The Green Church Initiative

“All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it.  Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings.  God has granted us stewardship of creation.  We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect.  Economic, political, social, and technological developments have increased our human numbers, and lengthened and enriched our lives.  However, these developments have led to regional defoliation, dramatic extinction of species, massive human suffering, overpopulation, and misuse and overconsumption of natural and nonrenewable resources, particularly by industrialized societies. This continued course of action jeopardizes the natural heritage that God has entrusted to all generations.  Therefore, let us recognize the responsibility of the church and its members to place a high priority on changes in economic, political, social, and technological lifestyles to support a more ecologically equitable and sustainable world leading to a higher quality of life for all of God’s creation.”  (United Methodist Social Principles Paragraph 160 Book of Discipline 2004)

The Green Church Initiative Covenant (Word)

Some Suggestions for Implementing the Covenant

• Climate justice and sustainability resources from the United Methodist Women (UMW)
• 2016 UMW Mission Study on Climate Justice 
• Check out these resources from the denominational Caretakers of God’s Creation website