Request for re-allocation of Ecojustice Funds
Resolution text
Resolved, That the request of the Task Force on the Care of Creation and Environmental Racism, having been reviewed and recommended by the Joint Standing Committee on Mission Within the Church, to use $45,000 from budget line item 165 (Ecojustice ) for an Ecojustice program per the attached request, is approved.
Explanation
In the previous triennium, the Advisory Council on the Care of Creation was tasked with supporting three ecojustice sites across the church to launch pilot projects with congregations, local advocacy groups and dioceses to respond to local environmental injustices. Funds were earmarked for the continuation or selection of three more sites. While some progress was seen, particularly in the project in the Dominican Republic, the current Task Force on the Care of Creation and Environmental Racism began to realize that this type of eco-justice work might be better done if capacity across the church was expanded and deepened rather than limiting the work to three locations.
The Task Force recognized that the church and the cause of justice would best be served if people could be informed, inspired and engaged in eco-justice through accessing available data on environmental issues and offering training resources. In this way, the currently allocated funds would be re-purposed to expand the knowledge base about eco-justice, help create local and regional leaders who can advocate for fair and equitable environmental solutions and begin the process of healing from environmental degradation and destruction. The Task Force sees this new effort as part of a multi-pronged capacity building effort which will create a faith based environmental movement across the church that will be broad-based, sustainable and long term.
Specifically, the currently allocated $45,000 will be spent as follows:
- $20,000 to further develop the Episcopal Asset Map functionality to allow overlays of relevant data with corresponding map keys with search capability at the local level.
- $10,000 to provide access to national on-line trainings on how to use the Asset Map, StorySharing, social media and on-line resources for Eco-Justice mission. These funds would be particularly focused on partnerships with impacted, marginalized and overlooked populations of ministry units within the Episcopal Church.
- $10,000 to provide digital resources via redesigned Creation Care webpages and social media channels currently not utilized fully. These funds would be particularly focused on engaging young people in the eco-justice work as a means of evangelism and reconciliation.
- $5,000 to complete StorySharing projects housed in the Asset Map and to build out the network of eco-justice practitioners.