Resolution on Environmental Stewardship

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(Preliminary draft of the resolution as passed at the 2006 Diocesan Convention)

Resolution #3- on Environmental Stewardship
(adopted)

120 - - - Submitted by the Rev. Stephen Huber, Priest-in-Charge, St. Columba's; the Rev. Jeffery
121 - - - MacKnight, Rector, St. Dunstan's; the Rev. Paul Abernathy, Rector, St. Mark's (DC);
122 - - - and Patricia Snowden, delegate, St. Dunstan's, on behalf of the Environment Committee
123 - - - of the Commission on Peace.

124 - - - - - - Resolved, that the One Hundred Eleventh Convention of the Diocese

125 - - - of Washington recognize that the use of fossil fuels harms air quality and public health

126 - - - and is contributing to changes in the global climate that threaten the lives and livelihoods

127 - - - of our neighbors around the world; and be it further

128 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention acknowledge with praise and appreciation

129 - - - the work of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, a non-profit initiative

130 - - - that helps congregations, religious institutions and others in the Washington area work

131 - - - for a more just, sustainable and healthier Creation; and be it further

132 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention encourage each parish in the Diocese

133 - - - of Washington to consider prayerfully whether to partner with Greater Washington

134 - - - Interfaith Power and Light by incorporating respect and care for Creation into programs

135 - - - of worship and education, by reducing energy use through conservation and increased

136 - - - efficiency, and by replacing consumption of fossil fuels with energy from renewable

137 - - - resources; and be it further

138 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention encourage each parish in the Diocese

139 - - - of Washington to designate a lay or clergy liaison to the Environment Committee

140 - - - of the diocesan Commission on Peace for purposes of communications and outreach;

141 - - - and be it further

142 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention approve the following resolution for consideration

143 - - - at the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church:

144 - - - - - - - - - - - - A Resolution Regarding Environmental Stewardship

145 - - - Submitted by the Diocese of Washington .

146 - - - - - - Resolved, the House of _________ concurring, that the 75th General Convention

147 - - - of the Episcopal Church recognize that the use of fossil fuels harms air quality and public

148 - - - health and is contributing to changes in the global climate that threaten the lives

149 - - - and livelihoods of our neighbors around the world; and be it further

150 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention affirm that our Christian response to globa

151 - - - warming is a deeply moral and spiritual issue; and be it further

152 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention reaffirm Resolution 1991-A195, adopted

153 - - - by the 70th General Convention, declaring that Christian Stewardship of God's created

154 - - - environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from

155 - - - the Church of the highest urgency; and be it further

156 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention reaffirm Resolution 2000-A048, adopted

157 - - - by the 73rd General Convention, encouraging all members, congregations, dioceses,

158 - - - and other church institutions to use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources;

159 - - - and be it further

160 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention acknowledge with praise and appreciation the work

161 - - - of Interfaith Power and Light, a non-profit initiative that helps congregations, religious

162 - - - institutions and others work for a more just, sustainable and healthier Creation;

163 - - - and be it further

164 - - - - - - Resolved, that the Convention encourage all members, congregations, dioceses,

165 - - - and other church institutions to consider prayerfully whether to partner with Interfaith

166 - - - Power and Light by incorporating respect and care for Creation into programs

167 - - - of worship and education, by reducing energy use through conservation and increased

168 - - - efficiency, and by replacing consumption of fossil fuels with energy from renewable

169 - - - resources.

Explanation: The direct health effects of fossil fuel combustion are well known - whether
the emissions come from the tailpipes of cars or the smokestacks of power plants.
The skyrocketing incidence of asthma among young people, especially in urban areas,
the pulmonary damage caused by urban smog, and acid rain are examples of these effects.
It is also increasingly clear that humanity's use of fossil fuels is causing the world
to warm. Climate changes are already apparent, and the increased intensity of hurricanes
is one predicted effect. These changes in many cases are having direct and harmful impacts on the two-thirds of humanity who depend on natural resources for their livelihoods.

As each of us is responsible for the use of fossil fuels through transportation and electricity consumption, each of us must consider how to ameliorate the damage we are causing
to our environment and our neighbors. The Environment Committee of the Commission
on Peace is encouraging each parish to consider this issue with thought and prayer, to reduce its energy use - in ways that save parish funds without affecting comfort - and to purchase renewable energy. St. Columba's is purchasing all of its electricity from landfill gas, at an incremental cost of less than 10 percent. Other parishes can do the same through a local initiative called Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light ( www.gwipl.org ). This is part of a larger national Interfaith Power and Light network, originally called Episcopal Power and Light, which was founded by the Rev. Sally Bingham of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco . Washington National Cathedral has agreed to be a partner with Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, as have Christ Church , Georgetown; St. Columba's; and St. Mark's, Capitol Hill.

By adopting this resolution, the Diocesan Convention will be calling on the parishes
of the Diocese to choose and use their energy wisely, and it will endorse an extension
of that call to the 75th General Convention of the Church in 2006.

Budget Impact: There is no budget impact for this resolution.

Recommendation: The Resolutions Committee recommends this resolution for consideration.