FAITH IN ACTION - Sierra Club

FAITH IN ACTION: COMMUNITIES OF FAITH BRING
HOPE FOR THE PLANET
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Sierra Club is proud to present its first ever national report on the environmental engagement of communities of
faith, “Faith in Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope for the Planet.” Highlighting one exceptional faithbased
environmental initiative from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, “Faith in
Action” demonstrates the breadth, depth and diversity of spiritually motivated grassroots efforts to protect the planet.
Sierra Club applauds the growing level of commitment and leadership among people of faith working to connect environmental
awareness with widely shared values including stewardship, justice, and concern for future generations. We
also recognize that lasting social change rarely takes place without the active engagement of communities of faith.
Environmental concerns continue to rise in prominence on the agenda
of the faithful, with no sign of receding. As the implications of global
warming and its disproportionate impact on the world’s poor become
increasingly clear, prophetic voices are being raised in religious communities
around the globe. In the United States, 67 percent of Americans
say they care about the environment because it is “God’s creation.”
Faith groups highlighted in this report lead the way in crafting
creative and promising solutions to tremendous environmental
challenges. Religious leaders and lay persons alike are “greening”
all areas of religious life, including worship, education, community
life, buildings and grounds, and increasingly engaging in grassroots
education and organizing. In addition to crafting solutions
to global warming, these groups also work to protect water quality
and access, protect wilderness and endangered species, stop
mountain-top removal coal mining and develop creative solutions
to our nation’s unsustainable and inequitable food systems.
Some examples from the report include:
1. The Texas Christian Life Commission, the largest Baptist
organization in Texas educates congregations about creation
care and calls for a moratorium on building new coal-fired
power plants to reduce health risks.
2. Community Lutheran Church of Sterling, VA, operates a
community garden and provides organic produce to local
low-income families.
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3. North Dakota’s ecumenical Prairie Stewardship Network, educates
communities of faith and others about clean energy and
global warming.
4. Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization in New York
City organizes community bike rides and educates about
sustainable living.
5. Catholic Bishops of the Dioceses of Pueblo and Colorado
Springs, CO speak out in defense communities surrounding
heavily polluted Fountain Creek.
6. St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, of Tucson, AZ promotes water
stewardship and conservation.
7. The Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin helps
mosques and Muslim families reduce their carbon footprint.
Such passion and dedication provides tremendous hope for everyone
working to protect the planet. We hope that this report will
further encourage people of faith to become personally and publicly
engaged in the environmental dialogue in America. We look
forward to continued and growing partnerships in the future as
we explore, enjoy and protect the planet together.
“Faith in Action” is a project of the Sierra Club’s Environmental
Partnerships Program.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
State Profiles (Alphabetical by state name) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 –31
Contact Information (National & Regional Organizations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 – 35
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