February 12, 2019 Session Email Vote

Chapel in Pines
Email Vote February 12, 2019

Present: Barbara Amago, Karen Atkins, Stan Campbell, Pat Chappell, John McDowell, Terry Rudolph

On behalf of Mission and Service Maggie asked session for an up or down vote on the Earth Care Pledge as part of being an Earth Care Congregation, The motion is as follows:

Peace and justice is God’s plan for all creation. The earth and all creation are God’s. God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. As God offers all people the special gift of peace through Jesus Christ, and through Christ reconciles all to God, we are called to deal justly with one another and the earth.

 

1. 1. Our worship and discipleship will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation and declare that God calls us to cherish, protect and restore this earth.
   2. In education, we will seek learning and teaching opportunities to know and understand the threats to God’s creation and the damage already inflicted. We will encourage and support each other in finding ways of keeping and healing creation in response to God’s call to earth-keeping, justice and community.
   3. Our facilitieswill be managed, maintained and upgraded in a manner that respects and cherishes all creation, human and non-human, while meeting equitably the needs of all people. In our buildings and on our grounds we will use energy efficiently, conserve resources, and share what we have in abundance so that God’s holy creation will be sustainable for all life and future generations.
   4. Our outreachwill encourage public policy and community involvement that protects and restores the vulnerable and degraded earth as well as oppressed and neglected people. We will be mindful that our personal and collective actions can positively and negatively affect our neighborhood, region, nation and world. We will seek to achieve environmental justice through coalitions and ecumenical partnerships.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marcia Ladd, Clerk

Approved session February 18, 2019