A System of Too Much

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion.
—Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching 

Father Richard names the tension created by gospel teachings on simplicity and cultural expectations of abundance:  

Most of us have grown up with a capitalist worldview which makes a virtue and goal out of accumulation, consumption, and collecting. It has taught us to assume, quite falsely, that more is better. It’s hard for us to recognize this unsustainable and unhappy trap because it’s the only game in town. When parents perform multiple duties all day and into the night, that’s the story line their children surely absorb. “I produce therefore I am” and “I consume therefore I am” might be today’s answers to Descartes’ “I think therefore I am.” These identities are all terribly mistaken, but we can’t discover the truth until we remove the clutter.

The course we are on assures us of a predictable future of strained individualism, environmental destruction, severe competition as resources dwindle for a growing population, and perpetual war. Our culture ingrains in us the belief that there isn’t enough to go around, which determines most of our politics and spending. In the United States there is never enough money for adequate health care, education, the arts, or even basic infrastructure. At the same time, the largest budget is always for war, bombs, and military gadgets. I hope we can all recognize how the tragic consequences of these decisions are being played out right now.

F. Schumacher said years ago, “Small is beautiful,” [1] and many other wise people have come to know that less stuff invariably leaves room for more soul. In fact, possessions and soul seem to operate in inverse proportion to one another. Only through simplicity can we find deep contentment instead of perpetually striving and living unsatisfied. Simple living is the foundational social justice teaching of Jesus, Francis and Clare of Assisi, Dorothy Day, Pope Francis, and hermits, mystics, prophets, and seers since time immemorial.

Franciscan spirituality asks us to let go, to recognize that there is enough to go around to meet everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed. A worldview of enoughness will predictably emerge in us as we realize our naked being in God instead of thinking that more of anything or more frenetic doing can fill up our infinite longing and restlessness. Francis did not just tolerate or endure simplicity; he loved it and called it poverty. Francis dove into simplicity and found his freedom there. This is hard for most of us to even comprehend.

Francis knew that climbing ladders to nowhere would never make us happy nor create peace and justice on this earth. Too many have to stay at the bottom of the ladder so some can be at the top. Living simply helps level the playing field and offers abundance and enoughness to all, regardless of our status or state of belonging to religion or group.

Read this meditation on cac.org.

Rhode Island Interfaith Power and Light is a group that advocates for action taken to mitigate the impact of climate change, especially on our most vulnerable citizens. Made up of 29 churches around the state, including several Episcopal Churches, it seeks to:

• raise awareness about climate change and related spiritual teachings
• assist religious communities in promoting energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and other forms of sustainable living
• advocate for public policies that will effectively minimize global warming

They provide resources about congregational greening certification, food and faith, energy resources, etc.

Visit their website at www.ri-ipl.org

The Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN) is a nationwide network within the Episcopal Church USA that coordinates with the Peace and Justice Ministries Office of the Episcopal Church USA. As such we are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and find our roots in the Celtic Spirituality of this tradition. As the grassroots network of Episcopalians from around the United States, the EpEN is helping the Episcopal Church in the USA to advocate and articulate protection of the environment and preserving the sanctity of creation.  This network extends throughout the various congregations, Dioceses and Provinces of the Church and includes interaction with other Christian churches in the USA and around the world.

To learn more and find resources visit: http://www.eenonline.org

The environmental crisis is at heart a spiritual issue. This Study Guide is designed to assist each parish in forming a Discussion Circle, through which each participant can examine the roots of his or her connectedness with God’s creation, both in scripture and in our Christian tradition. The core content explores some of the issues of greatest concern for New Englanders and for people of faith everywhere, for whom the degradation of the environment is an issue of justice for all.

This Study Guide explores ways to live out the promise of our baptism and participate in God’s mission to restore all people and all creation to unity with God and each other in Christ. In support of the Pastoral Letter issued by the bishops of New England, it seeks to:

• Increase awareness and acknowledgement of the urgency of the planetary crisis in which we now live
• Develop cohesive groups that celebrate the gifts of creation and honor the sacredness of all of creation.
• Help these groups take action in ways that meaningfully demonstrate gratitude for the gifts of creation.

THE DISCUSSION CIRCLE

The Discussion Circle approach aims at engaging people of faith in conversation around their core values and spiritual connections with God’s creation. The process used to conduct the group seeks to model the same values we need in caring for creation: Respect, care, and affirming the value of each creature. The objective is NOT for each group to come to agreement or consensus on the issues raised in the Pastoral Letter. It is rather to create a fun, engaging, informative and empowering setting for congregants of our churches to deepen their personal understanding of what it means to “Serve Christ In All Creation.” Through a shared dialogue, they will gain insights into how their fellow participants may interpret the same ideas in different ways. The Discussion Circle process also seeks to motivate participants to take action in ways that have the most positive impacts in their spheres of influence: within their church community, their personal lives, neighborhoods and workplaces. The hope is that a core group of interested and willing people will form within each church, and that this group will continue to seek ways to celebrate the gifts of creation and honor the sacredness of all creation as integral to the work of the church.

DOWNLOAD To_Serve_Christ_in_All_Creation
73 page guide for congregations and dioceses

Getting Started on the Genesis Covenant: Reduce Energy Use, Save Money, and Care for God’s Creation

On the surface, the Genesis Covenant is about reducing greenhouse gas emissions — and thus fossil fuel energy use — from facilities maintained by your parish, school, diocese, or camp and conference center. Just below the surface, the covenant emerges from a place of gratitude for the beauty and gifts of God’s creation. As the Psalmist proclaims, “The Earth is the Lord’s,” and so all we have and enjoy is a gift. Our covenantal relationship with God calls us to preserve that which God loves: all Creation. This guide begins with an introduction to the Genesis Covenant itself and why it’s an important effort within faith communities. The guide continues with summary discussions in the areas of energy audits, financing, and carbon footprints — and suggests resources in those areas. Finally, there is a section on measuring home/individual carbon footprints, and a section designed to answer some important questions that might come up in the implementation of the Genesis Covenant.

What Is the Genesis Covenant?

Most simply stated, the covenant challenges faith institutions to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of each facility they maintain by 50% in ten years. The Episcopal Church adopted the Genesis Covenant at the 76th General Convention in July 2009. In so doing, the church explicitly accepted that challenge, and implicitly recognized the importance of taking practical actions to
address climate change.

Keep it Simple

Before getting into discussions about financing, audits, and carbon footprints — which can sometimes be overwhelming — probably the most important thing to emphasize is to “keep it
simple” and “get started.” Remember, the easiest way to save energy is by not using it. Your parish may not be able to afford new appliances, but it can probably install weather stripping and turn off lights more consistently. After all, more often than not, the most effective way to begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions —reducing energy use — is through relatively simple conservation steps such as:
– Turning off lights
– Turning down the heat/turning up the air conditioning
– Installing weather stripping/caulking around windows and doors
– Insulating hot water heaters, and so on

Learn more: DOWNLOAD Genesis_Convenant
31 page guide for congregations