stewards of the bay: an affirmation for eco-justice

An Affirmation for Eco-Justice

Stewards of the Bay:

Churches for the Chesapeake—Water Action Toolkit

NatioNal CouNCil of CurChes usa

eCo-JustiCe WorkiNg group

s t e W a r d s o f t h e b a y n 1

Healing and Defending God’s CreationGod created the Earth and all that is in it and declared it good. God’s Creation in the Bay is marked by wondrous complex-ity, interdependence, and beauty. Human beings are called by God to the task of stewardship—taking care of the Earth respectfully for its own sake and so that present and future generations may live on it and enjoy its fruits. The gifts of Cre-ation and the responsibility of stewardship were given to all of humanity, so that all might have enough. No one should have more than is needed while others go without so that God’s justice can prevail.

Yet, despite our call for stewardship of Creation, God’s Earth has not been well cared for. In our human pride and brokenness, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We pollute God’s water, air, and land with poisons which hurt people and all Creation. Many species of animals and plants are endangered by the behavior of human beings. Some have even become extinct.

We also do not share the fruits of Creation justly. Some people live in luxury, taking more than they need, while oth-ers live in poverty. But because God, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, reconciles humanity and all of Creation to God, we are able to heal ourselves and God’s Earth. We are able to become new creations.

God calls on the Church to participate in the redemption of individuals, all of humanity, and Creation. Therefore, minis-tries of environmental stewardship and environmental justice are significant in the mission of our congregations and judi-catories. Our congregation affirms the importance of healing and defending Creation in our mission. We promise to become engaged in or to continue our engagement in this ministry to heal God’s great Creation.

Learning and Teaching

We will seek opportunities for ourselves and our children to learn more about the wonders of Creation, the threats posed by human beings to the survival of Creation and the possibili-ties of our participating in God’s redemption and justice.

Worship

In worship, we will celebrate God’s grace and glory in Cre-ation and will declare that God calls us to participate in the redemption of the world by cherishing, protecting, and restor-ing Creation.

LifesTyLe

Our individual and congregational lifestyles will respect and cherish Creation. We will form habits of consuming, conserv-ing, and sharing that serve to protect and restore God’s envi-ronment.

communiTy, naTionaL and gLobaL invoLvemenT

In our community, the nation and the world, our congrega-tion will witness to and participate in God’s redemption of Creation by supporting public efforts and policies that sup-port vulnerable people and protect and restore the degraded Earth.

Each year we will review our previous year’s work on eco-justice and consider other ways we can participate in God’s redemption of Creation.

Signed by the pastor:

S I G N A T U R E D A T E

Signed by an officer of the congregation:

S I G N A T U R E D A T E

(Please keep this in the official minutes of the governing body of your congregation.)


Stewards of the Bay: Steps of AffirmationWater StewardshipCongratulations to your congregation for affirming the Eco-justice principles and for making a commitment to live as Stewards of the Bay. Your congregation can begin to take steps that will reflect this commitment. Use this resource to help you determine where to begin and to keep track of the progress you are mak-ing. Below is a sample of some of the activities your congregation can commit to as you strive to answer God’s call to stewardship. You can choose to do any or all of the actions listed in this form and the energy stewardship form. You can also use this form as a template for tracking other stewardship activities like recycling.


• Offeratleastonewateroreco-justicethemed class each year for adults and children (See Sacred Waters: pg 24 of the Stewards of the Bay Toolkit).

• Hostasustainablepotluckdinnereachyeartobefollowedby a program about stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay or local eco-justice issues. Invite a speaker to talk about the impacts of pollution on the Bay’s fisheries and how these impacts affect not only the integrity of God’s Creation, but the watermen communities that depend on healthy fisheries for their livelihoods

• Putonanannualintergenerationaleventtoconnectmembers to each other and to God’s Creation. For example hike along a stream or go canoeing.

• Arrangeonebriefingeveryyearortwotoourgoverningboard or session to educate them on the call to care for Creation in the Chesapeake Bay and how the congregation is fulfilling this call.

Worship

•ExpressthankfulnessandconcernforGod’sCreation in the worship life of the congregation by

incorporating the themes of water and eco-justice into prayers, liturgy, children’s sermons, and

hymns in weekly services. •Conductatleasttwoworshipserviceseach

year focused on themes of God’s Creation. Many congregations choose to hold special

services on Earth Day Sunday in the spring and St. Francis Day in the fall.•Provideatleastoneopportunityeach year for congregants to worship God outdoors. For example, hold a streamside service to reflect on water as a symbol of Creation and resurrection and renewal.

