World Church Team Reports
Discussion and Information Sessions

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To the First Presidency and the World Conference:

The Earth Stewardship Committee was formed in response to the 1990 World Conference action (WCR 1224) that called for a standing committee to “consider issues of environment and development and to give guidance to the church.” In the inter-Conference period the committee became a team under the World Church Team Leaders Charter.

Strategic Fit into the Organization’s Overall Strategy

Doctrine and Covenants Section 163:4c calls the church to “…bring fresh vision to bear on the perplexing problems of…environmental deterioration.” The team’s primary concern is the identification and promotion of human accountability and responsible behavior toward Earth and its resources in individual, church, and community life.

In the inter-Conference period, the team focused its work by developing specific strategies for each objective given the team by the First Presidency. This plan included: deliverables, priority, timelines, progress reports, communication strategies, and target audience.

Objectives

1. Focus work around the church’s identity, message and mission.

Strategies:

• Accountability of the institution: Request future Peace Colloquy theme: Earth Stewardship

• Identify what is occurring in the World Church fields and mission centers, provide support if applicable, and communicate the stories

• Accountability of the institution: Recommend to the seminary board earth-justice and ethics course work as a requirement or prerequisite for students

• Development of a campground greening policy

• Accountability of the institution: Request World Church Investment Team to include businesses with green indices

• Accountability of the institution: Develop IHQ recycling program, events protocol, energy conservation, and an equipment-purchasing policy

• Develop mission: Assist with the Lifelong Disciples Formation practicum to assure inclusion of Earth steward theology/praxis.

• Work with the Presiding Bishopric and World Church Legal Services to enable 2007 World Conference G-13 Resolution.

2. Maintain an updated Earth Stewardship Team Web page as a communication tool.

• Update the Earth Stewardship Web site, including the downloadable brochure. Add suitable resources as needed.

Inter-Conference Progress on Objective 1
(Focus Work on the Church’s Identity, Message and Mission):

A. Peace Colloquy theme advocacy to highlight Earth stewardship. Result: affirmation to occur within the next three-year period.
B. Contacts about earth stewardship. Result: field apostles, mission center presidents, and interested people contacted.
C. Campground greening policy and checklist. Result: drafted but not finalized.
D. Presiding Bishopric and the First Presidency advocacy about inclusion of green indices to the investment policy. Result: successfully completed. See the World Church Investment Policy.
E. Green-events protocol developed. Result: Successfully presented to the First Presidency.
F. Information and resources presented for Disciple’s Lifelong Spiritual Formation:

1. defining words

2. indicators of discipleship

3. spiral of praxis for developing transformative-education model

4. list of children, youth, young-adult, adult seminary resources

5. a self-testimony of “What environmental discipleship looks like in today’s world.”

G. Changes to the building and loan policies presented to the Presiding Bishopric and World Church Legal Services. Changes include considering use of green, energy-conscious building materials and equipment. This also included completing a letter that requests congregations consider energy audits on their facilities. See the building and loan polices on the World Church Web site.

Inter-Conference Progress on Objective 2:

Maintain an updated Web page for the Earth Stewardship Team. The Web page is to be used as a communication tool about the team’s work.
With help from the IHQ Web team, the Earth Stewardship Team updated the brochure and Web site (www.CofChrist.org/earthsteward).

Miscellaneous

Purchased three books given as a gift to the World Church library:

• From Creation to New Creation by Bernhard W. Anderson

• God in Creation by Jürgen Moltmann

• Theology for Earth Community—A Field Guide edited by Dieter T. Hessel

In Closing

The Earth Stewardship Team continues to work on the objectives listed above. These objectives will guide the team in the 2010–2013 inter-Conference period. We are encouraged by the heightened exposure of environmental issues worldwide. We hope to make our Web site and other resources effective in educating those who want to grow in their understandings of the impact each person has on the Earth, God’s beautiful creation.

Earth Stewardship Team
Bubba Buntz
Ken Campbell
Sandra Ferguson
Erika McCroskey
Brad Martell
Craig Martens
Ed Merz, team lead
Dave Schaal