Earth Stewards

On November 1, 2008, at the 176th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, Bishop Tom Ely announced a newly formed Committee on the Environment. Bishop Ely charged this committee of lay and ordained leaders with supporting and promoting the diversity of ecological initiatives in the Diocese. In December, 2009, the committee requested, and Diocesan Council approved, a name change to "Earth Stewards Committee." The committee believes the new name reflects both the theological foundation for our work as well as the relational nature of the work itself.

Click here for a roster of the Earth Stewards.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Earth Stewards is to foster awareness and deepen understanding of our lives as stewards of God's creation, and to practice environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Goals

1.  To support a commitment to having concern for Creation throughout the Diocese by:

• Observing at least one creation-centered day such as Earth Day, Arbor Day, or St. Francis Day
• Taking consistent steps toward greening our buildings
• Promoting energy conservation in community and daily life

2.  To encourage congregations to protect the earth by:

• Avoiding the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers
• Working toward eating locally

3.  To encourage congregations to protect our water by:

• Avoiding the use of harmful fertilizers
• Not using purchased bottled water

4.  To encourage congregations to protect our air and atmosphere by:

• Measuring and reducing our carbon footprints in our church buildings, using compostable, recyclable, or reusable products wherever possible
• Measuring and reducing our carbon footprints in parishioners’ homes, using compostable, recyclable, or reusable products wherever possible

5.  To provide suitable liturgies, with the assistance as needed from the Earth Stewards Committee, to support these
diocesan goals.

These goals are reflected in the new Key Ministry Area 8, which was added to the Diocese of Vermont Strategic Plan when it was updated in 2010. Find a pdf of the updated plan here.

For previous postings by the committee, visit the Earth Stewards page at www.dioceseofvermont.org.