Mennonite Environmental Task Force (1991-2001)
Mennonite Creation Care Network was preceded by the Mennonite Environmental
Task Force (ETF), which was created following a resolution at
a churchwide convention in Normal, Illinois, in 1989. ETF worked
for 10 years with the General Conference Mennonite Church and
the Mennonite Church. Its mandate was to promote awareness within
the church of how our Christian commitment necessarily encompasses
a concern for God's creation. One of its major contributions
was Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective,
a book on Anabaptist understandings of the environment and theology.
The ETF dissolved in 2001 during the reorganization that created
the Mennonite Church USA.
Mennonite Creation Care Planning Group (2004-2006)
In 2004, Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA re-affirmed
their commitment to support Creation Care. A planning group was
formed which worked for several years to figure out what form
this commitment would take.
Mennonite Creation Care Network (2006
to present)
The Mennonite Creation Care Network was formed out of the planning
process in 2006. It is a mission of Mennonite
Church Canada and Mennonite
Church USA, and is coordinated by the Creation
Care Council, consisting of two Canadian and six American Mennonites.
About 85% of financial support is provided by Mennonite Mutual
Aid, which is the stewardship arm of MC USA. Mennonite Church Canada
and Mennonite Central Committee Canada also contribute. Technical
and administrative support is provided by Merry Lea Environmental
Learning Center, a nature center owned and operated by Goshen College,
Goshen, Indiana.
Mennonite Church Resolutions and Statements
on Creation Care
1977
– Christian Stewardship of Energy Resources
Adopted by the General Conference Mennonite Church. Available at
http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C4806.html
1984 – Statement on the Christian and
the Environment
Adopted by MCC Canada
1989
– Stewardship of the Earth Resolution on Environment and Faith
Issues
Adopted by Mennonite Church General Board and General Conference
Mennonite Church General Board. Available at
1995
– Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective
See articles 5, 6, 21, 22, 24.
2007 – Mennonite Church Canada Faith
and Life Committee Affirmation Statement
Mennonite Church Canada
believes that God longs for the well-being and health of the
whole world, for all of creation is bound together and belongs
to God, who has created and who preserves all things. Our concern for faithfulness and discipleship
should also lead us to care for creation. Mennonite Church
Canada believes that God is calling us to commit ourselves to discern
the paths of faithfulness to be good stewards of the earth.
2007 – Green Assembly Resolution, Abbotsford
2007 (Mennonite Church Canada)
Whereas the earth is an expression of God’s love
and Christ calls us to be stewards of God’s precious handiwork,
be it resolved that Mennonite Church Canada develop guidelines
to reduce the consumption of energy and other resources when planning
future assemblies. Moved by Dave Neufeld. Seconded by
Stan Olson. Carried.
Confession of Faith in a Mennonite
Perspective, 1995 more
Mennonite
Creation Care Network
P.O. Box 263 Wolf Lake, IN 46796
PHONE 260-799-5869 FAX 260-799-5875
Luke Gascho provides leadership for MCCN.
Contact
him at the number above or email lukeag@goshen.edu
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