Hosting a Discussion with a Group:
Are you ready to welcome people from your church +/or community to discuss our call to Care for Creation? You are not alone: reach out to people on our map that may be near you and see if they can offer help. However… the true experts are all around you already. Your community needs to be […]
What Can We Do?
AFFIRM: Personally, with your church council, or entire synod, review our ELCA’s 1993 call to action and commit to engaging in steps to live into that calling. Ask your Church Council to consider how Creation Care can fit into the context of your church community. This Convenant is an easy way to do that, with background […]
Covenant with Creation Adapted for Spanish Speakers
We hope that the Pacto Congregacional de Cuidado para la Creación will be useful to support Spanish-speaking congregations to reflect together about all the ways our faith is reflected in how we treat each other and share resources. The step-by-step supporting materials for this covenant can be found here (click). Download pdf here: Pacto Congregacional […]
Congregational Covenant and Organizing Kit: An Overview
A step-by-step kit to help your congregation organize for creation care — worship, education, buildings and grounds, advocacy, and personal discipleship — plus a downloadable PDF.
Tools for Synods Restoring Creation
Lutherans Restoring Creation (“LRC”) is working to collaborate with ELCA synods in bringing care for creation into the full life of the church. Might your synod be interested? There are already several synods with active expressions of this ministry (see map here). We are now pleased to offer a Synod Organizing Kit for creating a […]
Resources for Creation Care Congregations
The goal of the LRC program is to incorporate creation care into the full identity and mission of your congregation and to foster an ethos in which everyone considers creation care to be part of your life together and your witness to their community. Therefore, choose actions and programs that contribute to this goal. As […]
Public Witness/Policy Advocacy Ideas
Public Witness/Policy Advocacy: “Church exists to serve the world” Hands-on project. Learn what environmental projects are happening in your area and what organizations are sponsoring them. Recruit members of your congregation to partner with them in the effort. Restore a habitat, clean up trash, plant trees, write letters to local officials, meet with representatives. Consider […]
Creation Care Congregation: Personal Discipleship Ideas
Discipleship at home and work: “Love your neighbor” Personal Covenant with Creation: Plan a worship service in which members can identify the Earth-friendly practices they are willing to commit to at home and work. Use a brief ritual that makes these commitments a stewardship offering. Our online form helps you save paper and participants will […]
Creation Care Congregation: Building and Grounds Ideas
Building and Grounds: “The church as an alternative community” Be an Energy Steward. Revere the resources God so graciously gives, by monitoring and adjusting your habits. First: know what have to work with. Contact your local utility for an energy audit or use an online tool like the Energy Star’s Treasure Hunt to understand easy […]
Creation Care Congregation: Education Ideas
Education: “Know your traditions and your world” Earthbound: Adult education for this six-part video series produced by the ELCA to explore the theological foundations of Earth care and to examples of Lutheran Institutions carrying them out. “Caring for Creation.” Organize a forum or study group to read and discuss the ELCA Social Statement. Copies available […]
Creation Care Congregation: Worship Ideas
Transformation through Worship (click for creation care worship resources) All Worship: Render every service as creation-care worship: call to worship, confessions, prayers, and blessing/commission, plus scriptures, hymns, and sermons. Season of Creation. Observe a four-week optional season to celebrate creation as part of the church year, with liturgies, sermons, and alternative scripture lessons, etc. Special […]
Action Plan Ideas
The goal is to make a difference by transforming attitudes and commitments and by embracing concrete actions that reduce human ecological impact on the earth and contribute to justice for people affected by environmental degradation. The following links will provide ideas for you as you create your congregation’s action plan: Transformation through Worship: “Let all […]
Creating An Action Plan
Skip ahead by visiting Actions Speak Loudly: a resource for making an action plan! 1. Explore ideas for creation care! See our share board here. 2. Choose one project from each category in the Actions Plan (see below). Be sure to choose one item from each of the five areas (worship,education, buildings/grounds, personal discipleship, public […]
Approving the Covenant
1. The purpose of accepting the program and approving the mission statement is to engage the entire congregation through its leadership to be aware of our Christian vocation to care for creation and to participate in this mission of the congregation. Our sample template highlights efforts in five areas and serves to make the mission […]
Green Teams
It is helpful to form a team passionate about creation care in your congregation that can share the work. However, if you find yourself unable to do so for whatever reason, consider skipping ahead and trying to approve a covenant for creation. How to create a “Green Team” with your congregation: 1. Formation: A green […]
Getting Started, First Steps
Who can start the process? The program can begin with anyone so inspired—a pastor, interested lay people, a standing committee, the church council, etc. Once there is some interest, take the program to the church council for discussion, approval, and implementation on behalf of the congregation. If desired, have the congregation approve the plan at […]
Ten Reasons Why Lutherans Care for All Creation
To join with other Lutherans in caring for creation, help your congregation become a Creation-Care congregation; visit this page for more information. Lutherans care for creation for many reasons, including: 1. Theology: We affirm God as creator of all. We have an incarnation theology that cherishes the continuing presence of God in, with, and under […]