Connection · Awareness · Action
The EcoFaith Network seeks to bring congregations together as we build awareness and work towards building a more sustainable, just, and equitable community. As a network, join together to take action for a new vision of God’s creation.
“As Lutheran Christians, … We celebrate the vision of hope and justice for creation and dedicate ourselves anew. We will act out of the conviction that, as the Holy Spirit renews our minds and hearts, we also must reform our habits and social structures.” –ELCA Statement on Caring for Creation
Current Campaigns
The Ecumenical Water Initiative is a collaboration of leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA, Minneapolis Area Synod), the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME, 4th District), the United Methodist Church (UMC, MN Conference), and the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC). As an ecumenical cohort of faith leaders, we build connections around water stewardship and water justice.
This initiative is an opportunity for congregations to learn about water stewardship in their own backyards and build ecumenical relationships. From hosting a watershed presentation to leading intergenerational activities, to taking on a project, we connect our faith to the water that surrounds us. Contact m.troyer@mpls-synod.org to learn more about how your congregation can get involved.
Rural Electric Co-Ops are a unique avenue for people to directly engage with local energy decisions, to move us toward more just and healthy energy systems.
To put it simply, it matters where our energy comes from. Is the energy source sustainable? Does it exacerbate climate change and cause harm to ourselves and our neighbors? Who has access to renewable options, and who is currently left out?
Electric Co-Ops have a key role in shaping our energy choices and are democratic entities. As people of faith, we can engage these cooperatively-run utilities, challenging board members to greater and more equitable investment in renewable energy. Specifically, EcoFaith is engaging the Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) in the south metro area of the synod. . Together, we can build communal power to influence change as we imagine what the future can hold.
The high cost of energy improvements is one of the inequities that is built into the energy system. Inclusive Financing is a program that changes how energy upgrades are financed, to remove the barriers on the individual lower energy bills through home improvements. Inclusive financing is one way we can help bring equity to our energy work.
The EcoFaith Network is part of a statewide coalition to work towards 100% renewable energy through legislative policy solutions.
“To change everything, we need everyone.” This is a campaign about bringing people together to fight for equitable clean energy. We need everyone to act together to ensure the wellbeing of one other, our neighbors, and our futures.
Resources
- Watershed Toolkit
- Energy Tool Kit
- Growing Our Power take home event
- We are working on collecting a library of EcoFaith resources from across the synod. If you have a great EcoFaith resource to share please submit it here.