September 9, 2010

WASHINGTON – Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are showing a greater interest and concern in energy issues, according to Mary Minette, director for environmental education and advocacy, ELCA Washington Office.

"This is demonstrated by the congregations that are planning services and vigils on Oct. 3 to pray for the recovery of the Gulf of Mexico and the people who have signed a petition to Congress regarding the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico," she said.

Oct. 3 is designated by the National Council of Churches USA (NCC), as a national day of prayer and remembrance for the long-term recovery of the people in the Gulf of Mexico. The ELCA is a member of the NCC.

Among the actions already taken throughout the church to encourage reduced energy usage, 10 of the 65 ELCA synods adopted "energy stewardship" resolutions. Some synods are also creating care for creation teams to discuss ways to lower consumption.

The synods issued a common call for congregations, synod offices and outdoor ministries in each synod to reduce energy use and related carbon emissions over a specified period of time.

The synods also asked the ELCA at its 2011 Churchwide Assembly to challenge the church to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and to share this commitment and steps taken with the church.

The 10 ELCA synods that passed similar energy resolutions were Metropolitan Chicago, Metropolitan Washington D.C., Metropolitan New York, New England, Northern Illinois, Northeastern Iowa, North/West Lower Michigan, Rocky Mountain, Sierra Pacific and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast.

According to the Rev. Daniel Smith, pastor, Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Davis, Calif., the action by the synod assembly of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, Sacramento, Calif., illustrates that "people felt strongly about speaking out on energy issues."

"There are a variety of opinions regarding climate change, so we focused on our overconsumption and maldistribution of resources," said Smith.

The Rev. Sarah S. Scherschligt, associate pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, Md., said there was "a synergy" in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod for environmental issues.

"There was a combination of people understanding where we are in the world and an urgency from a faith perspective how this is part of our call. In our Bible studies we looked at the commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve to look after creation. We talked about justice and the degradation of the earth, not just environmental justice, but justice for low-income people," she said.

"The interest that people in the pews have for this is pretty huge out here. In the area where I live we have a very well-informed public whose jobs aren't tied to different environments," said Scherschligt. She said there are areas of the country where talking about energy issues is more complicated.

"One of the areas we are looking at is to make our synod assembly greener, such as having fewer assemblies to decrease traveling, as well as reducing the paper printed for assembly and going electronic," Smith said.

"There are big challenges … but it remains this is the only way forward, we have to do this. People are looking for ways to help and need tools to do it," he said.

Both Smith and Scherschligt plan to organize retreats or similar educational opportunities in their synods to discuss energy and environment topics.

Information about the energy stewardship resolutions and ELCA energy and environment resources is at http://www.ELCA.org/caringforcreation/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service