CARE OF CREATION

Website for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Task Force for the Stewardship of Creation, which exists to educate the people of the diocese, to advocate for wise and just environmental policy, and to provide opportunities for service in the stewardship of earth. The group provides information about sustainability resources and activities for parishes and holds an annual retreat and other educational gatherings. The Task Force currently has 90 Liaisons as connections to bring information and activities to parishes.

Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship & Education

The Center is organizing a series of luncheon meetings to bring faith leaders, environmental and civic leaders, scientists and science educators of our region together to explore common ground and the potential for joint work for the stewardship of earth. This group is considering forming a local chapter of Interfaith Power and Light, as well as other ways to collaborate. Contact Ginny Brown, vnbrown@samford.edu and 205-726-4246.

Stewardship of Creation 6-Week Study Guide

The Diocesan Task Force for the Stewardship of Creation has developed a 6-week study guide for Episcopal congregations that can easily be adapted to other faith communities. The Watersheds and Warming Study Guide provides information about the values of Alabama’s watersheds, root causes of degradation, and many strategies to conserve our water resources, reduce our carbon footprint, and live more sustainably as individuals, families and church communities. The Guide will lead a process for learning, planning, committing to action, and celebrating God’s creation. The Guide will be available through delegates to the Task Force for the Stewardship of Creation in October, 2007. Watch www.stewardsforcreation.org for a downloadable version you can use.

Cahaba River Society Faith Initiative

CRS is expanding our popular Shane Hulsey CLEAN program, which provides hands-on river education stream walks and canoe trips for schools, to church youth and family groups. If your church group would like a canoe trip on your local river, contact Gordon Black or Kim Adams at clean@cahabariversociety.org or 205-322-5326. CRS is also offering a speakers tour to church congregations, enlightening them with breathtaking pictures of the Cahaba and informing them of practical things they can do at home and as a citizen. Contact Beth Stewart at 322-5326 and beths@cahabariversociety.org or Kim Adams to schedule a speaker.

Care of Creation Group Activities

• Alabama Water Watch Stream Biomonitoring. Consider leading a Stream Walk on or nearby church property (see the Diocesan Task Force website for a guide sheet: www.stewardsforcreation.org). Pursue further training in stream biomonitoring. (Go to https://aww.auburn.edu/ and click on Living Streams Workshops.)

• Talk about your class forming an Eco Team as suggested in Gershon’s Low Carbon Diet. Notice the watershed/climate change connections. Go to: http://www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd/ Click on Cool-Community Tele-Training.for information about a free two-hour online training course.

• Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat on church grounds and/or at home, work or school. https://secure.nwf.org/backyard/certify.cfm.

• Lead a study group on Eradicating Global Poverty: Study Guide on Millennium Development Goals. Include our life style impacts. (Each rector in the Diocese of Alabama has a copy. Also see http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/)

• Organize an Energy Audit at home and/or at church. (See our Task Force audit, Save $, Save the Earth: Energy Audit for Churches online at www.stewardsforcreation.org.)

• Lead a group to study the Southeast Episcopal Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Care of Creation CD and Study Guide. (See Task Force website: www.stewardsforcreation.org.

• People come from around the southeast and across the country to canoe the Cahaba River and see the lilies blooming each year in May. www.cahabariversociety.org and Kim at

205-322-5326.