Presbyterians join 28 partners standing together to care for Creation

The One Home One Future campaign launches nationwide on Monday

by ecoAmerica | Special to Presbyterian News Service

Twenty-nine U.S. denominations and faith organizations have joined together to launch One Home One Future, a multi-faith campaign to strengthen vitality, relevance, and community connection across generations — to care for our shared home — in local congregations nationwide.

Acknowledging the urgency and opportunity of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change goal of seven years to make significant progress toward climate solutions, the 29 partners launched this campaign to make care for Creation more visible, empowering, accessible, and prolific. They chose Oct. 4 as the launch date as it coincides with the Feast of Saint Francis, which is the last day of the Season of Creation and the day that Pope Francis is launching his Laudato sí 2.0. It also falls during Sukkot and just after Milad un Nabi.

“Presbyterians are called to care for all people and all of Creation as we live out our Matthew 25 vision. With this in mind, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is pleased to be part of One Home One Future,” said the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “I look forward to seeing PC(USA) congregations in cities and towns nationwide be part of this wonderful campaign and I am proud to stand together across faith traditions to protect our given and shared earthly home.”

Congregations who participate in One Home One Future agree to visibly lead on Creation care, display the One Home One Future banner in front of their house of worship, and take action within any number of the seven pathways to educate, activate, and empower clergy, congregants, youth, and all spiritual people — progressing beyond the climate activists — in meaningful and just climate solutions at the local, regional and national level. They are supported with a banner, congregational toolkit, a breadth of resources and tools relevant for their faith tradition, and the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other faith leaders and congregations within and across faiths nationwide.

Twenty-nine denominations, including the PC(USA), are joining with other faith organizations to launch One Home One Future. (Contributed photo)

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said,  “We invite all of our congregations to participate, no matter if they have a Creation care team or are just getting started. I look forward to seeing ELCA congregations participate in cities and towns across the country and I am proud to stand together across faith traditions to protect our given and shared home.”

Bishop David C. Rice, Diocese of San Joaquin of The Episcopal Church, said, “We are a faith community completely and utterly committed to Creation care. It is our delight and our pleasure to participate, to engage in the One Home One Future campaign.”

One Home One Future recognizes that each of us can take steps to care for our shared home, every day. Equitable climate action does not have to be a new burden or responsibility; it can and should be part of our existing priorities and enrich our everyday lives. The goal of the campaign is to inspire the participation of tens of thousands of congregations, in every state, over the next seven years. Many denomination leaders are coming together in support of this initiative.

The Rev. Terri Hord Owens

The Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), said, “Our Creation is in our hands. It’s time to commit to making sure that our One Home One Future both endures and is bright with possibility and sustenance for all.”

The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson

The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, noted that “as people of many faiths, we are called to accelerate and amplify our action and advocacy to protect our given and shared home on this planet we call earth. We can make a difference in averting the climate crisis. The United Church of Christ is excited and grateful to be a part of this national faith and climate justice campaign, One Home One Future. I look forward to our United Church of Christ congregations across the nation participating in this campaign along with other advocates and people of faith.”  United Church of Christ’s Rev. Dr. Jim Antal added, “The One Home One Future campaign will show America that denominations and faith organizations are united in our commitment to care for God’s Creation. Whatever your faith tradition, taking action to protect and restore God’s Creation is central to your tradition’s teaching.”

Bishop Vashti McKenzie

Bishop Vashti McKenzie, President and General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, said, “We are happy to be a part of this national faith and justice movement, One Home One Future campaign. We are called to be stewards, protectors, and preservers. As people of many faiths, our collective work is just as important as our individual work. Let’s accelerate and amplify our action and advocacy to protect our given and shared home.”

Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Presiding Bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, said, “The African Methodist Episcopal Church is excited to be part of the One Home One Future campaign. We are called with other faiths to advocate and act for the care, support, and protection of our shared home.”

Rev. Dr. Willie Gable Jr., Director Faith Based Initiatives of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., said, “The National Baptist Convention is excited about participating in the One Home One Future campaign, and our constituent churches all across the United States eagerly await the launching of this campaign.”

Becky O’Brien from Adamah said, “We believe in the ancient Jewish teaching that people and the planet are one, Adam and Adamah. We want and need a natural world that thrives, and this is our warm invitation to you, your neighbors, your congregants, and your communities to join us.  If you’re not already involved, let this be in your portal into action that will strengthen your community and help protect our shared home.”

“Americans believe in their moral responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy climate for their children and future generations,” said Meighen Speiser, executive director of ecoAmerica. “People assume that folks around them — particularly people of faith —are unconcerned when the exact opposite is true. One Home One Future is a testament of how concern can convert into action, and how people of faith can set aside past differences to stand together for our common home.”

One Home One Future invites people and congregations nationwide to participate, no matter if they have been engaging in creation care for some time, or just getting started. Learn more and join here.