The earth's resources are being damaged, diminished, and destroyed. As God's stewards charged to care for the creation, faithful Christians need to determine--individually and corporately--what their responsibilities are for that creation.
To that end, in this retreat participants will work to create policies and practices for their congregations to empower them to be good stewards. Together they will explore concepts of consumerism and stewardship; become familiar with issues related to land, air, water, and recycling; identify priorities; and develop policies and practices to bring to the congregation.
It's important to note that this retreat will not deal just in theory. By the end of the retreat, church leaders and others will have created a list of specific actions they will suggest to the congregation. Along with the suggestions for action will be detailed goals and developed timelines for moving toward committing to a green action plan.
Ideally, a team composed of at least four people who are well informed about environmental issues and familiar with the congregation will be available to lead this retreat. They can be part of the retreat planning team or invited by them.
The study content for the retreat is adapted from the Thoughtful Christian study pack titled "The Green Study Pack." The first study session will introduce the participants to the issues of consumerism and the practices of stewardship. Next, participants will consider the environmental issues of water, land, air, and recycling. Collectively, the whole group will identify their concerns and determine five specific actions for the congregation. Finally, participants will develop actual goals and outcomes for each action.
Retreat Participants
While this retreat design was originally created for the leaders in your church, it would also work well with groups comprised of adults who are interested in green practices, even if they are not prominent leaders of your congregation.
Study Pack Used in This Retreat