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Environmental Stewardship Committee

Seed Grants are available for Congregational Green Committees and Youth Groups. If your congregation’s green team or youth group is planning an Earth Care activity in the near future, the MNYS Environmental Stewardship Committee may be able to provide a financial boost to help get your project started. The committee has limited grants available for Earth Care-related projects that fulfill the broad mission of the Earth Charter. For more information and a link to the application form, click HERE.
 
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].
 

 

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Environmental Stewardship Committee

The Environmental Stewardship Committee works to educate churches on issues of environmental integrity and promotes specific actions that each church community and member can take to act with greater environmental responsibility. We do this because we believe that creation is yet another one of God’s gifts to us, and it is our responsibility to care for it.

We encourage all synod churches to

  • increase their commitment to recycle
  • use recycled materials
  • reduce the amount of waste produced
  • conduct energy audits
  • adopt cleaner and renewable energy sources
  • work to protect our precious shared resources of land, air, and water

We are committed to the goal set by the 2010 Synod Assembly of reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 5% a year, with the ultimate goal of reducing emissions by 25-40% by 2020.

What steps—small or large—is your congregation taking to care for creation? Let us know at [email protected].

 

RESOURCES

Energy Audits

NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)
Performs free energy assessments for non-profit organizations 

Figure out your congregation’s carbon footprint using a calculator specifically formulated for houses of worship 
 
Energy Star Portfolio Manager
Helps you track and assess energy and water consumption within individual buildings

 

Solar Panels & Other Renewable Energy Sources

New York State funding sources
Tax credits, rebates, grants and loans for renewable energy

Examples of Large-Scale Congregational Projects

Emanuel Lutheran Church, Pleasantville, New York

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Chatham, New Jersey

 

Worship Resources

The Green Bible
Printed on recycled paper, this Bible highlights verses and passages about God's care for creation in green and offers essays
 
Day of Prayer for the Environment
Our synod joined with others for a day dedicated to prayer for the care of creation. 

 

Lutheran Study Guide to Pope Francis' letter on Climate Change

This is a four-week educational resource from Hudson Valley Cooperative, which is funded by the Sower's Project and led by Terra Rowe. Intended for adult education in churches, as well as college and seminary classrooms, this resource also takes up the theme of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. 

Week 1: Introduction: climate change and faith

Week 2: Claimed by God, claiming our calling

Week 3: Gathered into an integral ecology

Week 4: Sent: Eco-reformation

 

Climate Change Information

RealClimate
Climate information from working climate scientists 

Skeptical Science
Taking a look at global warming skepticism

 

Organizations

Lutherans Restoring Creation

ELCA Caring for Creation

Creation Justice Ministries

Long Island Interfaith Environmental Network 

National Religious Partnership for the Environment 

New York Interfaith Power and Light

Green Faith

Lutherans Go Green

 

Ecological Reflections

Energy Audits Lead to Big SavingsFordham, Bronx’s $1,000 investment turns into $7,000 worth of energy improvements

Going Solar: Emanuel, Pleasantville, installs solar panels on the church roof

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