Green Chalice News
A monthly e-newsletter from the Creation Care ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
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Green Chalice
is a partnership Creation Care ministry of Disciples Home Missions and the Christian Church in Kentucky.
Our mission is to connect Christian faith, spiritual practice, and creation consciousness in order to demonstrate the fullness of God's shalom.
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Disciples Home Missions
 Christian Church in Kentucky
Blessed Tomorrow
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CTS Selected for Green Seminary Initiative
 Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) is one of four U.S. seminaries selected to participate in the Green Seminary Initiative's first pilot cohort. Co-hosted by GreenFaith and Drew Theological School, the Green Seminary Initiative works with seminaries to raise awareness of the religious community's responsibility to protect creation and turn back human-caused environmental destruction. The initiative coaches and prepares seminaries to equip students with the skills to lead congregations, communities and organizations in protecting and restoring creation. Read more |
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Sustainable Investing
 More than any other subject, Jesus talked most about money and how we use (or abuse) what we are blessed to possess. Our actions, including how we spend money, make a difference to the health and sustainability of the sacred and good earth on which we all live and move and have our being.
Whether we are aware or not, our financial decisions do have an impact on climate. We may not own stock directly in fossil fuel companies, but they may make up the mutual funds in our retirement or investment funds.
In the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus tells us "something that is smaller than all seeds, when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, and the birds come to nest in it."
One single investor may wonder if she is making a difference by divesting from energy extraction companies and re-vesting in clean energy. But together, we can make a big difference through the choices we make with our money and we can teach and model to others in our congregations, universities, seminaries and other ministries.
Submitted by Rev. Brent Reynolds
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Food for Thought
It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the Earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.
Rachel Carson |
Climate Change and Voting
This election is critical in determining how our country will respond to the climate crisis and the commitments we made to the rest of the world in Paris.
As people of faith, we believe that responding to the urgent threat of climate change is essential to caring for God's creation and loving our neighbors.
The United States, a wealthy nation with vast resources, has a unique responsibility to show moral and political leadership by:
Transitioning from dependency on fossil fuels toward a clean energy economy.
Honoring the emissions-reduction commitments our nation made at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris in 2015, and taking additional actions needed to avert catastrophic global warming.
Assisting developing nations - who are least responsible for climate change but most impacted by it - in coping with threats such as increased droughts, floods and sea-level rise by sharing clean energy technology and other supports.
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World Council of Churches and Climate Change
 The present world development model is threatening the lives and livelihoods of many, especially among the world's poorest people, and destroying biodiversity. The ecumenical vision is to overcome this model based on over-consumption and greed. Since the 1970s, the WCC has helped develop the concept of sustainable communities. Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in 1992, the WCC has been present at all UN climate change conferences. Over the years, the WCC helped foster a movement for climate justice touching millions of people around the world, including thousands of congregations who rang their bells for fair and ambitious climate action in 2009 and are connected in prayer each year during Time for Creation. Click HERE to learn more and to sign up for updates. |
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#ButterfliesEffect
 It will take all of us to build a better tomorrow. We cannot wait for another hero to lead us regarding climate change, creation care and justice in our world. It is up to us. Whether it be in youth group, church, our communities or through individual choices we are empowered to brighten the future. Click HERE to watch the #ButterfliesEffect video and then share it! |
Green Chalice Congregations
University Christian Church,
Fort Worth, TX
Click Here for the Full List. |
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Season of Creation
It is that season!
Click HERE to learn more and to get valuable worship resources. |
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Eco-Theology Resource
 Dietrich Werner challenged churches and related religious bodies to respond to today's environmental crisis by answering the question "How can we make our impact felt?" Eco-Theology, Climate Justice and Food Security: Theological Education and Christian Leadership Development, co-edited by Elisabeth Jeglitzka, grew out of a 3-year study process inspired partly by concerns over "climate justice and eco-theology" voiced at the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches at Busan, Republic of Korea in 2013. This publication makes available a range of viewpoints and practical models for Christian leadership development, as well as calls for closer cooperation among the world's religions and is available as a free download.
Click HERE to get your copy! |
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Food and Faith
A Collection of 200 Christian Food and Faith Resources: Check it out |
 All it takes is ... 1. Have an active Green Team. 2. Sign the Green Chalice Covenant as a team or congregation. 3. Make at least 3 changes that demonstrate your congregation's commitment to caring for God's creation. THEN e-mail the following information : 1. Congregation name, City, State, address and phone number; 2. the date the Covenant was signed; 3. and the changes made by your congregation to walk more gently on God's creation. |
Sharon Watkins on Climate
 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
All of creation waits for us...to step up to preserve our God-given planetary home. How long must creation wait?
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 Peace and Grace to You!
Rev. Carol Devine
Minister for Green Chalice
Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri
Associate Minister for Green Chalice
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