Developing an Ethos for

Creation Care in Faith

Communities
Debra Schneider

St James Catholic Community

Sussex/Menomonee Falls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tYd
OIqvpqg

Laudato Si Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABRl
2ZSs58E&list=PLt5PsPjJAk0b9BYRHUAxnlKMIv7qyZca

CRS - Care for Creation

Everything is connected. Concern for the

environment thus needs to be joined to a
sincere love for our fellow human beings
and an unwavering commitment to
resolving the problems of society. [#90]

The climate is a common good,

belonging to all and meant for all. [#23]

Integral Ecology

CARE FOR PERSONS IN POVERTY

CREATING A CULTURE OF SOLIDARITY

We need to strengthen the conviction that we are

one single human family. [# 52]
An interdependent world makes us more
conscious of the negative effects of certain
lifestyles, models of production and consumption
which affect us all
more importantly, it motivates us to ensure that
solutions are proposed from a global
perspective, and not simply to defend the
interests of a few countries. [#164]

WATER

A MORAL & SPIRITUAL ISSUE

INTEGRAL ECOLOGY: to live in simplicity and
harmony with God, with others, with nature
and with oneself.
We have everything and yet happiness
escapes us.

The universe as a whole, in all its manifold

relationships, shows forth the inexhaustible
riches of God. [#86]

Whether believers or not, we agree today that

the earth is essentially a shared inheritance,
whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone.

Disregard for the duty to cultivate and

maintain a proper relationship with my
neighbor, for whose care and custody I am
responsible, ruins my relationship with my own
self, with others, with God and with the earth.
[#70]

ULTIMATE CONCERN

AUTHENTIC LIFE
FOCUSED ON GOD

When human beings place themselves at

the center, they give absolute priority to
immediate convenience and all else
becomes relative
It is also the mindset of those who say: Let us
allow the invisible forces of the market to
regulate the economy, and consider their
impact on society and nature as collateral
damage. [#122-123]
A technological and economic development
which does not leave in its wake a better
world and an integrally higher quality of life
cannot be considered progress. [#194]

WE ARE NOT GOD

The earth, our home, is beginning to look more

and more like an immense pile of filthThese
problems are closely linked to a throwaway
culture which affects the excluded just as it
quickly reduces things to rubbish.
Our industrial system has not developed the
capacity to absorb and reuse waste and byproducts
a circular model of production capable of
preserving resources for present and future
generations, while limiting as much as possible
the use of non-renewable resources, moderating
their consumption, maximizing their efficient use,
reusing and recycling them. [#20 &21]

Its Not Our Job to Convince

It is our job:
to inform about

Ecology - Connectedness
Church Teaching | Peoples Stories

to bring people face to face with people and

creation in crises
to help people see the moral importance of
community and love of neighbor
To create awareness about our current &
future impact
To listen

Spirituality of Change

Speaker

Discussion

Book?

Fresh

Film?

Quality of
Food to
Poor

St. James Ecology and the Poor

SVdP/HC
Sharing

Concern
for the
Poor

Quality of
Food to
Poor

Community Garden & Dignity for All

SERVING
SOS

ORGANIC

COMPOST

From speaker to whats next?

Small group sharing of
concerns
HEALTH
Building on points of
consensus
Parish leadership support
Face to face concern for the
poor human dignity

Inclusive always inviting

Champion to move it
forward
Integrated into multiple
parish efforts
Long term commitment
In Solidarity face to face

PLANT SALE

Care for the Poor | Sharing the Gift

Tools to Inform, Engage,

Create Action
Ecological Display | One Simple Act
Its never enough just to tell people about some new
insight. Rather, you have to get them to experience it in a
way that evokes its power and possibility. Instead of
pouring knowledge into peoples heads, you need to help
them grind a new set of eyeglasses so they can see the
world in a new way.
--John Seely Brown, Seeing Differently: Insights on Innovation

What Is The End Vision For Your

Congregation?
What will the community look like?
What will people be doing?

What will the congregation be doing?

Accomplish tasks or integral shift?
Congregation change? personal?
or both?

Establish a Team | Set a Mission

What Is Happening in Your

Community?
What Are Members Concerned About?
What Is Their Experience?

Observation
One on One Conversations
Listening Sessions
Survey Events
Think Program vs Events or Projects

Spirituality of Change

Does Your Program:

Have pastoral or staff leadership/support?
Resonate with the community?
Have leaders with sufficient interest,
energy and skills to initiate and maintain
activity?

Connect with your communities concerns?

Integrate into prayer, worship and the life
of your community?

Make it easy for people to respond and be

involved?

Checking In

Lessons:

State an achievable goal

Research is critical
Be in Solidarity
Listen to your
community
Create connections
Find a wider network
Need a champion
Pastor/staff support
The poor are always
with us

The Big Picture

Long term, flexible and

evolving plan
Continuously invite
Continuously inform
A part of prayer & worship
Expect a subset of the
community
Make actions/change easy
Politics are inevitable
Patience
Spiritual support and
prayer
Its not about me