Resources

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) enable each country to create a unique set of commitments to undertake and measure the progress of its own climate response, including an obligation to review what has been achieved every five years. The NDCs’ review process provides an opportunity for people of faith to express the vocation to safeguard creation in a way that to effective change. Faith actors can participate in the relevant local and national processes together with civil society and other actors in the respective countries.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has been engaged in climate related advocacy since the 1970s. The aim of this guide is to explain the NDCs, and the faith-based perspective that LWF member churches can contribute. Link

The Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice social statement explains the ELCA’s teachings on ecology and the environment, grounded in a biblical vision of God's intention for the healing and wholeness of creation. Link

The Synod Creation Care Ministry team wants to help build a faith formation at your church that  gives God the honor and glory for the abundant gifts through which God’s good creation sustains all life.     Link

This site provides a wealth of resources including information on why Lutherans care for creation, effective climate communication, and the impact of climate change on hunger. Link

A member at Living Water Lutheran Church, Stevensville, MD. is working to energize his congregation with a project focused on caring for creation and is exploring Bee City USA as a possibility. Please see the link to find out more about this organization. Also, please review their Native Plant Gardens template for creating pollinator gardens. [Link] Bee City USA

Through Blessed Tomorrow, faith leaders work to reach 100% clean energy, prepare for a changing climate, and engage their communities, while maintaining the distinct voices of their traditions. They are partnering with the ELCA to provide resources for communications and engagement. Link

The Web of Creation was established to foster the movement for personal and social transformation to a just and sustainable world from religious perspectives. The Web of Creation has also been developed to provide information and connections for theology students interested in environmental ministry. Link

By Leah D. Schade. Leah is the Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. An ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for nearly twenty years, Leah earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). Link

IPC is dedicated to educating, supporting and motivating people and communities of faith in the Chesapeake watershed to care for the Earth and all its inhabitants, beginning with their own home, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Formerly known as the Chesapeake Covenant Community, IPC envisions a time when faith communities throughout the Chesapeake region will have a deep appreciation of the sanctity of Earth and will care and advocate for it through their words and actions. Link

Interfaith Power & Light is mobilizing a religious response to global warming. The mission of Interfaith Power & Light is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Link

Blue Water Baltimore’s purpose is to use community based restoration, advocacy, and education to achieve clean water in the Baltimore watersheds. Much of our work is around cleaning up communities, planting trees, and other greening practices. This helps improve the way a community looks and feels in addition to improving environmental conditions. Link

The Living Planet Report is the world's leading, science-based analysis on the health of our planet and the impact of human activity. Knowing we only have one planet, WWF believes that humanity can make better choices that translate into clear benefits for ecology, society and the economy today and in the long term. Link

The Chesapeake Bay Trust awards more than $10 million in grant funding each year to hundreds of nonprofits and community organizations throughout the region for hands-on projects that are ensuring a cleaner, greener, healthier Chesapeake. Link

Does a green lawn equal a green choice for the environment? Link