LOUISVILLE — The
Advisory Committee on Social
Witness Policy (ACSWP) has named a committee to revise the
Presbyterian Church (USA)’s policy on energy.
The Resolution Team on Energy, ordered by the 214th General Assembly
in 2002 in response to an overture from the Presbytery of Susquehanna
Valley, will hold its first meeting in March in Washington, DC.
“The meeting will provide the team with an opportunity
to draw upon the diverse and rich resources within this community
as it engages in a critical dialogue about current legislative
energy issues,” said the Rev. Belinda M. Curry, ACSWP’s
associate for Policy Development and Interpretation.
The denomination’s energy policy has not been thoroughly
addressed since a 1981 policy statement, “The Power to Speak
Truth to Power,” was approved jointly by the former Presbyterian
Church in the United States and the old United Presbyterian Church
in the United States of America.
The 2002 Assembly called on the church “to address the issue
of energy in light of the current national and international concern
over energy production, consumption, cost, patterns of distribution
and energy security.”
The overture called energy a “multifaceted and controversial
issue,” and noted, “The rolling blackouts on the West
Coast and the skyrocketing cost of heating in the Northeast have
made energy a concern to congregations and church members.”
The overture would have the church develop resources for educating
congregations and church organizations about the cost-effectiveness
of investing in building renovation and of using energy-efficient
technologies, such as compact fluorescent lighting rather than
incandescent lighting.
It also calls for resources advising church bodies about denominational
and secular programs in energy conservation and stewardship.
The overture said, “Church leaders and members need to
reaffirm our Reformed ethical values of frugality and simplicity,
and actively promote conservation of energy as a positive Christian
virtue.”
ACSWP is responsible for developing and recommending social-witness
policies to the General Assembly. Project updates will be posted
on the ACSWP’s
Web site.
Energy team members are Donna Bradley, an attorney and elected
ACSWP member from de Cristo Presbytery; Claudia L. Brown, an environmental
consultant and freelance technical writer from the Presbytery
of Lake Erie; Frank S. Gillian, a professor of biological sciences
from the Presbytery of West Virginia; Douglas R. Hooker, an engineer
from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
Also, Sarah J. Kinney, a graduate student from the Presbytery
of Wyoming; Pamela P. McVety, a retired environmental administrator
from the Presbytery of Florida; Paige Murphy-Young, a retired
lawyer from the Presbytery of Grand Canyon; Jananne Sharpless,
a consultant and elected member of ACSWP from the Presbytery of
Los Ranchos; Richard E. Shore, a retired professor of biology
and industrial engineer from Transylvania Presbytery; and John
C. Topping, Jr., a corporate executive from National Capital Presbytery.
Joining Curry in providing staff support are Andrew Kang Bartlett,
an associate for National Hunger Concerns in the Presbyterian
Hunger Program in Worldwide Ministries; Carolynn Race, an associate
for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues for the Washington
Office; and the Rev. Bill Somplatsky-Jarman, associate for Mission
Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) in National Ministries.
The Rev. Robert Stivers, a professor of religion and Christian
ethics from Olympia Presbytery, will serve as a consultant and
primary writer.
For additional information about the Resolution Team on Energy,
contact
Curry by mail at ACSWP 100 Witherspoon Street, Room 3611, Louisville,
KY 40202 by phone at (800) 728-7228, ext. 5813; or by email at
bcurry@ctr.pcusa.org.
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