Religious Outreach

Earth Day: Something We Can All Believe In

Earth Day Network’s Communities of Faith Climate Campaign educates leaders and members of religious communities to bring climate change education and opportunities for civic activism to those associated with religious life, self-described population of more than 250 Americans.

Earth Day 2008

After the success achieved on Earth Day 2007, when EDN was successful in creating 12,000 sermons and religious events through outreach to leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths, we took it to the next level for Earth Day 2008.

In coordination with the National Council of Churches, the Religious Coalition on Creation Care and other inter-faith organizations, EDN integrated faith based Earth Day observances into nation wide Earth Day 2008 actions. We activated 500,000 parishioners in areas of the country that have not responded to the climate crises in support of climate legislation that invests in renewable energy and the creation of green jobs and helps low-income Americans transition to the new green economy.

In light of the opportunity provided by Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States this year, Earth Day Network reached out to Roman Catholic parishes across the country, inviting them to participate in Earth Day Sunday, April 20, 2008.

Our fax campaign reached out to thousands of parishes, and the response was overwhelmingly encouraging. Many churches pledged to join us for Earth Day Sunday by including climate change and equitable sustainability in their homilies, post information in their weekly bulletins, and/or offer intentions for the environment during Mass; others filled us in on their year-round parish green programs.

two Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington DC also carried an interfaith message of care for the planet, with Reverend Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals, Rabbi Warren Stone of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Farah El-Sharif of the Georgetown University Muslim Students Association, and Paul Maus of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The Pulpit Pledge

Faith leaders from across the U.S. and Canada are preaching on global climate change as a moral issue. If you are a religious leader, we encourage you to sign Earth Day Network’s Global Warming in the Pulpit Pledge , and mark your commitment to preach on global warming. Lay leaders can join this movement by inviting your faith leader to sign the Pledge.

If you want to inspire the world with your Earth Day sermon, send us the video of your religious service and we will post it on Earth Day Television. For more information on how to do this, email communications [at] earthday.net.

Illinois Synagogue Receives LEED Platinum Certification

The Jewish Reconstructionist Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois, has just become the first house of worship in North America to receive the prestigious Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ranking from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Rabbi Brant Rosen said: "More importantly, this singular accomplishment represents our commitment as Jews to value of 'Bal Tashchit:' the sacred sustainability of our world. Our new building, five years in the planning and building, is an outgrowth of our faith and dedication to being worthy stewards of God's creation: our magnificent earth. Being the first house of worship in North America to receive this designation confirms the spiritual rewards of pursuing a congregation building where faith, religious values, and thoughtful and innovative environmental construction are mutually reinforcing. "

Pulpit resources