| Working out of a Christian
conception of environmental stewardship, EarthCare
seeks to
promote ecological awareness and action in the
Christian community through monthly meetings, annual
conferences, retreats, projects, and resource distribution.
In addition to welcoming all interested individuals
to its monthly meetings at Chattanooga State Technical
Community College, EarthCare holds one-day annual
retreats as well as two-day annual Christian Environmental
Stewardship conferences. Through the EarthCare
Speakers Bureau, speakers are available to give
presentations in the greater Chattanooga area on
various topics pertaining to Christian environmentalism.
EarthCare publishes and distributes a variety of
resource guides about personal and institutional
creation care, biblically-based stewardship, eco-theology,
and recommended books about Christianity and the
environment. In addition to its electronic newsletter,
EarthCare Times, EarthCare keeps members
informed about environmental news and events through
an
email update list. EarthCare also distributes the
Evangelical Environmental Network’s congregational
earth-keeping kit, “Let the Earth Be Glad.” Books,
periodicals, and videotapes are freely available
to members through the EarthCare library.
In addition
to initiating and supporting creation care in Christian
homes and churches, EarthCare models environmental
stewardship by hands-on creation care projects,
such as maintaining a segment of Highway 58 through
the Tennessee Adopt-A-Highway program. |
| Christianity |
United States of America
(Tennessee) |
| 1994–Present |
EarthCare was organized
by a group of volunteers in 1994 to help Christians
learn about their
environmental responsibilities and to encourage
people of faith
to become involved in caring for God’s
creation. Its initial project was a conference
in the spring
of 1995 in Chattanooga; since then, a spring
EarthCare conference has been held every year.
In 1997, EarthCare
became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and
began holding annual fall retreats. Its members
have
spoken in local churches, and EarthCare has been
a frequent exhibitor at fairs and community events.
In 2000 and 2001, EarthCare published a series
of resource guides on Christian environmental
stewardship. Today EarthCare is an enthusiastic
organization
involving men and women from various denominations
who are active in creation care projects and
educational outreach. EarthCare has recently
adopted new future
goals, which include: hosting its spring conference
every other year rather than annually and developing
more community activities, educational programs,
and nature-oriented Christian fellowship events
(e.g., hiking, birding, and camping) that will
help Christian people share their love of God’s
creation and actively care for it throughout
the year.
|
| “EarthCare is
a Christian organization that exists to promote
creation stewardship within
the Christian community. It seeks to raise environmental
awareness and encourage participation in church
and community projects through various educational
and advisory programs . . . as well as by being
actively involved ourselves as a model for others
to follow. EarthCare also exists to provide a medium
for fellowship, interaction, and inspiration for
Christians concerned with the biblical mandate
to be stewards of God’s creation.” |
Although EarthCare
has no formal partnerships with other organizations,
it cooperates with many
other groups. It receives funding from foundations
and church agencies, welcomes displays and speakers
from environmental organizations at its conferences,
and provides educational materials and speakers
to local congregations. EarthCare’s supporters
and co-sponsors of past events include:
First
Baptist Church of Chattanooga
The Southeastern
Synod of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The
Scenic Cities Beautiful Commission
The McClellan
Foundation
Memorial Hospital
Chattanooga
Environmental
Education Alliance
The Evangelical Environmental
Network
Opening the Book of Nature
Chattanooga
State Technical Community College |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
| None Listed |
EarthCare, Inc.
PO Box 23291
Chattanooga, TN 37422
Dr. John P. Rossing
Ph: 706.278.3979
Email: jrossing@alltel.net
Dr. Jerry Faulkner
Ph: 423.697.2560
Email: jerry.faulkner@chattanoogastate.edu |
