Answering the Call to the Godly Work of Environmental Stewardship

The Anglican Diocese of Montreal's Stewardship of the Environment committee is proud to announce the launch of its social media platforms. This launch signals our efforts to play a more active role in raising awareness about environmental issues and provide a platform for action across the Diocese. This initiative is informed by the Anglican Communion's fifth Mark of Mission: "To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew life of the earth."

Like faith communities around the world, Anglicans, Episcopalians and Lutherans are heeding the call to act on behalf of creation. We are inspired by the Pastoral Message on Climate Change which was released in September by the heads of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

The message began by saying, "We are united as Christian leaders in our concern for the well-being of our neighbors and of God’s good creation that provides life and livelihood for all God’s creatures."

These Christian leaders encourage involvement. Whether as consumers, investors or voters, we all make decisions that are directly tied to the health of our planet.

"The Holy Spirit’s work in us leads us as faithful consumers and investors in a global economy to make responsible choices to reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and the wasteful consumption of water and other natural resources," the message explains.

Despite the seemingly impossible task of righting centuries of environmental abuse, the four church leaders encourage us to have faith and believe that our efforts are not in vain.

"All who care for the earth and work for the restoration of its vitality can be confident that they are not pursuing a lost cause. We serve in concert with God’s own creative and renewing power," the message states.

In addition to our existing mandate to advise the Diocese and be a liaison on their behalf, we seek to expand our promotion of environmental stewardship and our service as a resource group to parishes. Our action oriented activities over the next year will focus on four key areas:

1. Encourage involvement: We will work together both within the church and with other faith communities to create an inclusive movement.
2. Educate: We will actively engage people on environmental and climate issues with a special emphasis on young people.
3. Communicate: In an effort to shape both public and private policy, we will communicate with a wide range of decision makers.
4. Support a Global Climate Agreement: Using social media and other efforts we will support efforts to secure a Global Climate Agreement in 2015.

We invite everyone to join us as we begin an exciting new chapter of environmental stewardship in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal. We welcome your involvement and your thoughts.

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Source: The Stewardship of the Environment Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal