The Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN)

Contact:

Over the last few years, leaders of the diocesan environmental committees of Province One have met twice a year for fellowship and sharing. We are planning another retreat for September, probably in New Hampshire.

The highlight of our recent history was the Pastoral Letter that was signed by all the Bishops of Province One in the spring of 2003 and the Province One Convocation that followed.

Province One has also recently selected a new (part time) Provincial Executive Director , Susan Ohlidal, also of the diocese of Vermont . She and P1 EpEN representative Steve MacAusland have met to discuss the ways in which we can advance our agendas and work together on P1 wide ministries.

Bishop Steven Charleston, President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, submitted a resolution on Global Warming at the 75th General Convention in June. It was approved and has already been sited as justification for such ambitious undertakings as the plan by the General Theological Seminary (New York) to begin the largest geothermal heating and cooling project in New York City.

Working with state affiliations of the ministry known as Interfaith Power and Light, P1 leaders are turning over every available stone to look for ways in which dioceses can take advantage of existing programs and possibly to create others in which congregations of all denominations can practice energy conservation, invest in energy efficiency, and save more than enough money to buy clean, renewable energy. There has been some talk about P1 buying its own wind turbine.

We look forward to continuing our recent vibrancy and hope that anyone interested will call or write with questions, suggestions, or offers of support

Steve MacAusland

Jane Doherty
Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire

Contact:

Nothing significant to report from Province 2

Contact:

Nothing significant to report from Province 3

If you are interested in being the contact for Province 3, please send an e-mail to eenchair@env-steward.com.

Contact:

Province 4 Webpage on the environment

All of the diocesan EM leaders in the province will be invited to attend Sewanee’s Year III ENTREAT Living Waters & Water Sustainability Programs. To learn more about this science and religion program see www.sewanee.edu/ENTREAT. From September 2006 to May 2007 ENTREAT will offer programs and exhibits that model how science and religion groups can protect, restore, and clean up watersheds. During these events programs participants will:

• Give thanks for the gifts and blessings of water
• Celebrate the successful SE Watershed ongoing programs
• Learn how to expand participation in active secular watershed groups
• Discover the diversity and value of plants and animals that live in SE rivers
• Discuss Water Ethics and Economic Components of protected watersheds
• Explore benefits and interest in Interfaith Water programs and projects
• Discuss how varied religious groups/congregations regard water resources as precious and recognize that the right use of water is an explicit means to show love for one’s neighbor since water connects people and all creatures throughout the global community.
  

Many of the dioceses of Province IV are promoting water stewardship programs that are designed to heighten awareness about the importance of safe, accessible water; faith-based context within which to consider acts of faith that can make a difference in the lives of God's neediest children; and modes for conserving one of earth’s most precious commodities – water. Some parishes may connect their promotion of Millennium Development Goals with water conservation and rights to water issues.

What One Parish Can Do To Promote Stewardship of Water:

• Install water saving devices such as low-flow commodes and aspirators on sink faucets to conserve water.
• Replant gardens with plants and trees that are drought tolerant and have low requirements for water (It is also advised that plants and trees native to the local region be planted as these will have the capacity to survive local climatic condition).
• Devise drainage systems that allow rainwater to flow from gutters and drainpipes to spread onto lawn and landscaped areas, thereby reducing water lost to sewer systems.
• Pave new or repave existing parking lots with materials that are pervious so that water penetrates and is sequestered in soil beneath parking area. (This reduces opportunity for automotive oil and other automotive fluids to be washed downstream) during rain events.
• Conduct water surveys regarding water discharges that could contaminate
• Discuss how energy conservation, power plant production and power transmission lines are connected with watersheds and water uses – connect this with Global Warming issues.
• Reduce and eliminate (when possible) bottled water – promote public water fountains and drinking containers that are not thrown into landfills.
  

Christians are called to care for the whole of Creation as spoken in the Genesis account of Creation, and through the Great Commandments. We love God and love our neighbor by exhibiting right use and reverence for water and the whole of Creation. It is the hope and prayer of Province IV EM leaders that water sustainability programs will expand understanding of issues surrounding the Wholeness of Life, the Water of Baptism: the Meaning of Justice and the Integrity of Creation In Christian Spirituality.

Prov IV EM Leaders address Global Warming

Many dioceses and parishes are downloading Peter Sawtale's Inconvenient Truth Study Guide from this website www.eco-justice.org/TruthGuide.asp and others are working with Power & Light groups in their state to receive resource packages. Linda Rimer from Diocese of NC and Joyce Wilding from Diocese of TN provided ideas and information for Inconvenient Truth guidebook.

Several parishes have been using the GA Power & Light "Preparing for A New Light: Caring for God's Creation During Advent". This resource can be downloaded from www.gipl.org/pdf/Study_Guides.

A few groups continue to use "It's God's World: Christians, Care for Creation and Global Warming" – 5 sessions. This curriculum dates from 1999; a bit of the science, and much of the immediacy, has changed. Because the film will have provided much of the science background, a shorter series could be conducted with theological topics and action steps based on this resource. The curriculum book can be ordered from the National Council of Churches / Church World Service
(item #EJ-9701) at 800-762-0968.

Some diocesan groups are using materials form "Global Warming: What You Need to Know" - Tom Brokaw's Discovery Channel documentary. This program has good tips and information about the benefits of buying local foods that are organically grown and the benefits of green sustainable buildings!

Joyce Wilding

Contact:

Nothing Significant to Report.

If you are interested in being the contact for Province 5, please send an e-mail to eenchair@env-steward.com.

Contacts:

Perspective from the Middle (of the Country that is!)