LifesTyLe: acTion

•Conservewaterbyfixingleaks•Harvestrainwaterwithrainbarrels•Developandimplementastormwatermanagementplan

for the church grounds • Seekoutapartnershipwithalocalwatershedgroup• ReducepesticideuseonthegroundsthroughIntegrated

Pest Management practices or organic gardening in order to decrease the amount of pollutants in stormwater

• Usenon-toxicproductssuchassoapsanddetergentstoavoid contributing additional stormwater pollutants in the Bay

• Investinlow-flowtoiletsandorwaterlessurinalsthatconserve water and keep excess nitrogen out of the water cycle, so that it doesn’t end up in the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries where it can lead to algal blooms

A good first

step is to form

a Creation Care

Group dedicated

to the water stewardship

of God’s Creation and

meet regularly. Membership

of the group should include

motivated members with

diverse interests including

finances, mission, building

and grounds, worship,

and Christian

education.


Learning and Teaching Making Progress* Results

offer an eco-justice or water themed adult education class (see the curriculum)

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

offer an eco-justice, Creation care, or water themed children’s education class

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

host a sustainable potluck dinner, with local and organic foods: include eco-justice programming, such as , inviting a speaker to talk about the im-pacts of pollution on the bay’s fisheries and the watermen communities that depend on healthy fisheries for their livelihoods

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

intergenerational event to connect members to god, each other, and Creation such as hiking along a stream or canoeing (include your own ideas below) ________________________________

_________________________________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Worship Making Progress* Results

express thankfulness and concern for god’s Creation in the worship life of the congregation by incorporating the themes of water and eco-justice into weekly services.

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Conduct two worship services with a Creation care theme

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

ECo-Tip WATEr (to be included in your church bulletin or newsletter)

Lawns demand water, which is becoming increasingly scarce in many places. in addition, much of the $8.4 billion

we spend annually on our lawns goes to douse them with fertilizers and pesticides that find their way into streams

and rivers. Find ways to reduce the amount of lawn on your property. Flower beds and shrubberies especially

when planted with native species are ecologically superior to lawns and much less costly to maintain, in terms of

dollar cost as well as cost to God’s Earth. Better still, you could grow fruit and vegetables that would enhance the

diet of your family and friends. Submitted by Maryland Presbyterian Church, Towson, Maryland.

*Who = point person for project; When = date by which the event/action has happened. (The point person responsible for setting dates and meeting deadlines) and Needs = people, funding, etc. that point person needs to complete project.

Activity Tracking Form: Water


Action Making Progress* Results

install low-flow devices and/or waterless urinals

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

use integrated pest Management or organic gardening techniques (try to avoid chemical based pesticides and herbicides)(Stewards of the Bay pg 13)

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

reach out to a local watershed group

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install rain barrels

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install rain garden

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install green roof

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install permeable pavement

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Community, National and Global Involvement

Making Progress* Results

Write one letter to your state or federal Mem-ber of Congress and senators, or to your local elected officials telling them what you are doing for your community and the bay.

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

participate in or organize a bay Cleanup day

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:


Activity Tracking Form: Water


sampLe reporTing sheeT for your governing board, and ncc

Major Accomplishments:

Learning and Teaching: • Agroupof______adultsparticipatedintheSacred

Waters five-week adult Christian education course. In reflecting on the course participants observed:

A_____________________________________________

B_____________________________________________

C_____________________________________________

• InJulyagroupof______youthandadultsenjoyedeachother’sfellowshipona______triponthe______River

• ThisThanksgivingourcongregationcelebratedwithasustainable potluck. Members provided mostly locally-harvested / organic dishes. The meal was followed by a presentation from Maryland Department of Natural Resources teaching us about the things we can do in our homes to prevent polluted runoff in to the streams and waterways.

Worship: • Since_____ourcongregationhasincludedprayersfor

God’s Creation into our regular worship services. Our bulletin also contains tips on how to conserve water and reduce energy in your home, helping members to practice stewardship everyday of the week. (see attached bulletin)

• ThisEarthDaywecelebratedusingtheNationalCouncilof Churches Earth Day Sunday resource, Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: worship spaces as stewardship and as a congregation reaffirmed our calling to stewardship of the bay and the entirety of God’s Creation. (See the attached EarthDaySermonbyRev._______________________)

Lifestyle/Action:• Wereachedoutto(localwatershedgroup)whocameto

our church on (date) and helped us to envision a workable stormwater management plan for our congregation. They suggested_____________________________________.

