 |
The Founding of the Partnership: 1990-1993
1990: Common Concerns
Working within established organizational structures,
many also stressed the importance of interreligious
inquiry. As the 1990's began, senior religious
leaders undertook consultations and presented
public reflections to begin the process of incorporating
a wide range of views into a singular commitment
on behalf of creation, and a process of deliberation
took place among and between diverse denominational
organizations that would go on to establish the
mission and governance of the National Religious
Partnership for the Environment.
At the same time, representatives of the religious
and scientific communities began to recognize
a common interest:
Many of us have had profound experiences
of awe and reverence before the universe. We
recognize that what is regarded as sacred is
most likely to be treated with respect. Efforts
to safeguard planetary environment need to be
infused with a vision of the sacred and as a
universal moral priority.
|
|
So wrote 32 Nobel
laureates and other eminent scientists in 1990
in a widely circulated "Open Letter to the
American Religious Community." They were
expressing deep doubts about the sufficiency of
humankind's response to Earth's environmental
crisis. Conversations with religious leaders further
refined the need for more fundamental analysis
and response. Scientific data, laws, and economic
incentives were necessary but not sufficient.
In March 1990, meanwhile, senior religious leaders,
responding to the "Open Letter," affirmed the
need for "theologically-grounded, scientifically-informed
religious initiative." They called for a
formal consultation in 1991 to lay the groundwork
for such action. "A Joint Appeal in Religion
and Science" was established as a short-term
vehicle to facilitate this process. Included in
the call were:
- His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop
of Chicago
- Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor, Jewish Theological
Seminary
- John Hurft Adams, Senior Bishop, African Methodist
Episcopal Church
- The Rev. Daniel E. Weiss, General Secretary,
American Baptist Churches, U.S.A.
- The Most Rev. Edmond Browning, Presiding Bishop,
Episcopal Church U.S.A.
- His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate,
Orthodox Church in America
|