In her ministry of environmental advocacy, Leah Schade has become a “fracktivist,” taking on the industry at such places as this drill rig in the Tiadaghton State Park in Lycoming Country, Pa.


‘Fracking threat- ens water, air, public health and contrib- utes to climate change. It is the “perfect storm” of environmental devastation.’


tists and individuals who either worked in the industry or were favorable toward it. Aſter more than two years, they


were able to agree that exemptions from regulations enjoyed by the fracking industry were unjust. “In 2014 our synod assembly


voted to ask our legislators to close the so-called ‘Halliburton Loop- hole’ and put the industry under the same laws as everyone else,”


Schade said. “Fracking threatens water, air, public health and contributes to climate change. It is the ‘perfect storm’ of environmental devastation. Faith is absolutely essential to this work because it can be very depressing facing the devastating realities of ecocide.”


Larry Rasmussen


Larry Rasmussen, professor emeri- tus of social ethics at Union Teo- logical Seminary, New York, N.Y., has harbored deep concerns for the environment since the early 1970s during the first energy crisis. Ten he was already teaching a course in environmental studies, energy and ethics at Wesley Teological Semi-


nary, Washington, D.C. Rasmussen’s interest has not waned: “I’m passionate


about this because all of us together have to find a way through the high-stakes standoff between the global human economy and nature’s economy. We’re wrapped in a contradiction of our own making: the human economy needs to expand to continue growth, but that same economy needs to contract in order to prevent catastrophic climate consequences.” He has lived these words by being involved in faith-


based environmentalism with the World Council of Churches, in his community and in congregations. Among his nine books is Earth-Honoring Faith: Religious Ethics in a New Key (Oxford University Press,


2012), which earned the 2014 Nautilus Gold Prize for the best book in the ecology/environment cat- egory. He leads a decadelong project


‘All of us together have to find a way through the high- stakes standoff between the global human economy and nature’s economy.’


Larry Rasmussen


of the same name that meets yearly to focus on environmentally based themes. Regarding the conundrum of the human economy


versus the environment, he asserts, “Either we change the economic model or we change the laws of nature. Since we cannot do the latter, how are we to live? What way of life is mandated, given our responsibility for present and future generations? How we are to live is the question of discipleship. “Faith offers renewable moral-spiritual energy for the


journey. I will do what I can, arm in arm with others, to help make the hard transition from industrial civiliza- tion to ecological civilization.”


Things individuals and families can do to help save the planet:


20 


For more ideas on how congregations can help save the planet, see www.thelutheran.org/ features/april.


Get outdoors. Turning off electronics and being out in creation—wherever you live— is the first (literal) step toward presence to the world.


Walk and bike on errands. While human-powered transportation takes longer, it’s fun and life-giving.


Eat less meat, switch to locally produced meat and/or join a CSA (community supported agriculture) program to support local agriculture.


Pray outdoors in all weather.


Get a home energy audit and implement as many of its findings as you can.


Compost your food waste, a big step toward reducing landfill volume, and use the results in a garden to grow your own food.


Get to know the neighbors: migratory songbirds, native flow- ers, invasive species, honeybees and other insects. Avoid use of pesticides.


Join local or national climate advocacy efforts through the ELCA or other environmental organizations: shared action is empowering.


Recycle, reuse, repurpose, make your own: the spirit of creativ- ity and play is the best antidote to consumerism.


Explore wilderness in whatever forms it may present itself to you. Lisa E. Dahill


Dahill is associate professor of worship and Christian spirituality at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.


ELIZABETH YENCHKO


SISTER JOAN BROWN


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52