Being able to attend General Convention, even for a few days, was a glorious reminder of what a magnificent church we have. Despite being a lightening rod for many of the issues facing our generation, the people gathered in Columbus, Ohio were filled with optimism and hope--a hope that only comes from being grounded in a holy faith.
I was privileged to sit with Steve MacAusland in a booth in the exhibit hall. From our vantage, we did not see all the action. Yet we had a number of visitors asking about what EpEN does, and how to get plugged into the network, etc. We were both reinvigorated by the level of interest, and the various concerns and passions people have. It also served to remind us that we need to be more diligent about our work.
For all those who have been watching for our emails, checking our website, and hoping we would do more, here is our promise to you. We are back. We are ready to re-engage in actively challenging the church on doing more to protect God's beloved creation. And we need and value your help.

First: here's who 'we' are:
Province 1: Steve MacAusland
Province 2: The Reverend Fletcher Harper
Province 4: Joyce Wilding
Province 6: The Reverend Wanda Copeland and Chuck Morello (also webmaster)
Province 8: Alice Speers and The Reverend Sally Bingham
Advisory Board: The Reverend Jeff Golliher, The Reverend Skip Vilas and The Reverend Peter G. Kreitler
815 Liasion: Martha Gardner
EPPN Staff: John Johnson
As you can see, we have some real 'holes' in our group. That's where we need your assistance. We need coordinators for EACH province to act as 'routers' of querries, information, and helpful suggestions. If you would like to become part of our leadership team, please let me know.

Second, the urgency around environmental issues, particularly global climate change, has been coursing through our veins for some time. We feel very encouraged now that the popular press has become more aware of this issue. It is our prayer that we can all feel the Holy Spirit using this time and this issue as a way to bring together people of faith in the Episcopal CHurch and in the Anglican Communion as never before. To that end, we have several initiaitives we are going to be developing for the Episcopal Church to consider over the next year or so. Stay tuned.

Third, now is the time to build coalitions. We need faithful people concerned about poverty, economic justice, globalization, and human rights. We need them to join us and apprise us of their urgent concerns. And we need them to invite us to join them to bring in our particular perspective.

We are not perfect. We have not done all there has been to accomplish. But we feel a renewed sense of urgency that calls us to lay aside other parts of our lives and engage in this ministry with new vitality. Please join us.

I personally want to thank Joyce, Fletcher and Chuck for keeping the fires burning over the last three years. I pray we can honor their sacrifices and diligence by raising these concerns to ever-new heights.

God bless your work at whatever level. Let's join forces for the journey in front of us.
Your servant
Wanda Copeland+

The interest in the EpEN at the 75th General Convention has increased our e-mail list to nearly 500 and our contacts into about 86 of the 111 dioceses of the Episcopal Church. To those who signed up and to those who provide information to share in the network, as a priest in Vienna used to say, "Danke und vergelt's Gott!"

I am still working through some of the names to add to the list. Next issue I will have some more concrete data to share with those who are interested in such numbers.

Chuck Morello

Contact:

Nothing Significant to Report.

If you are interested in being the contact for Province 7, please send an e-mail to eenchair@env-steward.com.

Contacts:

Episcopal churches all over the country have been invited to be hosts to a showing of "an Inconvenient Truth." The sign-up has already ended, but you can visit the Regeneration Project website or send them an e-mail to find out where the movie will be shown in your area.

Sally Bingham

In the Diocese of Oregon, we have just submitted a resolution using C018, slightly revised to reflect our Diocesan situation, and encouraging urgent action to counter global warming. This will be brought to Diocesan Convention in November.
We are also signed on as co-sponsors to a resolution pressing for everyone to get on board with the Millenium Development Goals.

Text of this resolution will be available on the EpEN Website in September.

Alice Speers

Friends and Colleagues -

I want to be sure you all know that I am offering an on-line course this fall through the Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CALL at CDSP), "Food for Thought".

Food security and sustainable food systems are hot topics these days, and I've been privileged to stretch my knowledge through work as a member of the Episcopal Committee on Science, Technology and Faith, as well as involvement with the Food Connections conference and its follow-up here in Sonoma County. Given all that I have learned, and all that I want to explore further, it seemed a good time to reach out to others who want to delve into food issues.

While this course will be beamed at the Episcopal clergy and other church professionals, for whom CEUs are available, it's by no means limited to them. It'll probably be helpful though if participants have some familiarity, and a comfort level, with liberal liturgical Christianity.

Here's the link to the course blurb on the CALL web site:
http://www.cdsp.edu/call_onlinecourses.html#food

Please be sure to let me know if you have questions about the course content.

Thanks

Phina (Josephine Borgeson)
Episcopal Diocese of California

Contacts:

Nothing Significant to report.

General
Convention Resolutions

The two resolutions concerning the environment which passed at General Convention (Resolution B002: Response to Global Warming and Resolution C018: Environmental Stewardship) will be posted on the EpEN Website in September.

Contact:

Nothing Significant to report.

Take time to visit he EpEN Website. This issue we recommend the Newsletter Page., which is on a separate server while the EpEN Website is being updated. If you have information to share on upcoming events in your area, please send an e-mail to: input@env-steward.com

The EpEN also seeks individuals interested in being contacts within Provinces and Diocese as well as individuals interested in researching and writing about topics of interest. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to: theiceismelting@yahoo.com or input@env-steward.com.

The next issue will come out in late November with information of interest and concern from events the past year with a focus on working with the Millennium Development Goal of Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.

Please direct comments about this newsletter to Chuck Morello.

Chuck Morello
EpEN Webminister