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Interfaith Activities
Throughout our nation, and our world, neighbors
suffer from environmental injustice or are threatened
by pollution and ecological degradation; the land
and waters and their creatures are endangered
or abused. Their voiced or voiceless cry is heard
in synagogue and church, cathedral and temple,
school and sanctuary — wherever people of
faith are attentive to God’s call to defend
and heal a wounded earth.
In response to the Spirit that enfolds and upholds
the whole creation, attentiveness becomes action
— in service, in careful management of building
and grounds, in advocacy, and in ceremony and
supplication.
Such action often happens in and through particular
religious communities. Yet, Jews and Christians,
Protestants and Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and
evangelicals do not live on different planets.
They look to many of the same texts and teachings
for inspiration and guidance. The earthkeeping
tasks to which they are called are similar enough
that pooling information, resources, and strategies
is possible — and sometimes the most responsible
approach.
People of different faiths have found ways to:
- Serve together
- Chautauqua
County (NY) Rural Ministry Gleaning Project
recovers food from fields that would otherwise go to waste.
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- Promote responsible stewardship together
- Since 1980, Interfaith Coalition on Energy
has helped congregations to reduce their energy
consumption, in order to reduce pollution
and redirect money from operating expenses
to community service.
- The
Regeneration Project supports a growing
number of Interfaith Power and
Light programs around the country that
work to reduce global warming by promoting
renewable energy, energy conservation, and
conservation. States with IP&L's include
California,
Connecticut,
Georgia, Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Maine, Oregon, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Greater Washington, D.C., and New York.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
operates an Energy
Star program for congregations, and congregations
participate in alternative energy programs
offered by public utilities, such as Austin
(TX) Energy's Green
Choice program.
- Alternatives for Simple Living
equips people of faith to challenge consumerism,
live justly and celebrate responsibly by developing
resources, organizing an annual Christmas
Campaign ("Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?")
leading workshops. The Earth Dome that houses
Alternatives and its resource library is a
demonstration project with solar panels, energy-saving
landscaping to provide windbreaks and shade,
composting, and raised bed gardening.
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