• Wedid____________________________on_______

• Wedid____________________________on_______

• Wearecurrentlyraisingmoneyfor_________________________________________________________________

• Inaddition,wehaveinstalledlow-flowdevicesonallsinks• Becauseoftheseactionsourcongregationwasfeaturedin

the local newspaper. (see attached clipping)

ECo Tip: WATEr And EnErGy

doing the Laundry is an energy intensive chore

and harmful chemicals found in many detergents

can have a negative impact on the Bay. Take

these simple steps to make each load more

energy efficient and Creation friendly.

• Wash your clothes with cold water. It takes less

energy to heat up water, so the less you use,

the better.

• Use Biodegradable laundry detergent and avoid

bleach whenever possible

• Line dry your clothes. Utilize free solar and

wind power to dry your clothes. you can bright-

en and disinfect your whites without bleach by

hanging them in direct sunlight.


Congratulations to your congregation for affirming the Eco-justice principles and for making a commitment to live as Stewards of the Bay. Your congregation can begin to take steps that will reflect this commitment. Use this resource to help you determine where to begin and to keep track of the progress you are mak-ing. Below is a sample of some of the activities your congregation can commit to as you strive to answer God’s call to stewardship. You can choose to do any or all of the actions listed in this form and the water stewardship form. You can also use this form as a template for tracking other stewardship activities like recycling.


• Offeratleastoneeco-justicethemedclass each year for adults and children (See Sacred Waters: pg 24 of the Stewards of the Bay Toolkit).

• Hostasustainablepotluckdinnereachyeartobe followed by a program about stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay or local eco-justice issues. Invite a speaker to talk about the impacts of air pollution on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Discuss ways to reduce energy use at home and at church.

• Putonanannualintergenerationaleventtoconnectmembers to each other and to God’s Creation. For example hike along a stream or go canoeing.

• Arrangeonebriefingeveryyearortwotoourgoverningboard or session to educate them on the call to care for Creation in the Chesapeake Bay and how our congregation is fulfilling this call.

Worship

•ExpressthankfulnessandconcernforGod’sCreation in the worship life of the congregation by

incorporating the themes of water and eco-justice into prayers, liturgy, children’s sermons, and

hymns in weekly services. •Conductatleasttwoworshipserviceseach

year focused on themes of God’s Creation and our calling, as people of faith to stewardship. Many congregations choose to hold special services on Earth Day Sunday in the spring and St. Francis Day in the fall.•Provideatleastoneopportunityeachyear for congregants to worship God outdoors.

LifesTyLe: acTion •Calculateourcarbonfootprint•Getanenergyauditandimplementthe

auditor’s suggestions•Setshortandlongtermgoalsforenergyreductionand

create a budget and seek out funding for our energy reduction efforts

• Investigatethesourcesofenergytoheatandlightthecongregation and the impacts these sources have on Creation and local communities around the energy facilities

• InstallCFLs,LEDexitsignsandOccupancySensors• Continuetoseekoutwaystoimproveenergyefficiency

and reduce our impact on the Bay, such as, installing energy efficient lighting technologies, making all new appliances energy efficient, investing in clean energy technologies like wind solar and geothermal, and supporting the use of clean energy in Maryland

Stewards of the Bay: Steps of AffirmationEnergy Stewardship

A good first

step is to form a

Creation Care Group

dedicated to the

stewardship of God’s

Creation and meet regularly.

Membership of the group

should include motivated

members with diverse interests

including finances, mission,

building and grounds, worship,

and Christian education.


Learning and Teaching Making Progress* Results

offer an eco-Justice themed adult education class

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

offer an eco-justice/ Creation care themed children’s education class

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

host a sustainable potluck dinner: include eco-justice programming such as inviting a speaker to talk about the impacts of air pollution on the Chesapeake bay and its tributaries and discussing ways to reduce energy use at home and at church

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

intergenerational event to connect members to god, each other, and Creation such as hiking along a stream or canoeing (include your own ideas below) ________________________________

_________________________________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Worship Making Progress* Results

express thankfulness and concern for god’s Creation in the worship life of the congregation by incorporating the themes of water and eco-justice into weekly services.

