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The following was passed by the 211th
General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A. ) in 1999:
On
Global Warming
The
211th General Assembly (1999) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):
1.
Call[s] again upon the United States Senate to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol;
2.
Urge[s] the U.S. Administration and Congress to devise, fund,
and implement plans that aim well beyond the still very inadequate
targets of the Kyoto Protocol;
3.
Direct[s] the Presbyterian Center in Louisville and all other
properties of the General Assembly to minimize their use of fossil
fuel energy, and to urge all middle governing bodies and local
congregations to do the same;
4.
Direct[s] the Office of Evangelism and Church Development in the
National Ministries Division to review and perfect, as necessary,
its implementation of the 202nd General Assembly (1990) recommendation:
"In guidelines for construction and renovation of church
buildings and in the criteria for grants or loans for such purposes,
set specific standards for fuel conservation and energy efficiency
. . ."
5.
Direct[s] the General Assembly Council, through the Environmental
Justice Staff Team and other program areas as appropriate, to
identify, prepare as necessary, and promote educational and program
materials to help Presbyterians to examine the basic spiritual
and systemic causes of the nation's failure to respond to global
warming and other critical human and environmental concerns in
ways commensurate with the urgency of the need, the danger, and
the opportunity that these concerns represent.
The materials,
in their educational, programmatic, and evangelistic uses, will
seek to help people of faith in the following ways:
- a.
Regarding ecology: To understand the effects of mounting
human numbers, affluent lifestyles, and excessive, unsustainable
development upon the protective atmospheric mantle, other natural
systems, and vulnerable people.
- b.
Regarding lifestyles: To appreciate and accept the imperative,
the practicalities, and the satisfactions of lifestyles characterized
by sufficiency and responsible frugality within communities
of mutual support and sharing.
- c.
Regarding idolatries: To resist the ancient yet distinctively
contemporary idolatries, such as those of power and wealth,
that contradict the call of Christ to self-giving service and
an ultimately loyalty to him alone.
- d.
Regarding economics: To participate in the conceptualization
of, and movement toward, economic arrangements-local and regional,
as well as national and international-whereby all persons may
participate as able and gifted in work needing to be done and
the sufficient sustenance made available, without degrading
the atmosphere or otherwise undermining the integrity of God's
creation.
- e.
Regarding politics: To participate in the political arena
for the revitalization of our democratic institutions to make
them effective instruments for protecting against excessive
concentrations of power and equitably redistributing access
to the sustenance of earth intended by the Creator for all.
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