only one part of the spectrum of religious response. However, it can express powerfully that the faithful do care; that caring must lead to action; and that efforts by individuals, families, and congregations -- though essential -- are not, by themselves, enough.

Whether by holding community forums, writing letters, visiting state or national representatives, making public statements, or meeting with business leaders, people of faith play a unique role in bringing out the moral and religious dimensions of environmental policies and laws.

Public Policy Positions, Priorities and Principles

• Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life:
• The Environmental Policy Agenda of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, available on its website, is formulated through the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, which develops consensus positions on a wide range of public affairs issues for the organized Jewish community.

• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops -- Environmental Justice Program:
• The public policy framework, priorities, and focus of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's Environmental Justice Program can be found on their website.
• "Naysayers and Doomsayers: How Do We Sort Out the Differences in the Ongoing Environmental Debate?" offers perspective and guidance in dealing with controversial environmental issues. Included in And God Saw That It Was Good: Catholic Theology and the Environment, eds. Drew Christiansen and Walter Grazer.
• National Council of Churches -- Eco-Justice Program:
• A group of theologians and ethicists convened by the National Council of Churches developed an ecumenical statement of theological and ethical principles for environmental policy, "God's Earth is Sacred: An Open Letter to Church and Society in the United States."
• Individual member denominations of the NCC have issued statements setting forth principles for environmental policy and taking positions on particular environmental issues.
• "Public Policy Action," by Shantilal Bhagat, gives reasons for moving from being personally concerned about the environment to becoming politically active. One of twelve adult education sessions from the congregational kit God's Earth, Our Home.
• Evangelical Environmental Network:
• EEN's website addresses the moral and religious implications of policy issues such as mercury pollution and climate change, and its " What Would Jesus Drive? " campaign site covers issues of transportation and fuel consumption.
• Creation Care, EEN's quarterly magazine, features articles on current environmental issues from an evangelical perspective.
• Creation Sunday materials produced by EEN on themes such as health, transportation choices, oceans provide information and perspectives on the issues and encourage Christians to support policies for the responsible stewardship of creation.