Caretakers of God's Creation: April 2022 Vestry Papers
Dear Friends,
The evidence is all around us – rising global temperatures, shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, more extreme and highly destructive weather events. Climate change is already a very real threat to us and future generations, and the devastation will be much greater unless massive changes are implemented on large and small scales, as scientists have been warning us for years. What can we do to find hope and create lasting change as stewards and not consumers of this world that we have been given? In this issue we hear stories of hopefulness and a gentle embrace of our hurting planet, where our faith drives us to care and take action for our beloved temporary home.
What is our call as Episcopalians to eco-justice and stewarding the gift of our planet? In Eco-Justice Lives in the Heart, Bishop Marc Andrus shares the experience of two communities – one in California and the other in Alaska – that have been ravaged by environmental degradation and human-induced climate change, addressing how we can respect the dignity of all life and embrace care of the earth as Christians. This article is available in English and Spanish.
Indigenous cultures teach that caring for world we inhabit is critical for our survival and that every living being has value. Christian Western European culture introduced a more hierarchical social structure, where value was assigned. In Let Earth Be Heaven, Rachel Taber-Hamilton implores us to really consider what the commandant about loving our neighbors actually means – are we willing to love enough to save the earth?
In Seeking Refugia: Hope for a World in Climate Crisis, Josh Anderson describes his experience of reading Refugia Faith a book by Debra Rienstra, that brings joy, hope and the call to act to mend our relationship with our earth in small, continuous and impactful ways.
For years, human activity has altered the world we inhabit, largely in devastating and destructive ways. In Stewards of the Earth, John Leech invites us to reimagine our relationship with our temporary home and assume our role as caretakers and custodians of this beautiful planet.
2022 ECF Fellowship Application
ECF is pleased to announce that the application for the 2022 Fellowship Partners Program is now open. Please note that only applications to the ministry track are being sought this year while the program purpose and goals are clarified.
We believe that by supporting individuals at an early stage in their ministries, leaders can make a lasting impact on the wider Church. Since 1964 ECF has awarded over 225 Fellowships to individuals pursuing advanced academic studies and special ministries with the aim of educating and equipping future lay and clergy leaders.
The selection process for an ECF Fellowship is highly competitive. A strong application requires a significant investment of time and effort, and ECF encourages all applicants to begin this process early. Applications are due on June 10, 2022. Read more about the Fellowship here.
To learn more about ECF and our programs, please visit our website.
Faithfully,
Charis Bhagianathan
Editor, ECF Vital Practices