Creation Care

"A crisis is a decision point, a time of judgement. We can choose to change our destructive and overly consumptive ways, or we can ignore the consequences of our actions and slowly steam like proverbial frogs in a soup pot. We still have some opportunity to choose, but that kairos moment will not last long. We have before us this day life and death. Which will we choose?"--Katherine Jefferts Schori, March 25, 2015

The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Washington are committed to promoting respectful care of God’s creation, and particularly to working against climate change and on behalf of climate justice. Follow the diocese’s activities by following the EDOW Environmental Network on Facebook. For more information, contact Carol Janus via email.

Curricula

• Grace for Creation: In 2011, the Episcopal Church House of Bishops issued a pastoral letter on the environment. In response, a five-week study course titled Life of Grace for the Whole Worldhas been created.
• In the Beginning: A video curriculum exploring the Catechism of Creation
• From Forward in Faith, the curriculum on a Catechism of Creation includes contributions from Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, an oceanographer; Bishop Nicholas Knisely, a physicist; the Rev. Lucas Mix, an evolutionary biologist; the Rev. Alistair So, a microbiologist; and the Rev. Stephanie Johnson, an environmentalist.

Liturgical Resources

• Season of Creation: A six-Sunday program from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The Season of Creation liturgies focus on biodiversity, land, water, climate change, need not greed, and caring for God's creation. Each Sunday's theme includes a study guide.
• Eucharistic Prayer for a Season of Creation: This prayer was developed by the Rev. Debra Brewin-Wilson of St. Thomas, Croom, and approved for use by Bishop Mariann Budde.
• Diocesan resources and activities
• Bishop Mariann Budde on how Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si inspired her to take action against climate change
• An interview with Carol Janus, leader of the diocese’s environmental network
• Article: How are congregations caring for creation?
• Sustainable and responsible investment resources from the diocese’s Sustainable and Responsible Investment Committee.

Taking Action

• The Episcopal Public Policy Network: EPPN is authorized by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to advocate for public policy positions that advance the mission and values of the church provides numerous resources, including The Episcopal Church and Climate Change.
• Creation Justice Ministries: Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care and environmental justice policies of major Christian denominations, including the Episcopal Church, throughout the United States.
• Interfaith Power and Light: Interfaith Power & Light effort began in 1998 with Episcopal Power & Light and the support of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco as a unique coalition of Episcopal churches aggregated to purchase renewable energy. In 2000, this Episcopal effort broadened its focus, brought in other faith partners.

Articles

• The Episcopal Church and Climate Change: The First 25 Years by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Anglican Theologial Review, Fall 2013
• Climate denial is immoral, says head of US Episcopal church—The Guardian, March 24, 2015
• Episcopal church votes to divest from fossil fuels: 'This is a moral issue'—The Guardian, July 3, 2015
• Episcopal delegation prepares to advocate church’s climate policies at Paris climate summit—Episcopal News Service, December 4, 2015
• Episcopal COP21 delegates emboldened in climate change advocacy—Episcopal News Service, December 14, 2015
• California bishop represents church at climate agreement signing—Episcopal News Service, April 25, 2016