Your Congregation  | Increase Awareness| Greening Congregations Handbook

- Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and Hope, Human and Wild; Methodist lay leader; and former New Yorker staff writer

This 225-page Handbook is a “tool box” for all who want to foster creation awareness and care in their congregations. It helps readers actively respond to the question, “Why should people of faith care for creation?” The Handbook also helps congregations develop an enduring, creation-honoring focus within all dimensions of congregational life.  This Handbook is generally the first step towards participating in our Greening Congregations Program.

“The Greening Congregations Handbook is a gift. It is just what the churches have needed – a well-researched, clear, comprehensive, and imaginative ‘how-to’ manual on implementing the ecological vision of the abundant life. Thank you, Earth Ministry, for this splendid present. May we all use it well.”

- Sallie McFague, Carpenter Professor of Theology Emerita, Vanderbilt Divinity School; Distinguished Theologian in Residence, Vancouver School of Theology; and author of The Body of God; Super, Natural Christians; and Life Abundant

“Care for the Creation is central to the mission of the Church. This Handbook explains why that is so and what we are called to do as a result. It is an inspiring yet practical document that deserves to be widely studied and to be prominent in the life of every church and church member.”

- David Orr, Professor of Environmental Studies at Oberlin College and author of Earth in Mind and Ecological Literacy

The Handbook contains the following sections:

· Section One: A wide variety of readings that provide theological and ethical foundations for a creation-awareness/care ministry. Contributors include H. Paul Santmire, George Tinker, Lester Brown, and other local (Puget Sound region) and national creation-care voices. Each of the ten readings comes with a set of questions for reflection and a short bibliography – making each a helpful tool for either personal or group study.

· Section Two: Inspiring insights from congregational organizers on how to begin fostering a creation-honoring vision. Knowing that “one size seldom fits all,” this section presents readers with four different “pathways” for beginning. Each pathway contains organizers’ candid stories of how they began and grew in their greening congregational efforts. The section concludes with a comprehensive strategy for weaving a creation-honoring vision into the entire life of the congregation.

· Section Three: Extensive resources for bringing the greening strategy (from Section Two) to life. This section highlights “getting started ideas” and helpful local and national resources for six dimensions of congregational life: mission statements; worship; education; institutional life (e.g., energy conservation, recycling, green building practices); community outreach
(e.g., eco-justice efforts, hands-on restoration projects); and outreach to broader religious groups (e.g., ecumenical and interfaith gatherings).

· Appendices: Seven additional resource offerings. These appendices include an extensive listing of quotes, worksheets for becoming better acquainted with a congregation or a bioregion, an extensive list of resources by denomination, book and song bibliographies, a sample creation-honoring worship service, and more.

The price for the Handbook is $30 plus shipping.  It may be ordered by calling Earth Ministry (206) 632-2426, online or via printed order form.

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