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?" -- Katharine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Climate Change Crisis

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. Sign up for the Episcopal Creation Care newsletter and follow the diocese’s activities by following the EDOW Environmental Network on Facebook.

Liturgical Resources

Liturgical Materials for Honoring God in Creation by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music offers propers, prayers and liturgies during the Season of Creation. Also available in Spanish.
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.
Sustainable and responsible investment resources from the diocese’s Sustainable and Responsible Investment Committee.

Formation Resources

Engage with these ecumenical weekly devotions during the Season of Creation as an individual, a household or faith community.
Looking for a way to connect to households? Consider sending home a Creation Care box with a Godly-Play creation story set, a packet of seeds to plant, a season of creation prayer card, and a trash bag with the invitation for households to pick up trash in a local park. (Thanks to Sarah Allred for the ideas!)
This Resource Guide is chock full of ideas for preaching, prayer, and community engagement.

Taking Action

Sustaining Earth, Our Island Home: A Call to Action for All Episcopalians from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry
Episcopal Covenant to Care of Creation: Putting it into Practice: Individuals and faith communities can use this grid to guide engagement with the Covenant for Care and Creation and its commitment to Loving Formation, Liberating Advocacy, and Life-Giving Conservation.
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.

EDOW Environmental Network

The EDOW Environmental Network advocates for change on the increasingly urgent issues of the environment. From promoting a campaign to give up plastic for Lent to raising awareness about climate change, the Network actively promotes greener lifestyles and workplaces.

2019 - obtained over 100 Episcopal Church Care for Creation pledges between Lent and Earth Day
2018 - partnered with the Southern Africa Link Committee, led by Abbott McCartney, in passing a resolution at diocesan Convention to encourage our parishes to celebrate the Season of Creation
2017 - hosted a short-films show at the DC Environmental Film Festival
2016 - worked with St. Columba’s to host Jayce Hafner, Domestic Policy Analyst from The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, for an adult forum
2015 - worked with DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) and GWIPL to host a screening of Wisdom to Survive followed by a panel discussion.
2014 - coordinated with Refugees International, GWIPL, and St. Alban’s Parish to present the symposium, Caring for Creation in a Changing Climate
2013 - worked with Blessed Earth and the National Wildlife Federation to distribute over a hundred tree seedlings after a sermon by Matthew Sleeth on the importance of trees for our survival.
2012 - cooperated with the Palestine-Israel Advocacy Group at Washington National Cathedral to host Just Water, presented by Gidon Bromberg of Friends of Earth, Middle East (FOEME), a program informing people about the pollution and water problems in the Middle East and how FOEME is working to get Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians to cooperatively work on solutions

The EDOW Environmental Network has DVDs licensed to present in public venues on climate change (Wisdom to Survive) and plastic use and pollution (Bag It!) that can be shared with churches. Please let us know if you’d like to arrange a screening.

Interested in becoming involved? Join the EDOW Environmental Network Group on Facebook or email Carol Janus.