“Christian concern for the environment is shaped by the Word of God spoken in creation, the Love of God hanging on a cross, the Breath of God daily renewing the face of the earth.
We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally, as members of this church and as members of society. Even as we join the political, economic, and scientific discussion, we know care for the earth to be a profoundly spiritual matter.”
Excerpt from the Prologue of the ELCA Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice social statement. Click here to access document.
WHY LUTHERANS CARE FOR CREATION
Building on our foundations in the ongoing reformation of the church
Learn about the theological, confessional and biblical basis of why Lutherans Care for Creation in this article prepared by the Rev. David Rhoads with contributions from Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, the Rev. Thomas Mundahl, the Rev. Dennis Ormseth, the Rev. Sandra Roberts and the Rev. H. Paul Santmire.
Lutherans Restoring Creation Video – “Introduction to Implementing Creation Care in your Church & Community”. Lutheran Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA. This is accomplished by cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all.
A Just Society Supporting Health Of All – Environmental Racism and Health. An ELCA study series that places before us the intersection of racial equity with environment, global, health, housing, hunger and migration realities. It invites us to look at obstacles and equip ourselves to advocate for a just society supporting the health of all.
NEW ADVOCACY PAGE FOR CREATION CARE ISSUES IN 2021
Check out LAMPa’s new page on important issues before the Pennsylvania Legislature in the 2021-2022 session. There you’ll find action alerts, bill information, and news articles to inform your advocacy on the behalf of God’s creation.
ELCA Advocacy Resources – all of the resources available for environmental advocacy.
Conflict & Climate: Drivers of Disaster The 2019 Early Warning Forecast, a publication of Lutheran World Relief and IMA World Health
This 2019 Early Warning Forecast provides an in-depth report on two of the most critical driving forces, conflict and climate change, behind humanitarian emergencies over the next year and into the foreseeable future. Learn more.
“Seismic Storm: In the boat together with Jesus beside us.” – Watch the Rev. Amy Reumann’s sermon from the 2019 ELCA Advocacy Convening. Rev. Reumann is the Director of Advocacy in the ELCA Washington (DC) Office.
Talanoa Dialogue – Talanoa is a Fijian word meaning inclusive, transparent, participatory dialogue, and it can help build solidarity in a community to listen to each other with empathy. The process was introduced on a global stage by Fijian leaders at a 2017 climate conference in Bonn, Germany.
ENERGY STAR “TREASURE MAP” CREATED FOR CONGREGATIONS
LAMPa recently supported an Energy Star Stewardship Tour in Pennsylvania. Participants learned, like most U.S. commercial buildings, the typical worship facility wastes about 30 percent of the energy for which its congregants pay. Energy Star recently released a “Treasure Map” for congregations to use in exploring their facilities — a fun and productive tool, especially for “green teams” and youth! Additional Energy Star resources for congregations may be found here. Here is the PA ENERGY STAR Tour 2018 – Power Point for Congregations that was shared during the tour. It contains numerous informative slides.
WORLD’S LARGEST LESSON – FREE RESOURCES TO LEARN ABOUT THE UN GLOBAL GOALS FOR SUSTAINBABLE DEVELOPMENT
In 2015 The United Nations launched The Global Goals for Sustainable Development, a series of ambitious targets to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and fix climate change for everyone by 2030. If the Goals are met, they ensure the health, safety and future of the planet for everyone on it.
And their best chance of being met is if everyone on the planet is aware of them. The World’s Largest Lesson brings the Global Goals to children all over the world, reaching over 130 countries and millions of children since its launch in September 2015. The World’s Largest Lesson produces free and creative resources for educators to teach lessons, run projects and stimulate action in support of the Goals. Learn more.
THIS MOMENT IN TIME: 2018 IPCC REPORT AND CARING FOR CREATION: A resource reflecting on content of a 2018 report released by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, faith-based reflections from the ELCA, and ways to respond
This is likely one of the most challenging times that we have ever faced as a global community. Our lives and future generations depend on actions we take or do not take in response to our changing climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is the United Nations (U.N.) body for assessing the science related to climate change response, issued its 2018 report titled “Global Warming of 1.5°C.”1 The report expressed the urgency of taking rapid action over the next decade to limit global warming to 1.5°C to avoid the risks associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes. Learn more.
52 Ways to Care for Creation
Our planet and its resources are under enormous strain – climate change, plastic waste, stretched water supplies, toxins in our air and food. What can we do about it? Plenty! Creation Justice Ministries (which grew out of the National Council of Churches) created this handy list of 52 steps that we can take in our everyday lives to help. Learn more.
God’s Work. Our Hands. Caring for Creation Today – an introductory video showing how Lutherans are making a difference.
Blessed Tomorrow, is a coalition of diverse religious partners, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), working to advance climate solutions in faithful service to God.
Lutherans Restoring Creation, a grassroots movement promoting creation care in the ELCA. Their website contains resources for preaching on care for creation, public witness, deeper reading, and specific tools for all kinds of ministry settings.
Blessed Tomorrow’s Moving Forward Guide provides important connections to faith-based values and climate change, and provides concrete ways to reduce energy use, move to renewable energy sources, prepare for climate impacts today and in the future, and to advocate for solutions at the local, state and federal level – all using your authentic faith voice and perspective.
EPA Releases Booklet to Assist Houses of Worship Identify and Reduce Environmental Health Hazards – This booklet is designed to provide places of worship with information on actions they can take to reduce environmental health risks, with a special emphasis on children’s health, as children are particularly vulnerable to many environmental risks.
Climate Change in PA – Learn how climate change is affecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and what can we do about it.
