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Winter A • 2010-2011

Methodists and the Environment

John Wesley famously once observed that “cleanliness is ◆ In Kansas, Grace UMC in Olathe hosted a “Green
indeed next to godliness.” And he wasn’t just speaking Day at Grace” that included presentations from
about personal hygiene. He was calling on England to master gardeners, composting and recycling tips, and
clean up the open sewers, the squalor and the filth in canning and food preservation advice.
which so many were forced to live.
◆ In Illinois, the First UMC of Downer’s Grove hosted
Those who have come after him have carried on his a day-long “Care for Creation” seminar that included
concern about care for the natural environment. The workshops on renewable energy, disaster preparedness
United Methodist Church has a well-developed theology and food preparation.
of environmental stewardship, and the church has been
in the forefront of environmental activism in the faith ◆ In Virginia, more than two dozen churches have
community. signed the Virginia Conference’s “Green Church
Initiative Covenant,” and committed themselves to
The Social Principles, as adopted at the 2008 General finding ways to care for creation. The Wesley United
Conference, called on all Methodist to “recognize the Methodist Church in Winchester, Va., has planted a
responsibility of the church and its members to place a church garden. The Drummondtown UMC taught
high priority on changes in the economic, political, social youngsters about care for creation at its Vacation
and technological lifestyles to support a more ecologi- Bible School this summer. The Lebanon UMC in
cally equitable and sustainable world leading to a higher Hanover, Va., has created a Sunday School curriculum
quality of life for all of God’s children.” to raise awareness of the sacredness of God’s creations.
The Bon Air UMC in Richmond is celebrating a
The 2008 document specifically spelled out, among four-Sunday “Season of Creation” during which the
other things, support for policies to reduce and control liturgical theme will be environmental stewardship.
industrial waste, for preservations of old-growth forests,
for the preservation of endangered plants and animals, ◆ In Massachusetts, Marla Marcum took a year’s leave
for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gases, for more from her doctoral studies at Boston University School
rigorous food safety inspections, and for the development of Theology to work with the Leadership Campaign,
of renewable energy sources. a coalition organized by Students for a Just & Stable
Future, which seeks to expand the use of “clean
Around the country, this has played itself out in a variety electricity” throughout the state. Marcum, who
of ways as Methodist bishops, conferences, parishes and chairs the climate change task force for the United
individuals have all struggled to find ways to turn church Methodist New England Conference, told the United
teaching into church action. Methodist News Service, “It’s always been really clear
Some examples: to me that my faith calls me to look around (to see)
who benefits and who suffers under the conditions
◆ In California, the United Methodist Church of Santa we’ve created in our society.” Marcum and other
Cruz is building a new, environmentally-friendly students have gone so far as to sleep outside rather
building that will house three merged congregations. than sleep in dorm rooms “powered by dirty energy,”
The building will follow the U.S. Green Building she said.
Council’s guidelines to attain the highest possible
rating. Its features include solar thermal and ground ◆ In 2009, the United Methodist Council of Bishops,
source heating, a cistern to capture rainwater for stating that they “cannot remain silent while God’s
on-site irrigation, low-flow fixtures and waterless people and God’s planet suffer,” released a pastoral
urinals, a “living garden” roof, all of which are letter to be read aloud in every United Methodist
designed to result in zero electric costs over the course church calling on the church to recommit itself to the
of the year. The church will also be built to encourage principal of “environmental holiness.”
the use of public transportation and bikes.
SR-00-WA-10-M-Methodists and the Environment

©2010 by Morehouse Education Resources • All rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918


Winter A • 2010-2011

Methodists and the Environment

In short, United Methodists are joining with people of Call to Hope and Action,” (hopeandaction.org/main/) a
faith across the globe to adopt sustainable lifestyles, care project of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist
for creation and go green. Church. The website contains many resources, study
guides, news items and other congregations materials to
A good source for more information and resources for con- promote environmental stewardship at all levels of the
gregations and individuals is “God’s Renewed Creation: church.

“All creation is the Lord’s,


and we are responsible
for the ways 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.”
––Methodist Social Principles
The Natural World (#160)
The Book of Discipline
of The United Methodist Church

©2010 by Morehouse Education Resources • All rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918

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