Touch the Earth gently

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” - Genesis 2:15

God called us to care for the earth responsibly, to share its fruits, and to preserve it's beauty and keep it for future generations.

The Earth has not been well cared for. Natural resources have been used without regard to sustainability. Pollution of the land, the air, and the water has affected our health and has led to loss of animal and plant habitat. Pristine and untouched areas have been despoiled. All Creation is threatened.

On April 19, 1989 the Session of the Towson Presbyterian Church adopted the following:

“God gave people responsibility for the use and care of the earth and all life upon it. To be faithful stewards, it is necessary to coexist with and safeguard all of God's creation.

In order to be faithful to God the Towson Presbyterian Church adopts the policy that everthing we do, or allow others to do, in this church we will work toward a cleaner, safer environment. We will use, whenever possible, products made from renewable resources; and will sustain and effort to find new ways to preserver God's creation.”

In 1989, we also joined a program of the PCUSA {Presbyterian Church (USA)} in a Peacemaking Commitment to “make Peace with the earth and involve the congreagation in efforts to protect and restore the environment.”

In 1992, Towson Presbyterian Church agreed to be an Environmental Justice Covenant Congreagation. We promised to protect and restore Creation in the following ways:

• in our WORSHIP services,

• by TEACHING children and ourselves about ways to treat the earth more gently,

• by ENCOURAGING individuals and congreagations to ADOPT LIFESTYLES of consuming, conserving and sharing that promote a sustainable environment, and

• by SUPPORTING PUBLIC EFFORTS that are just to the vulnerable and the poor.

The Earth Corps aims to involve the congregation of TPC in carrying out these efforts to preseve and restore Creation by doing the following:

• Using reusable products instead of Styrofoam;

• Recycling paper in church offices.

• Selling fair-traded coffee to support small farmers who grow their coffee in an enviromentally safe way.

• Urging members to recycle ink jet cartridges from their computers – inks are harmful even in landfills.

• Providing special programs for the entire Church School during Earth Month in which they experience nature and are inspired to treat God's earth with respect;

  • Reading special books to preschool children

  • Engaging youth in planting trees at Cromwell Valley Park

  • Planting BayScapes garden on Church grounds.

• Providing books on caring for Creation in both the Bookworm (children's) and Church Library.

• Including in worship and prayer references to appreciating and respecting the earth with which we have been blessed

• Arranging for Plumbline speakers on topics related to caring for our enviroment

• Calling attention to the web sites...

  • Presbyterians for Restoring Creation

  • National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program

Earth Corps Members are:

We meet the first Monday of the month at 11:00AM in the Library.  Please join us.

Earth Corp PDF pages...

EarthCorpBrochure

Pledge to Heal and Defend