During the 70th General Convention in 1991, our responsibilities as Episcopalians to care for creation were delineated in a Resolution entitled Affirm Environmental Responsibility and Establish an Environmental Stewardship Team, 1991-a195.
“Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirming our responsibility for the earth in trust for this and future generations:
“Declares that Christian Stewardship of God’s created environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency;
Calls on all citizens of the world, and Episcopalians in particular, to live their lives as good stewards with responsible concern for the sustainability of the environment and with appreciation for the global interdependence of human life and the natural worlds; and
“Urges all Episcopalians to reflect on their personal and corporate habits in the use of God’s creation; to share with one another ideas for new responses; and to act as individuals, congregations, dioceses, and provinces of the Episcopal Church in ways that protect and heal all interdependent parts of creation. Such action should include prayerful theological discernment and factual knowledge. It should also consider global and local links and the balance of environmental integrity with economic sufficiency for human living; and be it further
“Resolved, That the Episcopal Church, acknowledging the sovereignty of God and God’s call to us in the servanthood of Christ, continue to engage environmental issues, passionately caring for the earth and striving to live into the promises and mandates which are ours as stewards of creation; and be it further
“Resolved, That this Convention calls upon the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to appoint an interdisciplinary, multicultural Environmental Stewardship Team, 14 members, representing each Province and a broad spectrum of Church membership, whose gifts and expertise are suitable to the task. The mission of the Environmental Stewardship Team is to educate, motivate and facilitate congregations, dioceses and provinces toward local and regional plans, advocacy and action. The Team will work with other environmental groups of common interest …”
