Sustaining Creation Task Force

Northwest Interfaith Movement
Philadelphia, PA

The Northwest Interfaith Movement (NIM) of Philadelphia, an alliance of 41 Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim congregations, has a long history of helping families, children and the elderly and striving for a more just and sensitive community with advocacy and service work. But in 2003, the group added to their mission a commitment to the environment, creating a “Sustaining Creation” task force that encouraged its congregations to take the lead in environmental responsibility by exemplifying a sustainable lifestyle within in each of the faith communities.

Though several congregations already had environmental programs in place, the NIM Sustaining Creation Task Force created a forum for the groups to meet and discuss their initiatives, support and encourage each other, and offer advice to help others follow their lead. So far ten congregations are members of the task force: the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting, the Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church, the Congregation Mishkan Shalom, Germantown Jewish Centre, Germantown Mennonite Church, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Germantown, Summit Presbyterian Church and the Unitarian Society of Germantown, and more are expected to join.

Chief among the environmentally responsible activities promoted by the task force are those that start closest to home, in the church, synagogue and mosque. Four of the congregations have committed themselves to buying 100 percent renewable energy sources. All ten congregations promote earth-based liturgy and programming which they incorporate into children’s and adult’s study, Earth Day celebrations, sermons and special projects such as the Lenten “Save a Gallon-of-Gas-a-Week” program. Various congregations also recycle printer cartridges, computers and electronics, with proceeds often going to help house the homeless or other charity causes; promote the use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs at church and at home; use energy- and water-efficient appliances such as dishwashers; and promote public transportation and ride sharing to the houses of worship.

Other congregations also have restored natural habitat with local flora and responsible irrigation plans, encouraged membership drives for local Community-Supported Agriculture co-ops, and sponsored letter-writing campaigns for various environmental causes.