Articles

Interreligious Sustainability Project

The Interreligious Sustainability Project is an initiative to engage religious congregations in the Chicago region in faith-based reflection and learning about sustainable development, leading to action.

Whether we look from Buddhist perspective, or Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Baha'i, Unitarian-Universalist, Muslim, or Sikh, we can find scripture which instructs us to live in harmony and peace with the life around us. It is our task as humans to give life to these teachings.

Guided by science we understand that the Earth is in crisis. The Earth is approaching - or may even have exceeded - its carrying capacity, primarily as a result of the consumption patterns of the US and other developed nations. Ecology shows us the delicate balance of relationships between plant species, non-human animal species, and humans on the planet - and how easily this balance can be disturbed.

Guided by faith we can come to see that every relationship is an opportunity for right relationship. We can gain from what science has to teach us without losing our sense of hope - that current relationships, however out of balance, can be transformed and the Earth sustained for our children and great grandchildren.

The Interreligious Sustainability Project moves faith into action. Through grass-roots organizing we are working to create communities of faith across all religious lines in neighborhoods, cities and towns all around the region. Our Sustainability Circles are made up of lay people and clergy from all religious backgrounds, working together to build agendas for action by the faith community to care for the environment, work toward economic justice, and build community.

Today, we have circles in operation or in development in the suburbs of Evanston, Pak Park, at the Cook/Lake County Line in the vicinity of LaGrange and Hinsdale, and Naperville, and in the Chicago communities of Hyde Park, Humbolt Park and Austin. New members are always welcomed into any of these groups. Each Sustainability Circle works toward the creation of a local agenda within the vision of One Creation, One People, One Place, the project's faith-based vision statement for our region. Together, these action agendas developed by the seven individual circles represent an agenda for the region to enhance equity, learn to live together, and care for the living creation.

To learn more about any particular circle or about the project in general, please contact us. You may e-mail the project organizer, Clare Butterfield, at clare@cnt.org, or call her at 773-278-4800x125.

Project Sponsors
Center For Neighborhood Technology
Chicago Program On Ecology, Justice, And Faith
Chicago Theological Initiative For Eco-Justice Ministry
Metropolitan Alliance Of Congregations