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Conduct two worship services with a Creation care theme

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Activity Tracking Form: Energy

ECo Tip: EnErGy (to be included in your church bulletin or newsletter)

Lighting accounts for around 20 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States. Turning lights off

when they are not needed is a low-cost technique that reduces energy consumption and saves money, and

avoids the negative impacts on God’s Creation of producing electricity. Submitted by Maryland Presbyterian

Church, Towson, Maryland



Lifestyle : Action Estimated Cost Savings Making Progress* Results

Calculate your Carbon footprint N/a

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

energy audit and implementation utility cost current month: _______Cost for this month pervious year: _______difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install occupancy sensorsutility cost current month: _______Cost for this month pervious year: _______difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Weatherize the buildings utility cost current month: _______Cost for this month pervious year: _______difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install energy efficient lighting: Cfls and leds

utility cost current month: _______Cost for this month pervious year: _______difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Commit to making all new appliance purchases energy efficient

N/a

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

Make a fundraising plan for clean power

N/a

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

install solar panels, wind turbines, or other forms of clean power

utility cost current month: ____Cost for this month pervious year: ____difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

invest in clean energy for Mdutility cost current month: ____Cost for this month pervious year: ____difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

utility cost current month: ____Cost for this month pervious year: ____difference: _________

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:




*Who = point person for project; When = date by which the event/action has happened. (The point person responsible for setting dates and meeting deadlines) and needs = people, funding, etc. that point person needs to complete project

Community, National and Global Involvement

Making Progress* Results

Write one letter to your state or federal member of Congress and senators, or to your local elected officials telling them what you are doing for your community and the bay.

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

do a Cfl drive for a low income community

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:

other

Who:

When:

Needs:

When:

highlights:


ECoTip: EnErGy

Heat and cool your home efficiently. As much as half of the energy we use in our homes is used for heating

and cooling. in fact, the average single family home emits nearly 13,000 pounds of carbon dioxide in the

process of heating and cooling, costing over $600 each year. Carbon dioxide is a green house gas and a

major factor contributing to climate change.

By making minor adjustments to our thermostats, most of us can significantly reduce our individual carbon

emissions while remaining comfortable. Adjusting the thermostat by just three degrees (down in the winter

and up in the summer) can prevent the emission of close to 1,100 pounds of Co2 each year! Heating and

cooling efficiently will also reduce your energy costs too. in fact, for every degree you raise the thermostat

in the summer, and lower it in the winter, you’ll save 3-5% of your cooling costs.

Follow these tips to heat and cool your home efficiently.

1. Inspect your filter. you should check your filter every month during heavy use and replace it when needed

(at least every three months). Maintaining a clean filter can save 350 pounds of carbon annually.

2. Clean your unit annually. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Get a tune up. Having a specialist tune up and clean the coils for your central air system every 3 years

can result in energy savings of 10 - 20 percent. For more information go to www.energystar.gov/index.

cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac” Energy Star webpage.

4. Install a programmable thermostat. This device will help you to regulate the temperature of your home.

Using in properly can help you save close to $180 annually.

5. Turn it off. in the summer, turn your A.C. unit off when you are away from home for more than one hour.

For more information check out the nCC Carbon reduction Campaign for individuals at

www.nccecojustice.org/carbonreduction

s t e W a r d s o f t h e b a y n 1 0

sampLe reporTing sheeT for your governing board and The naTionaL counciL of churches

Major Accomplishments:

Learning and Teaching: • Agroupof______adultsparticipatedintheSacred

Waters five-week adult Christian education course. In reflecting on the course participants observed:

A_____________________________________________

B_____________________________________________

C_____________________________________________

• InJulyagroupof______youthandadultsenjoyedeachother’sfellowshipona_____tripdownthe______River

• ThisThanksgivingourcongregationcelebratedwithasustainable potluck. Members provided mostly locally-harvested / organic dishes. The meal was followed by a presentationfrom__________teachingusabouttheconnections between climate change and poverty.

Worship: • Since_________ourcongregationhasincludedprayers

for God’s Creation into our regular worship services. Our bulletin also contains tips on how to conserve water and reduce energy in the home, helping members to practice stewardship every day of the week. (see attached bulletin)

• ThisEarthDaywecelebratedusingtheNationalCouncilof Churches Earth Day Sunday resource, Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship. As a congregation, we reaffirmed our calling to stewardship of the Bay and the entirety of God’s Creation. (See the attachedEarthDaySermonbyRev.________________)

Lifestyle/Action:• Ourchurchbeganwithacarbonfootprintof_________.

On (date) we got an energy audit from (auditor) who suggestedthatwe______________________________.

• Wedid____________________________on_______

• Wedid____________________________on_______

• Wearecurrentlyraisingmoneyfor_________________________________________________________________

• Inaddition,wehavereplacedallincandescentbulbswithcompactfluorescentlightbulbs(CFLs).

