STEWARDSHIP OF THE CREATION

Serving as Caretakers, or Stewards, of God’s Sacred Creation

As Christians, we believe that God created the universe, including life on earth, and that God’s creation is sacred. As persons aware of scientific knowledge, we know that some of the physical creation on Earth is in peril. Scientists estimate that in the next 100 years between 1/3 and 2/3 of all species of plants and animals might become extinct. There is also an overwhelming scientific consensus that the atmosphere and oceans are warming and that this is caused primarily by the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide and other so-called “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere.

For many years the Presbyterian Church USA has called on its congregations to serve as stewards, or caretakers, of God’s sacred creation. More than 30 years ago, in “A Declaration of Faith.” Presbyterians acknowledged our responsibility to “hold the earth in trust for future generations of living things.” We affirmed that “the Lord forbids us to plunder, foul, and destroy the earth.” For nearly as long, with “A Brief Statement of Faith” we have confessed that “we threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.”

In 1990 our General Assembly adopted a report called “Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice” calling upon the Church to make protection of the creation a central focus of our church. It said: “Creation calls out in this time of ecological crisis. Abuse of nature and injustice to people place the future in grave jeopardy….Therefore, God calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to respond to the cry of creation, human and nonhuman…not only for reasons of prudence and survival, but because the endangered planet is God’s creation…”

In January 2008 PRPC established a Stewardship of the Creation Committee to address this critical area of concern. Some of our activities include:

Reduced Energy Usage, and Recycling
Our congregation has joined the ENERGY STAR Congregations Network, sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and the U.S. EPA. We have reduced our energy usage and are planning other reductions. We recycle paper, cardboard, aluminum, and plastic bottles.

Education of Our Congregation
We are informing our congregation about threats to God’s Creation and how we can help protect it.

Climate Change
We are joining the Interfaith Climate Change Network, a national association of churches and other religious congregations which are working to reduce climate change.

Presbyterian Missionaries
We are seeking to associate with a missionary who is working with people in a critical country in protecting endangered species and their habitats.

For related information:

Presbyterian Church USA
USA Restoring Creation Policy
Environmental Justice Ministries
Enough for Everyone
Electric Stewardship
Presbyterians for Restoring Creation

Species Threats and Protection
World Wildlife Federation, 2010 and Beyond
World Wildlife Federation, Living Planet Report
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Convention on Biological Diversity
National Geographic Article
Other Resources

Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Energy Star Congregations Program