wfn.org | Bishop Opens 'Another Look' at ELCA Statement on Environment

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 11, 2003

BISHOP OPENS 'ANOTHER LOOK' AT ELCA STATEMENT ON ENVIRONMENT
03-121-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Now is a good time to take another look at
"Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice," the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) social statement on the environment,
the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, wrote in an open
letter to commemorate the statement's 10th anniversary.  He announced a
November consultation, "For the Healing of the World: Caring for Creation
Now," to cap a year of review.
     "Individuals and communities have continued to struggle with
environmental degradation in their neighborhoods, nations and the world.
Concern over pollution, species extinction, over-consumption and over-
population, climate change and other threats has continued to grow,"
wrote Hanson.
     "Since the social statement was adopted, awareness has increased
about environmental issues and how they might be addressed practically.
An ever-increasing number of synods are responding to creation-care
issues," Hanson said.
     The 10,766 congregations of the ELCA are organized into 65 synods
across the United States and Caribbean.
     Hanson mentioned the formation of the Lutheran Earthkeeping
Network of the Synods (LENS) and the efforts of congregations and
members to reduce energy consumption over the past decade.  He cited the
ELCA's advocacy efforts in both the public and private sectors to
address climate change and to take responsibility for the environment.
     "From the standpoint of faith, the world around us is not a mere
'environment,'" wrote Hanson.  "It is the creation."
     The Earth is "common ground" for all people, he said.  So,
addressing environmental issues provides an opportunity to work with
other Christians and with people of other faiths.
     "Creation is the matrix of all our activities, both as human
beings and as Christ's church.	God gives us and all creatures life
through the water, air, food and all the other gifts that come to us
from the earth," Hanson wrote.
     "Everything we do both depends on these gifts, and has some kind
of impact upon them," he wrote.  "If they are graciously received and
cherished, people will flourish with the rest of creation.  We cannot
love God or our human neighbor without caring for creation."
     The question before the ELCA is how to go about addressing
environmental issues, Hanson said.  "First of all, we must put our own
houses in order as individuals, families, congregations, synods and as a
churchwide body.  Second, we must join with other citizens of good will
to care for God's good earth by championing informed and responsible
environmental policies and business practices," he wrote.
     November's consultation "will be an occasion to review what our
church has done or left undone; to try to discern what God is calling us
to do in our time; and to organize and equip ourselves to carry out
God's healing ministry to the whole of creation," he said.
     Hanson said regional gatherings throughout the year and articles
in church publications "will lift up this issue for reflection and
deliberation by the whole church" in preparation for the consultation.
     "My prayer is that you will join in this process of reaffirming
our church's commitment to care for God's creation; to grasp more fully
the Christian vision of God's love in Christ for this planet and its
people; to work for justice as the right relationship among all
creatures; and to declare our hope in God for the restoration and
renewal of the world," Hanson wrote.
     The ELCA Division for Church in Society plans to host the
consultation Nov. 5-7 at the University of St. Mary on the Lake,
Mundelein, Ill.  Participants will include the task force that drafted
the social statement, ELCA directors for public policy from several
state capitals, and representatives from synods, church-related colleges
and seminaries.
-- -- --
     The social statement, "Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and
Justice," is available at http://www.elca.org/dcs/environment.html on
the ELCA Web site.  The bishop's letter is linked to
http://www.elca.org/dcs/epr/environment/ -- the Division for Church in
Society pages on environmental education and advocacy.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html