One Thing All Episcopalians Must Consider By January 7th

The Episcopal Church’s budget is organized around the Anglican Communion’s 5 Marks of Mission. When I scanned the proposed budget, I noticed that the 5th Mark of Mission hardly had any resources allocated to it, especially compared to the first four marks. What is that 5th mark?

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. (citation)

The integrity of creation is important, right? However, the resources currently allocated represent less than .2% of the churchwide budget, by far the smallest amount allocated to any of the five categories. This makes even the appallingly small 3.09% allocated to faith formation look good!

When I saw the Mark 5 allocation I was concerned but stymied. I knew it would not be helpful to say “We have to spend more money on this aspect of ministry!” without providing a plan for actual work. And I had no idea how to develop a decent plan for actual work. So I said nothing. (Also, I was so happy with the functional process for the budget that I didn’t want to be critical unless I could also be constructive!)

But late last week I received a wonderful plan for actual work, developed by three environmental missioners in Province I (New England). The Rt. Rev. Bud Cederholm, retired Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Massachusetts, the Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Missioner for Creation Care, Diocese of Western Massachusetts, and the Rev. Stephanie Johnson, a priest in the Episcopal Church of Connecticut, have developed a proposal for Mark 5 Mission work and are asking Episcopalians to write to the Finances for Mission Team to support it. Here’s their plan:

• $550,000 for diocesan and provincial grants, including green grants, clergy education and formation, internships, camp programs for children, advocacy training and diocesan green committees;
• $100,000 for a three-year cycle of summer training programs for seminarians;
• $120,000 for “train the trainer” retreats to assist lay leadership in supporting greening congregations;
• $125,000 for pilgrimage/wilderness retreats/eco-justice training for young adults;
• $100,000 for youth camp gatherings to empower and train leadership in climate change;
• $25,000 for scholarships for GreenFaith Fellowship programs;
• $450,000 to reinstate staffing dedicated to the 5th Mark of Mission (full time plus support staff)

The proposed work would cost the church $1.47M. Mark 5 would still be the lowest-funded of the 5 Marks at slightly more than 1% of the total budget. But it would be something important: it would be a new beginning.

As a church we are mandated by our Creator to tend God’s creation. We currently have no coordinated method for doing so, despite the fact that we are some 2 million people strong and steward significant resources for ministry. This is a sign that we lack both faith and wisdom. Churches which lack faith and wisdom tend not to thrive. After all, we are in the faith and wisdom business.

The proposed plan of action would help us develop a coherent program of care for creation. It would be a sign that we seek to be faithful to God and neighborly to all who call earth home. It would indicate growth in faith and wisdom and as such, it would foster renewal. I think every Episcopalian should consider supporting this plan of work.

To support this plan of work, you have to act soon. Comments on the proposed budget close January 7.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Open the Budget Comments form. Enter some basic demographic information in response to questions 1-4.
2. Scroll down to question 7. Type your own words, or just copy/paste these: “I believe the church is called to steward creation. I support the following proposal to do so:”
3. Copy the bullet points above, paste them into the same panel.
4. Click “Done” and you’re done.

That should take you less than 2 minutes. (Of course, you can spend more time reading, reflecting on and responding to the budget if you like. Isn’t it wonderful to have a functional budget process?)

But here’s the bottom line: I think you have two minutes to tend creation and foster renewal in the Episcopal Church today.

I know I do.