Eco-Journey
About this blog
Eco-Journey is the blog of the Environmental Ministries Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It will include a wide array of environmental topics: upcoming environmental events, links to interesting articles and studies, information on environmental advocacy, eco-theology topics, and success stories from churches that are going “green.”
Author Rebecca Barnes-Davies is the Associate for Environmental Ministries at the PC(USA). She recently graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a M.Div. and Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) dual degree.
Recent posts
- Continued preparations for the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
- Reflection on Women's Stories from the MTR and Climate Change Tribunal last week
- Forest Hill Presbyterian Church celebrates Earth Day
- Webinar on Earth Care Congregations and Environmental Education
- Eco-Justice on College Campus
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Continued preparations for the Rio +20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Next month at this time, the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will be in full swing (June 20-22, 2012). I will be posting blog (and/or facebook) updates "from the field" as we learn more about what governments, NGOs, and the religious community will commit to doing around eco-justice and sustainability. I will be part of the World Council of Churches' delegation to this global gathering and look forward to sharing with you from Rio.
In advance of that, I wanted to share with you how the preparations are proceeding in advance of the actual conference. I'm pasting some text below; the full article is linked before and after.
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To read the full article, click here.
Representatives from governments who were negotiating the Rio+20 outcome document agreed to add five additional days to their deliberations in order to bridge differences that have hampered progress to date. The move came on 4 May as the latest round of negotiations concluded with some progress made, but much work left outstanding. The five added negotiating days are set for 29 May to 2 June. The additional negotiations will take place in New York before moving to Rio de Janeiro on 13 June for the third and final preparatory meeting for the Conference. The Rio+20 Conference will take place from 20 to 22 June.
Rio+20 Secretary-General Sha Zukang emphasized the need to proceeding with a sense of genuine urgency. “The present negotiation approach has run its course,” he stated. “Our objective should be to arrive in Rio with at least 90% of the text ready. The most difficult 10% should then be negotiated in Rio with the highest political support.”
Mr. Sha specified his expectations as follows: “We can have an outcome document:
• that renews political commitment, reaffirms Rio principles and builds upon earlier agreements;
• that is action-oriented in spelling out the Future We Want;
• that contains inspiring agreements for future generations on a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and on the institutional framework for sustainable development;
• that contains ambitious universal goals - the Sustainable Development Goals;
• that contains concrete deliverables in priority areas; and
• that creates or strengthens the institutions and body we need for the post-Rio+20 period.”"
To read the full article, click here.
May 18, 2012
Reflection on Women's Stories from the MTR and Climate Change Tribunal last week
The Central Appalachian Women’s Tribunal on Climate Justice on May 10, 2012 was a powerful and meaningful event of local women lifting up their voices and engaging in action to protect the health and integrity of their families, their communities, and their land. I was honored and energized to be in this gathering of powerful grassroots advocates who are working hard to take care of the things they love. The speakers and leaders of this event were local residents who shared their personal stories of witnessing to the devastating effects of Mountaintop Removal (MTR) Coal Mining in their homeland of Appalachia. Some of these local women have won prestigious awards, gained national recognition, and/or been interviewed in documentaries for their great efforts. They come from a four state area: TN, WV, VA, and KY.
These women’s lives have been drastically impacted by MTR and I was convicted and inspired by their stories. Hearing their testimonies, I am ever more committed to continue to pray and work for an end to the destructive practice of MTR that is damaging this part of God’s creation. I hope you will join me in these efforts, both from reading these glimpses of local residents’ stories and from knowing our biblical, theological, and denomination mandate to care for God’s creation.
May 9, 2012
Forest Hill Presbyterian Church celebrates Earth Day
Presbyterian congregations all across the country have been caring for God's creation in their worship life, educational programs, facilities, and outreach. For many this is an ongoing part of their Christian vocation lived out in the world and it happens year-round.
Earth Day (April 22) is a special day to reflect about why we care as Christians about eco-justice. While not a religious holiday, Earth Day this year fell on a Sunday and church communities had something to say about it! Whether using the Earth Day Sunday materials developed ecumenically each year (through the National Council of Churches), or ...
May 7, 2012
Webinar on Earth Care Congregations and Environmental Education
The Earth Care Congregations (ECC) program will be a featured segment in a live national "webinar" on Tuesday, May 8, at 4 p.m. Eastern time.
William Seaman, from the Earth Ministry Team of Montreat Presbyterian Church (a certified PCUSA Earth Care Congregation), has been invited to be a co-presenter and will be giving a case study of how the ECC program reflects excellence in its content and process. Much of his material comes from the national Presbyterian guidebook for the process and from his own experience at Montreat Presbyterian Church.
May 3, 2012
Eco-Justice on College Campus
Young adults, faith and the environment: take a look at what this ecumenical ministry is doing for eco-justice!
"For this semester, we are meeting in the ECM at 5pm on Fridays. The current projects we are concentrating on are working to finish the Eco-Walk project in the Haskell wetlands north of 31st street (due largely to an amazing gift from Elizabeth Schultz!), working with the low-income weatherization programs for Lawrence to increase the use by local residents, and researching the possibilities of duplicating the efforts from elsewhere in the country to impliment a local carbon tax. We are also attempting ...
May 2, 2012
Highlights from Wendell Berry
This whole lecture, from Wendell Berry, is well worth reading, as is most of what Wendell Berry has ever written, in my opinion. I say this as a Kentuckian, who loves and is connected to the Kentucky countryside. I also say this as a candidate for ministry, having sat through a great "Sacraments and Globalization" seminary class that had one session to explore Eucharist and land economy with Wendell Berry.
I believe that what Berry writes has profound implication for how we are the church of today, and how we participate as Christians in the wider world. What role do ...
April 25, 2012
A Few Haikus from Adult Education at Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
In the spirit of Earth Day, I thought I'd share with you some fun haikus created by a class I taught last month in Takoma Park, MD.
God so loved the earth
and we are called to respond
care for it all, well
Gather together
the creator's creation
interconnected
Greek God, in the sky,
God of the Psalms, here on earth,
Creation needs you.
Lilies of the field
may we worship God like you
free as good stewards
Earth and sea and sky
Lord, thank you for a world that
provides every need
flowers in little pots
with ...
April 23, 2012
New Book – Sacred Acts – Provides Strategies to Meet the Call for Climate Action
While climate change has become politicized in Congress, religious leaders - Presbyterians as well as Christians of many diverse backgrounds – have expressed more agreement than discord on the need to address climate change.
April 13, 2012
Creation Care Conference
The National Religious Coalition on Creation Care is gathering in Washington D.C. on April 23rd to explore, inform, and inspire people of faith to take action global climate change.
April 10, 2012
Faithful prayer with Peruvian partners
PCUSA members joined sisters and brothers in Peru on World Water Day, March 22nd, as they gathered in prayer and petition for justice, regarding the mining operations in La Oroya. Continued prayer and action is welcome and needed as we walk alongside our partners in mission, witness, and struggle for justice.
Click here to read more from Joining Hands Against Hunger.
Click here to download the new children's health and environment curriculum that focuses on La Oroya, linking kids in PCUSA congregations to kids in Cambialo and educating us all about the situations there and in our own communities ...