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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. |

Temple Emanuel, Kensington, Maryland Jewish, Reform Movement Temple Emanuel’s bimah, with its wooden sculpture...
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The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life in Southern California In January 2002,...
Read moreAu Sable Institute for Environmental Studies, MI A version of this article by Peter Illyn originally appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of Creation Care magazine.
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New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey Increasingly secular and religious groups alike are using shareholder resolutions as a tactic ...
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Noah Alliance, National A version of this article by Dorothy Boorse originally appeared in the Summer 2007 issue of Creation Care magazine. “Speaking Truth to Power” Noah Alliance helps keep endangered species afloat “Well,” said an insistent congressman. “Well, which is it, artificially help prairie chickens breed in my state or lose jobs” He didn’t wait for a response. “Chickens or jobs? Which? Which?” Gathering her thoughts as quickly as she could, Dorothy Boorse answered, “Well, congressman, I’ve...
Read moreA few small steps can lead to great progress. In 2008, the the Parish of St. Monica-St. George performed an energy assessment with Sr. Paula Gonzalez on their 98 year old school building. The parish, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, near the University of Cincinnati, learned ways to improve their building in a manner that made it more efficient and environmentally friendly. The parish embraced the recommended changes, adding more energy efficient double paned windows in order to save money and...
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Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles, CA Jewish, Reform Movement Temple Isaiah has been a part of COEJL ...
Read moreFirst Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY It’s a green oasis in the gritty city—a restful “Peace Garden” on the grounds of The First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, NY. The building of this garden along with other efforts of the congregations active “Green Team” have helped the congregation expand its understanding of the “priesthood of all believers” to include the “priesthood of all living things” according to associate pastor Rev. Beth Waltemath.
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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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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...
Read moreWhat is EarthConnection? EarthConnection is a non-profit environmental learning center located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was designed to provide an environmentally educational and reflective experience for both individuals and organizations, geared towards enhancing environmental stewardship and green practices. Organizations that EarthConnection works to “green” can include religious, educational, business and other organizations. The facility has hosted several summer greening institutes and over 14 different states have been represented at these institutes. The EarthConnection building itself is extremely energy efficient, and is sustainable...
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COEJL Santa Cruz Jewish, Non-denominational This delightful program uses the holiday of Purim to educate the Jewish community of Santa Cruz, ...
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Reformed Church of New Paltz New Paltz, New York Sometimes, just one day isn't enough. In April 2004, the Reformed Church of New Paltz, spearheaded by their Caring for Creation Committee, spent a week celebrating Earth Day. The week's events began Wednesday and Thursday with...
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Second Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, PA When more than 100 physicians in Cumberland County, PA, published a warning statement about the high levels of diesel particulate matter in the air, Rev. Jennifer McKenna called to find out what they were going to do about it. Upon learning they had no plans to act, she spurred her congregation at Second Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, PA, to advocacy. Together, they formed the Clean Air Board of Central...
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