A COVENANT TO ENJOY AND CARE FOR EARTH COMMUNITY

f  Affirming that we live in a mysterious, awe-inspiring universe that carries the imprint of Divine Creativity, and

f  Acknowledging that human beings have created and continue to create conditions that endanger the very air we breathe, the water we drink , and the land from which comes the food that sustains us and

f  Reaffirming one of our core values, that calls us through consciousness raising and practical projects to protect Earth and promote the wise use of its resources, equitably shared for the benefit of people everywhere,

We, the people of Maryland Presbyterian Church, covenant with each other and with God and with Earth itself that in every aspect of our life and work we will cherish and care for Earth. 

Community Life

In worship, we will give thanks for the blessings of the ever-evolving creation, we will acknowledge our failures to live up to our responsibilities as covenant partners with God, to live in healthy and sustainable ways, and we will reflect on the meaning of our covenant responsibilities.  Through our education programs we will strive to learn how to contribute to the well being of Earth, and act upon that knowledge in our community and individual lives.    Each of our committees and other groups will identify and respond to the environmental effects of their actions.  We will reduce energy consumption and reduce waste and we will encourage all those who use our buildings to do the same.

Land and Property

We affirm that in the management and care of the land and buildings entrusted to us we are called to employ sustainable practices.   We will maintain the property with the least possible negative impact on the natural resources. When caring for the grounds we will take care to restore, protect and enhance their beauty and their natural resources, while creating a sanctuary for God's creatures who share our neighborhood and our Earth.

Individual Actions

We affirm that our covenant responsibilities extend to our individual and family lives beyond the church campus and we will promote and encourage environmentally sustainable practices in our homes and places of work, educating ourselves about how our decisions impact the environment.

Environmental Justice

We affirm that the healing of Earth and fair sharing of its resources are integral to the peace and justice principles of our faith tradition.  We will act to reach and to interact positively with the poor and disenfranchised both locally and internationally and to identify and find solutions to environmental injustices.

Partnerships

We affirm that the resources of Earth are to be enjoyed by all peoples and that care of Earth is a shared responsibility.  We will participate and partner with other faith-based, interfaith and secular environmental organizations who love Earth and promote good practices and policies. 

Annual Goals

Affirming our intention to grow and improve in our capacity to be truly caring of Earth, each year, with leadership from our Environmental Stewardship Action Group, we will establish specific goals and annually evaluate our success in attaining these goals.

April 20, 2008