The Final Report of the ecumenical energy working group

Year Published:  1982
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX2679

Abstract: 
The ECUMENICAL ENERGY WORKING GROUP was formed in the spring of 1981 by several Canadian churches to answer the question: "What would the churches do in relation to energy if we were both faithful and well-informed?" Since then a group of church representatives and project staff have met regularly to explore the many aspects of this issue. They published an interim report and two newsletters prior to the FINAL REPORT.

Quoting from the "Summary" of the FINAL REPORT, the working group has this to say: "We are now confident that the way to proceed is to be commited to and so to undertake "congregationally-based action' set in the contest of "local ecumenical energy network' that is jointly sponsored by many churches and religous organizations.

"By congregationally-based action we mean to indicate that the main location of thought and action about energy issues should be local congregations, and through them, the homes of members of local congregations."

"By local ecumenical energy project we mean projects that are undertaken ecumenically and sponsored jointly by several congregations within local community. Such projects would be developed and planned locally.

"By jointly-sponsored energy network we are acknowledging that, while the prime focus for action should be local, ecumenical and congregationally-based, there are some tasks which require a national rather than local focus. We think primarily of the need to ferret out, analyze and order information and to identify resources so that these can be effectively used by congregation. Such work may take place in several cities, by various persons, but all would share our commitment to encouraging and enabling local ecumenical congregationally-based action. What is required, then, is a national network which links together the hundreds of persons in and out of churches who are interested in an are willing to be supportive of local, ecumenical congregationally-based energy action. We are recommending that national churches and religious organizations jointly sponsor the creation and operation of such a network.