RESOLUTIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Adopted by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina in Convention

Transcription

1 RESOLUTIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Adopted by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina in Convention In compliance with Resolution : Resolved, that the 194 th Diocesan Convention requests the Chartered Committee for Environmental Ministry to compile past resolutions of past diocesan conventions on environmental stewardship and make this compilation available on the diocesan website Environmental Guidelines for Diocesan Institutions and Individual Church Members Resolved, That the 175 th Diocesan Convention urge our churches, diocesan institutions, Diocesan House, the Diocesan Convention, and other diocesansponsored events become models of good stewardship of God s creation by studying and implementing actions such as the following: Providing recycling bins for aluminum cans, glass, plastic, office papers and newspapers, taking collected items to collection sites, or serving as a drop-off point; 1. Using china, glassware, silver or paper products when serving food or drinks, and avoiding the use of polystyrene or hard plastic; 2. Using recycled paper; 3. Limited the use of colored paper; 4. Photocopying both sides of paper when possible; 5. Minimizing or eliminating the use of chemical sprays; 6. Emphasizing energy-efficiency; 7. Establishing earth stewardship committees in all congregations; 8. Incorporating environmental education into all Christian education programs and encouraging the development of positive attitudes regarding stewardship of the earth; 9. Encouraging members to work for local and national legislation to prevent continued environmental change. Be it further resolved, That this Convention commend the congregations that have already begun programs of education and action, and be it further Resolved that individual members of this church be guided by these principles of stewardship in their personal and business lives. EXPLANATION Since the environmental crisis is intrinsically a religious issue and since leading scientists throughout the world warn us that the nineties may be our last chance to reverse the trend of destruction of life on the planet as we know it, the church is called to respond immediately to the plight of planet Earth.

2 1991 Memorial to the 70 th General Convention to Establish a Standing Commission on Environment and Sustainable Development Resolved that the 175 th Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina meeting in Durham, North Carolina, January 24-26, 1991, memorializes the 70 th General Convention to amend Canon to establish a Standing Commission on Environment and Sustainable Development. Explanation Memorial to the General Convention supports The Presiding Bishop s Consultation on Environment and Sustainable Development who have called this new Standing Commission. The issue is so complex and so demanding that no present Standing Commission is able to address it with the depth and knowledge that is required. The Consultation calls for the appointment of persons who will be able to help design program and action and also work with congregations and dioceses. Memorial to the 70 th General Convention to Establish an Office of Environment and Sustainable Development Resolved that the 175 th Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina meeting in Durham, North Carolina, January 24-26, 1991, memorializes the 70 th General Convention, meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, July, 1991, to respond to the crisis of Creation in all its dimensions by giving it its highest priority, and be it further Resolved that they establish an Office of Environment and Sustainable Development to develop a program to provide theological education, worship and action for our Church, and be it further Resolved that this office work directly with all faith communities, locally and globally, and maintain a liaison with government, scientists, environmental organizations and others.

3 1992 On Commendation and Acceptance of the Stewardship Commission s Publication, Caring for God s Creation: Called to be Stewards That the 176 th Diocesan Convention meeting in Winston-Salem January 30- February 1, 1992, commend the Diocesan Commission on Stewardship for its publication, Caring for God s Creation: Called to be Stewards. That the Bishops, clergy, and delegates to this Convention make healing and restoring God s creation a top priority in their lives and ministry, accepting and implementing these guidelines, where appropriate, in institutions, parishes, businesses, and personal lives and urging others to do likewise. That Rectors and Vicars are strongly urged to take a leadership role in seeing that vestries establish a Committee on Environmental Stewardship in their churches On Endorsing a Green Budget for the State That the 177 th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina endorse the concept of a Green Budget for the state of North Carolina that requires permit fees for companies that release pollutants into the natural environment to be set at levels that will adequately fund the inspection and enforcement functions of the regulatory agencies which have oversight of water quality, air quality, sedimentation and erosion control, and mining operations. In Support of the Maquiladora Standards of Conduct That the 177 th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina support the Maquiladora Standards of Conduct that establish ethical practices which corporations must follow with regard to environmental contamination, health and safety practices, fair wages, and a social responsibility to the local community; and that copies of this resolution will be sent to the Presiding Bishop, the Bishop of Mexico, the President of the United States, North Carolina Members of Congress, and Episcopal members of the United States Congress.

4 1994 That the 178 th Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina affirms its abiding commitment to social justice and therefore will support and work for environmental justice particularly as it relates to the politically unempowered, people of color, the poor, and those in rural and urban areas who are disproportionately exposed to toxic and hazardous waste, lead poisoning, pesticide contamination, and water and air pollution; and be it further That the Environmental Stewardship Committee of the Diocese be directed to keep churches advised when problems occur in their areas so that members of the Church can respond with positive action On Disposal of Hazardous Waste That the 179 th Convention reaffirm its commitment to justice for all people inside and outside the United States, including those who, because of their race, poverty, and powerlessness bear the brunt of hazardous waste disposal which endangers their health and safety, and be it further That the Diocesan Council through its Social Responsibility in Investments Committee be directed to screen its investment portfolios for environmentally responsible corporate behavior in disposal of hazardous waste inside and outside the United States and to influence corporations to find alternatives to manufacture, use, and dispose of hazardous chemicals pursuing corporate dialogue and shareholder resolutions with these companies, wherever they are located, to assure compliance with environmentally sound practices; and be it further That investors congregations, church institutions, and individuals be encouraged to follow this practice.

5 1995 On Environmental Justice in Warren County That the 179 th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina reaffirm the 1994 commitment to environmental stewardship and justice by urging Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., to keep his pledge to the citizens of Warren County, North Carolina, to detoxify the PCB/Dioxin landfill there without delay now that it is feasible, and therefore to encourage precedents for sound pollution prevention and environmental justice policies for North Carolina; and be it further That a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., to Harold J. Brubaker, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, to Marc Basnight, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate, to Jonathan B. Howes, the State Secretary of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, and to Representative Joseph Hackney, Legislative Environmental Review Commission On the Detoxification of North Carolina s Warren County PCB Landfill That the 181 st Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina urge Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., and his administration to make available without further delay the necessary funding for full-scale detoxification of the state s Warren County PCB landfill and reaffirm the previous commitment of this Diocese to environmental stewardship based on pollution prevention and environmental justice On Establishing a Chartered Committee for Environmental Ministry That the 182 nd Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina authorizes the Diocesan Council to establish a Chartered Committee for Environmental Ministry.

6 1998 On Supporting Detoxification of the Warren County PCB Landfill That the 182 nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina continue its support of environmental justice for Warren County by urging the Governor and the North Carolina General Assembly to include funding in the upcoming budget for full-scale detoxification of the State s PCB landfill in Warren County; and be it further That ecumenical, environmental, political, and civic leaders be urged to join Warren County in seeking support for detoxification of the Warren County PCB landfill On the Recognition of Environmental Work Done by Episcopalians for Environmental Justice That the 183 rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina join with The Chartered Committee for Environmental Ministry in recognizing the excellent work done by the congregations of St. Ambrose, Raleigh, Trinity Church, Fuquay-Varina, and St. Paul s, Cary, through their Episcopalians for Environmental Justice Group in the reclaiming of the wetlands of Walnut Creek; and be it further By this Convention that based on their example and model of leadership other congregations in this Diocese be urged to find ways to initiate and sustain environmental leadership and ministries in their communities.