Church of the Brethren, 1996
Jesus Christ gathers us as a community blessed with faith, with love for God and each other, and with hope in the coming reign of Christ which reorders our lives now. Simplicity is the Way of Jesus, God's gift to us. The New Testament and the Holy Spirit's guidance have led the Brethren to practice this plain way. We affirm our heritage that began with people like Anna and Alexander Mack, who gave their lives and wealth for God's service until they died in material poverty and spiritual riches. Simplicity is living not conformed to the world, but transformed by Christ. Neither rules nor programs, neither simplistic answers nor legalism can fully define the simple life. Jesus's way of simplicity is at the heart of the gospel. It is central to our faith and practice, not optional. To make it less than central is sinful. Simple living is sometimes difficult. But to those who embark on this humble journey God provides joy and peace.
The context in which we presently respond to the simple life is one in which most of the world lives on far less than we in North America consume. Since the last conference statement on Christian lifestyle, the gap between rich and poor in the world, in the United States, and among Brethren has widened. Many more people live in poverty. The number of children in poverty has grown. Lifestyles dominated by consumerism despoil the earth and deplete resources that could be shared with the poor.
Such lifestyles separate us from the grace and humility of our lord Jesus Christ, who emptied himself for our sakes to give us another way of living.
Read the complete statement in the Environmental Anthology of Denominational Policy.
Alverna Covenant
(Report on Task Force on Christian Lifestyle and Ecology)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1991
THE ALVERNA COVENANT
Whereas:
God has created the world with finite resources
God has given to us the stewardship of the earth
God has established order through many natural cycles
Whereas:
We are consuming resources at a rate that cannot be maintained
We are interrupting many natural cycles
We are irresponsibly modifying the environment through consumption and pollution
We are populating the earth at a rate that cannot be maintained
As a member of the human family and a follower of Jesus Christ, I hereby covenant that:
I will change my lifestyle to reduce my contribution to pollution
I will support recycling efforts
I will search for sustainable lifestyles
I will work for public policies which lead to a just and sustainable society
I will share these concerns with others and urge them to make this covenant.
Read the complete statement in the Environmental Anthology of Denominational Policy.
For more information on mainline Protestant perspectives on sustainable economies:
· Other mainline Protestant denominations have made statements and policies on similar topics, including: Sustainable Development, Paper Use, Lifestyle, Population, Corporate Responsibility, Economics, Resource Use, Recycling, and Church Operations. To read more, browse the Environmental Anthology of Denominational Policy by denomination or by environmental issue.
· The National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program has worship and informational resources on Sustainable Living, the theme for Earth Day Sunday 1999.
