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Lutherans Restoring Creation logo: a Luther rose formed from a globe with a cross in a heart at its center, beside the words Lutherans Restoring Creation

An Economy for Earth

Stylized globe graphic with green recycling arrows against a starry nebula

An Economy for Earth The word economy may bring to mind currency, goods, and the stock market, but the word itself comes from the Greek oikonomos: oikos (household) + nomos (rules or guidelines). As Christians, our household is the entirety of this wonderful Creation, and our guidelines from God  instruct us to be earth-keepers (Gen […]

Divestment from Fossil Fuels

Graphic titled "Divesting Faithfully" over a stock chart background with hands holding a plant-topped Bible

“Divestment” can mean a lot of things, but in general, the divestment movement is about stopping the flow of money into fossil fuels. Even when we don’t mean to, banks and investors can put our money into funding new fossil fuel projects that damage Creation and our future. Banking If you bank with the worst […]

Plastic Pollution

Lots of plastic bottle garbage on messy ocean coast.

Plastics have been around for around 100 years, but the their exponential use in the past century has serious consequences for all of creation. It’s in our water, our landfills and even in our bodies. Plastics, particularly single-use plastic, threatens the environment at every stage of its lifecycle, from production to disposal. As people of faith, […]

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50%

A landscape with a city above a forest. An overlaid bar graph shows emissions reducing over time.

The ELCA has called for a 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emission by 2030! There are so many resources to help individuals and groups reduce their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. While we all can advocate for better government and corporate decision-making, we have the agency to model better stewardship. Just jump in, pick a […]

Hosting a Discussion with a Group:

Group of people seated around tables in small-group discussion at a workshop

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 […]

Sample resolutions from other denominations

Catholic: http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/  The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change national organization connected to the US Council of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/  Action-response link from above, includes a tab for the St. Francis Pledge. Episcopal: http://www.eenonline.org/  Episcopal Environmental Network (national) similar to Web of Creation http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1829_ENG_HTM.htm  Episcopal Peace and Justice site, base for Environmental Stewardship […]

Native Land Acknowledgment: Processes to Heal, Steps to Restore

Map of overlapping Native American tribal land territories across the United States

As we live, work, and worship in the land that is now called the United States, Lutherans Restoring Creation recognizes that we do so on land that was stolen from Indigenous peoples. As we are called to restore creation, we are also called to restore right-relationship with one another.  As we join in this holy […]

Finding Ways to Work Alongside Grief and Anguish

Mural of an anguished screaming face with hands pressed to the head

How do we handle the grief we experience when we witness the warming of our global climate, the destruction of species, and the impact on our quality of life? Young people are incredibly vulnerable to climate anxiety as they evaluate their future in a changing world. We offer the following resources:   TO EXPLORE: WeAdapt […]

Covenant with Creation Adapted for Spanish Speakers

A young man playing guitar and a young woman singing together outdoors at microphones

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 […]

Tools for Talking and Acting on Climate with Faith-based Language

Cover of "Moving Forward: A Guide to Climate Action for Your Congregation and Community," showing a crowd holding environmental stewardship signs

Blessed Tomorrow’s Moving Forward Guide ecoAmerica helps leaders from the local government, the public health sector, and faith-based cohorts figure out how to usher people into urgent action on climate change. This brief guide provides you with information and resources to reduce energy use, to build resilient houses of worship as refuges from a changing […]

EPA’s Energy Star Congregation’s Guide

Cover of the "ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for Congregations: Appendices," showing people in rain gear touring outdoor exhibit panels

This workbook serves as a resource and planning guide for clergy, staff, and laypersons of houses of worship who want to increase the energy efficiency of their facilities. They can do this by implementing realistic and cost effective energy improvement projects. Download the guide and appendices for free below. Be sure to also find out […]

Water discipleship tool for Congregations!

Cover of the "Congregational Watershed Discipleship Manual: Faith Communities as Stewards of the World's Waters," with photos of a shoreline cleanup, a parade, and canoeing

Vermont Lutheran Church partners with Interfaith Power & Light to Share the Various Ways to Revere Water: In 2018, Vermont Interfaith Power and Light (VTIPL) joined with local organizations to create a model for watershed stewardship, based on the experience of Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington, Vermont.  The Reverend Dr. Nancy Wright, pastor of […]

Planning and Carrying Out Green Events

Conference attendees seated at a workshop presentation beside a painted mural of Creation

LRC & ELCA are in the process of developing a holistic event guide (click here – continually updated) to ensure our events are getting better and better for people & the planet. Explore the work in progress linked above and see below for another great overview from the past: Guidelines for Ecologically Responsible Events* *Prepared […]

Energy Stewardship & Solar

"Steward Your Energy" graphic with a lightbulb silhouette over a church steeple at sunset

Want to reduce your congregation’s energy usage and save money? You’re in good company! Lutherans have had a tremendous history of being good energy stewards. There are a range of actions we can take– big and small– to make our houses of worship beacons of sustainability and respond to the call to “touch the Earth […]

Church Bulletin and Newsletter Input

A calico cat resting on a blanket next to a laptop and cups of coffee

There is plenty of information “out there” on how we can make steps to live a life with less of a negative impact on our neighbors and bring the Outside in… but that’s only if you happen to go looking for it. Perhaps adding a few simple pieces of inspiration that can work for your fellow […]

Consider Caring for Creation Coaching

Grid of smiling people on a Zoom video call, including Phoebe Morad

What is ELCA Coaching? Click here for a Ministry Description Why would you need a Creation Care Coach for your Synod or Congregation? To help transform the action plans, resolutions, pledges, etc. into active progress by having a trained individual accompany you/your team as you ensure goals are clear and attainable. How can you find a […]