Resources available for American Baptist churches in Vermont
Did you know that The American Baptist Church passed a resolution on global warming in 1991 that calls for American Baptist institutions and individuals to deepen the understanding of creation and the gifts that God has bestowed us while joining in local, national, and global efforts “safeguard the world’s atmospheric integrity” by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions?
This resolution, which expands upon the 1988 Policy Statement on Ecology that notes our responsibility to God for the care of creation (Genesis 1:1, 11-12) and of God's displeasure with humanity's misuse of creation, calls for Baptists acknowledge the role of their faith within creation and to act as part of a “unified creation” by decreasing their contribution to global warming. As a local measure, the resolution cites building and renovating homes and churches to be energy efficient, buying ecologically-conscious products that consume less energy in production, and creating educational programs with energy conservation components. At a responsive, macro-level, the resolution summons churches to support legislation that increases fuel efficiency in vehicles and encourage an international treaty that specifically targets reduction of greenhouse gases. The full text can be found at: http://www.abc-usa.org/resources/resol/globwarm.htm.
Many Baptist churches in Vermont are currently trying to fulfill this mission. Several interviewed by Middlebury College students in fall 2004 as part of a project with Vermont Interfaith Power and Light, provide suggestions for ways to do this.
The Springfield-Calvary Baptist Church in Springfield follows the ideas elucidated by the resolution on global warming by decreasing the church’s energy use. In addition to recycling and using compact fluorescent lightbulbs, the church encourages the congregants to carpool to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The Bennington First Baptist Church in Bennington cited the Statements of Concern from the American Baptist Church and echoed sentiments of the resolution when speaking of their sermons which reinforce ideas of stewardship and that although creation was a gift from God, it does not mean that we can take advantage of it. The church also encourages recycling and is upgrading its electrical system to make it more efficient. They also noted this upgrading had the additional benefit of being financially beneficial.
The United Church of Lincoln in Lincoln exemplifies using ecologically-conscious products by using Seventh Generation bathroom supplies, which are sustainably- produced. The issues of ecological preservation are global warming are discussed in sermons as well as coffee-time discussions. The Church has sponsored Green-Up cleanups, pulling of the invasive species along the river, recycling, and various land-based activities including an interfaith tree planting ceremony which facilitated connections to other faiths under the understanding that they all sought to preserve the Earth because, in each faith, it had an aspect of sacredness and is crucial to life.
See resources for other religious groups:
American
Baptist
Episcopal
Jewish
Roman Catholic
Society of Friends (Quakers)
United Methodist
Unitarian Universalist
Zen Buddhist
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Interfaith Environmental
Awareness and Action in Vermont:
A
Service Learning Project with Vermont Interfaith Power & Light