• Nowourcarbonfootprintis______andourutilitybillshavedecreased________dollarscomparedtothismonthlast year.

• Becauseoftheseactionsourcongregationwasfeaturedinthe local newspaper. (see attached clipping)

EnErgy STEWardShIp aS FInancIaL STEWardShIp

Most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30 percent by taking low-cost measures and invest-

ing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance.1 Maryland residents can

also practice stewardship of Creation and their finances by taking low cost measures to reduce energy

consumption. individuals can save over $150 in annual utility costs simply by replacing their incandes-

cent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) and installing low flow shower heads.2

1 “congregations: an Overview of Energy Use and Energy Efficiency Opportunities.” Energy Star for congregations. 12/3/2009 hypEr-LinK “http://www.energystar.gov/congregations”www.energystar.gov/congregations

2 “Empower Maryland.” Energy Facts and programs. Maryland Energy administration 12/9/2009. http://energy.maryland.gov/facts/empower/index.asp

s t e W a r d s o f t h e b a y n 1 1

Sample Newsletter Article

{Church name} to become a Stewards of the Bay CongregationWe are blessed to live in a region with a unique and precious ecosystem, the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, we have not always been good stewards of this great gift. But now, {church name} is beginning to change that. As a congregation, we are committed to living lifestyles dedicated to stewardship, rec-ognizing that every decision we make has an impact on God’s Creation and our neighbors. This is particularly true of the energy we consume, which results in air and water pollution and contributes to global climate change.

For these reasons, {Church Name and committees involved} decided to join the National Council of Churches Stewards of the Bay Program. As part of this program, we will answer God’s call to care for Creation through education, worship, lifestyle/action, and community involvement. Our first step will be to look at how our congregation uses energy and water in the church facilities, which have an impact on the health of the Chesapeake Bay In addition, in the coming weeks, our Sunday school classes and worship services will reflect upon our inter-action with God’s Creation. To help congregants take action at home look for eco-tips to be included in weekly bulletins.

Though these activities may seem small, they will plant the seeds for our future work as a Stewards of the Bay congre-gation. Through these programs we will explore simple and affordable ways that we can reduce our energy use, saving the congregation money, and reduce rainwater runoff improving the health of the Bay. Please join us by seeking out ways to be better stewards of God’s Creation in your home. Together let us respond to God’s call to be Stewards of the Bay, and work toward realizing the vision God gave the prophet Ezekiel, “Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once the rivers reach there. [The water] will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes.” (Ezekiel 47: 8-9).

Sample Press Release

Caring for Creation, {Church Name} is {Project your church is doing} in an Effort to Become “Stewards of the Bay”

{City, State, DATE }—In an effort to lessen the congrega-tion’s impacts on the Chesapeake Bay and improve the health of the watershed and their community, members of {Church name} installed {your church’s stormwater management proj-ect} on the church grounds, limiting rainwater runoff from the roof and parking lots.

{Quote from member who participated in the project.} The church signed an Affirmation for Eco-Justice, becom-ing a Stewards of the Bay congregation through a program of the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program. By signing the affirmation, members of {Church name}have made a commitment to healing and defending God’s Creation through learning and teaching, worship, lifestyle/action, and community, national, and global involvement.

According to the pastor, Rev. {your pastor’s name}, {quote from your pastor about why you are doing these projects}

{Day of project}’s {event} was just one of many projects the church has planned. According to {member organizing the stewardship events} {quote about future projects}.

Volunteers from {Church Name} will be working side by side at {church name} on {date of upcoming project} to {Upcoming project} to help restore the health of the Chesa-peake Bay and {local tributary}.

Contact {contact person for your congregation} at {contact email and/or phone} to find out more about Creation care efforts at {Church name}.

ECoTip: EnErGy And WATEr (to be included in your church bulletin or newsletter)

Submitted by Maryland Presbyterian Church,

Towson, Maryland

Help save water and prevent climate change pollu-

tion by buying recycled paper products. recycling

and buying recycled content products can put a dent

in the production of green-house gasses and save

the trees that absorb them. in Fact, the production

of just one ton of recycled paper lightens the load

on the planet in many profound and exciting ways.

Every Ton of recycled paper used:

• Saves 3 cubic yards of landfill space (methane gas source)

• Saves 7,000 gallons of fresh water

• Keeps 60 pounds of pollution out of the air

• Saves 4,000 kilowatt hours of energy

• Saves 17 trees from being cut

stewards of the bay: an affirmation for eco-justice

Design