Ecology

...We believe in God:
who has created and is creating

...We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God's presence,
to live with respect in Creation...

from A New Creed

Recommended by the Justice, Global, and Ecumenical Relations Unit.

Ecological Ethics and Theology

Spiritual Values for Earth Community
By David Hallman.
WCC Publications. $15.45 ea.
UCRD Product #: 800 000 829

Consumerism, economic globalization and violence are becoming the main values by which to live. This book argues that respecting the Earth and building sustainable community call us to live out spiritual values and motivate active engagement for Earth community in Christian and other faith traditions.

Ecotheology: Voices from South and North
Edited by David Hallman.
WCC Publications. $25.95 ea.
UCRD Product #: 800 001 102

A World Council of Churches collection of articles by theologians and ethicists from around the world on theology related to the environment and development.

Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor
By Leonardo Boff.
Orbis Books. $32.90 ea.
ISBN 1-57075-136-6

This book combines hard-hitting social, economic, and political analysis with moving theological and spiritual reflections.

A Place in Creation: Ecological Visions in Science, Religion and Economics
By David Hallman.
United Church Publishing House. $10.36 ea.
UCRD Product #: 800 000 096

Examining the relationship of humans to the rest of creation, this book encourages a new kind of economics that takes the environment into consideration.

Sacred Earth Sacred Community: Jubilee, Ecology & Aboriginal Peoples
Edited by the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative.
CEJI Publication. $10.00 ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 071

The third and final volume of readings compiled by the Theology Committee of CEJI on the Jubilee theme of "Renewal of the Earth." Two common threads run through the essays, poems, and sermons - an awareness of the human need to heal broken relationships with the Earth and with Aboriginal peoples. (296 pages; ISBN 0-96837-147-7)

Video

The Greening of Faith

Reflections on the religious and spiritual dimensions of ecology. Part One is titled "Why the Environment is a Christian Concern" and Part Two is "Ethics." Two-part series, each 30 minutes. Available through AVEL.

Video

Keeping the Earth

A resource that offers religious and scientific perspectives on the environment and calls us to be good stewards of the Earth. Available through AVEL. 25minutes.

Climate Change

Solidarity with Victims of Climate Change
WCC Publications, 2002. $2.00 ea.
UCRD Product #: 800 001 098

An update on the current science of climate change with particular focus on the impact of extreme weather events and the implications for victims, relief and development agencies, and the churches.

Climate Change and the Quest for Sustainable Societies
WCC Publications. $2.60ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 056

A World Council of Churches Study Document on ethical issues related to climate change.

Video

Rising Waters: Global Warming and the Fate of the Pacific Islands

The personal stories of Pacific Islanders are combined with scientific findings establishing that global warming is not something that looms in the distant future but a threat whose initial consequences are already being felt. Available through AVEL. 56 minutes.

Video

Global Warming: Hot Times Ahead?

This environmental resource for children and youth discusses the causes and potential effects of global warming. It offers practical short-term and long-term solutions for industry and individuals to help conserve energy and develop new sources of energy. Available through AVEL. 23 minutes.

Energy

Nuclear Waste: Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas
By Lois Wilson.
United Church Publishing House. $15.95 ea.
ISBN: 1-15534-116-6
UCRD Product #: 800 000 182

After nine years on a federal Environmental Assessment Panel, Senator Lois Wilson, a former United Church Moderator, candidly recounts her thoughts and feelings of the experience. With background on the environmental assessment and the social and technical information the panel examined, this book is required reading for anyone concerned with the short- and long-term effects of the movement of nuclear waste around the world.

Energy Workbook for Religious Buildings
The Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility. $2.00 ea.
Looseleaf, 12 pp.
UCRD Product #: 500 000 082

A step-by-step workbook to help congregations assess the energy use of their buildings and plan retrofits to reduce energy use.

Energy in the One Earth Community: Current Challenges and Future Options for Energy Use in the Canadian and Global Contexts
United Church Publication. ea. $2.00
UCRD Product #: 400 000 013

A booklet presenting the policy statement on energy use adopted by the 37th General Council of The United Church of Canada, including theological and ethical reflections on energy with more specific discussion of current challenges and future options related to a range of energy sources. This booklet also includes a workshop for the study of the statement, a Bible study, and a listing of further resources.

-- Also available online.

Video

Turning Down the Heat: The New Energy Revolution

An exciting new NFB film narrated by David Suzuki which addresses the crisis of global warming and offers renewable energy and energy conservation as economically viable solutions. Available through AVEL. 49 minutes.

Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering: Current Issues, Ethics, and Theological Reflections
The Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility. (KAIROS*)
TCCR and United Church Publication. $15.00 ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 020

This book examines the spiritual, social, and moral dilemmas raised by biotechnology and genetic engineering and offers faith-based reflections on how we might best respond to them.

Genetically Modified Food: A United Church of Canada Study Guide on the use of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Food Production
By Mark Hathaway. A United Church Publication.
$3.95 (Printed Guide) | $24.95 (Study Video)
UCRD Product #s: 400 000 095 (book) | 400 000 100 (video)

This guide has been designed to stimulate discussion on issues related to biotechnology and genetic engineering in food production from a faith perspective. It is designed for use in congregations and other United Church groups as a resource to help engage a wide variety of voices in the development of a policy on the use of genetic engineering in food production. Three study sessions are outlined in the guide, which is supplemented by a study video.

Life: Patent Pending
By The Canadian Council of Churches Biotechnology Reference Group
Canadian Council of Churches. No charge.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 122

This booklet serves as a discussion-starter for people in church networks who want to consider questions related to the patenting of life (or "biopatenting"). While the resource uses the Harvard "oncomouse" Supreme Court case as its central example, these same questions and issues relate directly to the patenting of seeds and the genetic resources of food.

Forests

Model Code

Model Environmental Code of Practice for Forest Land Management
The Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility.
United Church Publication. $2.30 ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 015

Offers an environmental code for forestry companies.

Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles

United Church of Canada STATEMENT

One Earth Community: Ethical Principles for Environment and Development
United Church Publication. $1.50 ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 066

A study for new environmental lifestyle principles. (A Statement of the 34th General Council of The United Church of Canada, 1992.)

Poster

Making Your Church a Creation Awareness Centre
United Church Publication. $1.00 ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 019

An attractive Poster listing ideas for environmental stewardship within congregations.

Study Document

Grounded in Justice: Sustaining Earth Community
WCC Publications. $2.50 ea.
UCRD Product #: 400 000 059

An ecumenical Study Document prepared for the UN's World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, August 26 to September 4, 2002) focusing on issues of air, water, land, energy, and financing for development.

Report

Report on the World Summit on Sustainable Development
Johannesburg, South Africa. August 26 to September 4, 2002
Prepared by David G. Hallman, Climate Change Programme Coordinator
World Council of Churches

A synthesis and analysis of some of the major dimensions within the context of ecumenical engagement. Available on the KAIROS website.*

Water

United Church resources for Lent 2006 focus on the theme of Water, Spirituality and Justice. See the Water in Focus page for more details.

For more information, contact:

• Joy Kennedy
  Program Coordinator, Ecological Justice
  Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 4069
  E-mail: Joy Kennedy