A Letter to the United States Senate from Religious Leaders
in Support of Conservation-based Energy Legislation
Dear Senator:
As leaders of major faith communities, we write to you, our Senators, at a moment of great moral urgency for our nation and the planet, God's children and God's creation. We caution Congress not to adopt an energy policy based on short-term regard for long term solutions. On May 18, 2001, 41 heads of major denominations and senior religious leaders joined in issuing "Let There Be Light: An Interfaith Call for Energy Conservation and Climate Justice." In this document, they lifted up the moral stakes of a sustainable energy policy:
"At stake are: the future of God's creation on earth; the nature and durability of our economy; our public health and public lands; the environment and quality of life we bequeath our children and grandchildren. We are being called to consider national purpose not just policy."
Drawing upon scripture, the statement affirmed the importance to consider long-standing principles of faith and values concerning all of creation: stewardship, covenant, justice, prudence, solidarity, and intergenerational equity. Today, more than ever, these precepts should guide our action. Recent events remind us of the intimate link between the safety of people and the reliability of our energy system. Efforts to preserve the environment are ever more clearly necessary in order to protect human life. Security and sustainability are inextricably linked.
We agree with President Bush's statement on October 11th that "The less dependent we are on foreign sources of crude oil, the more secure we are at home." Yet, it is clear that we do not have sufficient domestic reserves to replace foreign oil supplies. Conservation and reducing our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels is critical to achieving energy independence and can be accomplished in economically responsible and economically beneficial ways.
Concerning energy use, we believe that conservation and the development of the cleanest technologies possible are the wisest, most just, and most prudent means to fulfill our moral obligations to ensure the health and well-being of the American people and people around the world now and for generations to come. We have interfaith climate change campaigns in 21 states which are educating congregations on the link between energy conservation and renewable energy sources that benefit climate change reduction.
Rooted in moral values and concern for God's creation and God's children, we support several energy policy initiatives:
• Raise substantially vehicle fuel economy across the board in the shortest feasible timeframe, and require SUVs and minivans to meet the same standards as passenger cars.
• Develop strategies to encourage the auto industry to further design and produce vehicles using hybrid-electric, fuel cell, and other promising clean technologies, and provide incentives for their purchase.
• Support substantially increased funding for inter-city rail and metropolitan mass transit to provide attractive and functional alternatives to single occupancy autos.
• Fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and increase it with the least possible environmental damage.
We strongly oppose policies that would allow drilling or mining in our nation's dwindling wild lands and places important to the traditional cultures of indigenous peoples. We specifically oppose drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Conservation is a morally superior alternative to drilling in such places. Furthermore, conservation is also more effective, providing much greater benefits that are more permanent, rather than a modest and short-lived increase in oil supply.
Alongside energy concerns that relate directly to oil, we have longstanding distress about other health and environmental effects of energy policy, including global climate change. Therefore, we support policies that would:
• Invest significantly more resources in renewable energy research and development with a focus on wind, geothermal, solar and biomass technologies.
• Include carbon dioxide as a regulated pollutant from power plants.
• Apply the strictest feasible energy efficiency standards to consumer products - including air conditioners.
• Increase funds for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and other programs to alleviate economic hardship on low-income people caused by high-energy prices.
Now is the time to embrace energy conservation and efficiency and alternative energy development as the central strategies of our nation's energy policy. The energy policies we adopt in the coming debate must reflect our resolve as a nation to be faithful to our values and to fulfill our obligations at a time of national crisis.
God calls humans to strive toward shalom -- peace, justice and harmony for all of creation. We have called on our congregants and communities to practice energy conservation as part of our values. Now we urgently call on the United States Congress and the Administration. The same energy policies that will help achieve peace for humankind by reducing our dependence on oil will create greater harmony within creation by protecting the environment.
Together, we can achieve energy solutions that embody and promote justice, stewardship and inter-generational responsibility. We urge you to consider and consult these values as you evaluate the energy policy options before the nation and work to pass responsible and effective legislation.
Sincerely,
{signatures as of December 21st follow}
ACADEMY FOR JEWISH RELIGION
Rabbi David Greenstein, President
ALEPH: ALLIANCE FOR JEWISH RENEWAL
Rabbi Daniel Siegel, Rabbinic Director
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES
Dr. Robert H. Roberts, Interim General Secretary
ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE OF NORTH AMERICA
The Most. Rev. Metropolitan Philip Saliba
CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS
Rabbi Paul J. Menitoff, Executive Vice President
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
The Rev. Judy Mills Reimer, General Secretary
CONGREGATION ADATH SHALOM, DC
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Trustee, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL, NJ
Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Trustee, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop
GREEK ORTHDOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrious
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY CHURCHES
The Rev. Michael E. Livingston, Executive Director
KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
The Rev. Dr. Seung K. Choi, General Secretary
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE USA
Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar, General Secretary
PATRIARCHAL PARISHES – RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
The Most Reverend Mercurius, Bishop of Zaraisk
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Friend Thomas Jeavons
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA
Reverend, Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk
RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY
Rabbi Joel H. Meyers, Executive Director
Rabbi Vernon H. Kurtz, President
RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTE
Rabbi Lee S. Paskind, Chair
RECONTRUCTIONIST RABBINICAL COLLEGE
Rabbi David A. Teutsch, President
Donald Shapiro, Chairman of the Board
REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA
The Rev. Wesley S. Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary
RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER OF REFORM JUDAISM
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director
SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH
His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Patriarchal vicar for the Easter U.S.
UNION OF AMERICAN HEBREW CONGREGATIONS
Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President
UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONS
Rev. William G. Sinkford, President
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
The Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President
UNITED SYNAGOGUES OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Executive Vice President
ZEIGLER SCHOOL OF RABBINIC STUDIES
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean
|