wfn.org | 85,000 Congregations Get NCC's Earth Day Mailing

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10-February-1999 
99043 
 
    85,000 Congregations Get NCC's Earth Day Mailing 
 
    by Wendy S. McDowell 
    NCC Office of News Services 
 
NEW YORK -- A National Council of Churches (NCC) mailing on consumerism, 
which encourages people of faith to live more simply by reducing their 
consumption of resources and manufactured goods, has been sent to 85,000 
congregations - including those of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- in 
preparation Earth Day, April 22. 
 
    "For Christians, consumerism is a religious issue for a number of 
reasons having to do both with justice for the world's poor and justice for 
all creation," said Richard Killmer, director of the NCC's environmental 
justice office. "We in the United States consume a disproportionate amount 
of the world's resources while the poor of the world, including those in 
the United States, consume less than they need. ... We need to use the 
resources of creation carefully, to witness that we care about creation and 
about justice and fairness for all people." 
 
    Consumerism is also important, Killmer added, "in terms of what it does 
to us. When we define ourselves by what we buy and what we consume, this is 
a very different idea of humanity than the one defined by God and our 
faith. Jesus taught us that our first task is to seek God's kingdom." 
 
    Suggested ways of cutting consumption include conserving energy in the 
home and choosing public transportation, walking or bicycling instead of 
driving a car. 
 
    The 1999 Earth Day mailing includes bulletin inserts, sermon notes, 
worship suggestions for April 25 (the Sunday after Earth Day), a resource 
list of materials on consumption and environmental justice, and an 
Environmental Justice Covenant Congregation form - through which a session 
promises that its congregation will be engaged in environmental ministries. 
 
    Additional copies of the Earth Day mailing are available for 50 cents 
by calling 1-800-762-0968 and requesting product # EJ9935  The materials 
are also available on the World Wide Web at www.webofcreation.org  

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