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Faith groups laud
House and Senate actions protecting millions of acres of God's creation Washington, March 26, 2009 – Faith groups and individuals from around the country have sent messages to Congress this week, encouraging action to protect millions of acres of God’s Creation. The messages support H.R. 146, which gives congressional authorization to the National Landscape Conservation System, protects some of the finest scenic views, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreational activities in the Wyoming Range and establishes new wilderness areas in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The bill, in the view of its faith group supporters, provides Americans with new opportunities to experience the beauty of God’s Creation, and new places to which they can journey to experience God’s presence. “Lands, wilderness, and open spaces have always been central to the Judeo-Christian tradition, playing a vital role in the spiritual journeys of Biblical individuals from Moses to Jesus Christ,” said Jordan Blevins, assistant director of the NCC eco-justice program office. “Stewardship of these places God has entrusted to our care is a critical part of our call to protect creation,” Blevins said. “This is particularly true in the case of our national network of public lands, which embodies the ideals of cooperation, community, equitable sharing of Earth's bounty, utilizing the blessings of the land for the common good, and preserving the stunning landscapes and irreplaceable wildlife entrusted to our care. By voting to protect millions of acres of God’s Creation, Congress took an important step toward assuring that these values and spaces would exist for people of faith of future generations.” The Senate vote occurred on March 19, passing the bill 77-20, while the House voted March 25, passing the bill 285-140. During the two votes, letters of support from 15 faith based organizations, both national and local (listed below) were sent to members of Congress, and more than 2,000 individuals reached out to their congressional representatives, calling on them to protect these vital pieces of God’s Creation. The National Council of Churches, representing 35 communions and 100,000 congregations, has focused on creation care for more than 30 years. Among the highlights of the Council’s eco-justice work are education and worship resources on land stewardship, available at www.nccecojustice.org.
Faith
Based Organizations Signing Letters of Support: NCC News contact: Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell) , pjenks@ncccusa.org |