Sierra Club Cosponsors Christian Book Tour

In early 2008 the Sierra Club is cosponsoring an eleven-city tour to promote Christian author Brian McLaren's newest book, Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crisis and a Revolution of Hope.  Focusing on creation care, global justice, and a concern for the poor, this book calls upon its readers to take action in a time of global crisis. How can people of faith usher in change in the face of unprecedented challenges: global warming, poverty and war? 

Inspired by our shared values of environmental stewardship, global justice and care for our neighbors, the Sierra Club is proud to partner with Sojourners: Faith & Justice Churches, Emergent Village and others, in promoting this message of responsible stewardship. 

Each of the eleven-city events are held on Friday night through Saturday afternoon. In select cities these events are followed by an opportunity to put your faith into action with a service project hosted by the Sierra Club on the following Sunday. 

Learn more about the Sierra Club's Faith Partnerships Program.

Cities and Dates:

*Charlotte, NC (Feb. 1-2)

Boise, ID (Feb. 8-9)

*Dallas, TX (Feb. 22-23)

St. Petersburg, FL (Feb. 29- Mar.1)

*Washington, DC (March 7-8)

*San Diego, CA  (March 28-29)

Chicago, IL  (April 4-5)

Seattle, WA (April 11-12)

*Kansas City, MO (April 25-26)

*New York, NY (May 2-3)

Goshen, IN (May 9-10)   

*Indicates locations where Sierra Club is co-hosting Sunday events.

Comments

[Penelope]

I am wondering why the Sierra Club is sponsoring a faith-based tour. I thought the Sierra Club was purely an environmental organization. I would not support it if Sierra Club is changing its focus. Thank you.

[Carl]

I am wondering why the tour has not happened earlier. I think I will renew my support.

[Christina Yagjian]

Rooted in Common Values: Introduction to Faith Partnerships

The Sierra Club's Environmental Partnerships Program is dedicated to building powerful coalitions with communities of faith. Through public education, organizing resources and materials creation, the Partnerships Program supports Club volunteers and people of faith who want to work together to explore, enjoy and protect the planet.

At its core, environmental protection is really a question of values. Justice, fairness and responsibility. Right versus wrong. Greed and selfishness versus respect for future generations. And we know that people take action because they are moved from their sense of values. That's why so many Americans work so hard to protect the environment at the local, state and national levels - because they care. According to a survey conducted by the Biodiversity Project, 67% of Americans say that they care about the environment because nature is God's Creation.

Sierra Club activists work alongside religious community groups and faith institutions every day. In fact, many Sierra Club members come to their environmental activism from a place of faith. Forty seven percent of Club members say that they attend religious services at least once per month.

For more information please visit: http://www.sierraclub.org/partnerships/faith/

[Patrick Keough]

Growing up I was fortunate to have a father who took our family to almost every National Park west of the Mississippi. He taught us to love the beauty and wonder of our magnificent world.
I am so proud to be a member of an organization like the Sierra Club that does such a great job keeping us informed with the latest news issues conserning our fragile envirement; and a conduit through which our voices may be heard.
Concern for the state of the environment is a value shared by many people
of various beliefs. I hope that this thought
is kept in mind as we sponsor this Christian book tour. I would seriously, and sadly, consider withdrawing my support for this great organization if we become so closely affiliated with one particular religous group, that we alienate other concerned environmentalists.
We are all in this struggie together, let's keep it that way.
Thank's

[Lisa]

I think some of you are missing the point here. The Sierra Club is not doing this to offend any other religions out there, but they are rather reaching out to religions to bring together a common cause. I'm a Christian, I don't believe we evolved from monkeys (hey, still monkeys around today!), but I think this is great because I have am very concerned about the environment and what I consider caring for God's gift to us - which is all the earth in its natural beauty. I think Sierra Club saw an opportunity with this environmentally concerned author, and saw the opportunity to reach more people. There are a lot of Christians out there, and I'm sure SC will do the same with other religions who share a common concern for the environment should the opportunity present itself. Don't be so sensitive - SC is not taking sides on religion. Let's fight global warming together, and applaud SC for all it's doing to reach people.

[Rosemarie White]

Hello Sierra Club,
It feels a little Johnny-One-Note to sponsor and promote a Christian book only. Didn't you say you wanted to reach out to everybody? How about Muslim communities, Jewish, Eastern religions? let's have some BioDiversity here!
Rm.

[Heather]

Maybe all of you b*tching about Christianity being involved/favored need to look at the Faith & Environment websites list the Sierra Club offers so you can see other religions are recognized too. http://www.sierraclub.org/partnerships/faith/websites.asp Just because people practice any religion doesn't mean they should be ignored by the Sierra Club or any other environmental group. We have a right, and a duty, to care about the environment too. This is simply one way for the Sierra Club to reach those people who need their eyes opened to the cause. Shouldn't it matter most that we work for the same thing and not how we were brought about or what other beliefs we have?

[Mike Morrell]

Wow, what a heated discussion! I can tell you as a lifelong evangelical that many Christians feel about as wary about the Sierra Club as S.C. members feel about evangelical Christians! It looks like we all have a long way to go to build bridges of understanding and action.

I just wanted to chime in because I was at the Everything Must Change event in Charlotte this weekend, and I feel that it was just that--bridge-building and catalyzing. I began my own ecological awakening several years ago after hearing Brian McLaren and similar voices share their concerns that Christians weren't doing our part to (in our spiritual language) steward God's good creation. While raised in a home that looked at the ecological movement with eyes of suspicion, I learned from people like Brian that this need not be--that our own history contains visionaries like Francis of Assisi, who insisted that we revere life in all her many forms.

And so. At this event, the Sierra Club represented you and your interests well. Your liaison was a wonderful presence, patiently explaining the mission of the S.C. and ways that all interested people of all faiths (or none) could partner with you in your important work. Further, at the (mostly religious) book table, I purchased a copy of the S.C.-published Paradigm Wars, chronicling the struggle of indigenous people groups amidst globalization. I have been wanting to read more intentionally on land usage and First Nations' peoples, and would not have been connected to this book were it not for this partnership. I hope my story is a modest contribution to everyone's weighing the value of informing people of faith about the Sierra Club's story and mission.

[Ryan]

We need to focus on the things that bring us together here, not our differences. We can not afford for Christians to remain indifferent to the environment ,and those who our already concerned with the environment can not afford to leave Christians out of being a part of the solution, not the problem.

As a Christian and outdoor lover I'm excited to see Christians stepping up to this problem that has remained unspoken about for to long.

[Ryan Fleming]

I am glad that the Sierra Club is not afraid to join with religious organizations. All religions and beliefs need to join together to help educate and draw people towards preserving this earth.

I do not understand why people want to end their support for an organization that strives to incorporate more people (all people actually) to achieve conservation!!