Washington, D.C. played host to a number of Earth Day 2012 activities and many students joined Renewal in the celebrations. Students came from Houghton College (NY), Messiah College (PA), Eastern University (PA), Waynesburg University (PA), Trevecca Nazarene University (TN) and Dallas Baptist University (TX).
Sunday morning, students gathered for worship at the National Cathedral. Dr. Matthew Sleeth, executive director of Blessed Earth, delivered the sermon, Are Christians Blessing or Cursing the Earth – A Call to Action. Students also witnessed the launching of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance and a forum with Dr. Sleeth and esteemed author, poet and farmer, Wendell Berry.
Students worshipping at the National Cathedral.
Students gathered on Monday morning at the White House, where they met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials, the executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership and the President’s deputy assistant for energy and climate change.
Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Houghton College students.
During the White Hosue briefing, students joined other faith leaders in unveiling the Green the Golden Rule Quilt. The quilt, which is the shape of the United States, was made from donated and recycled clothing from across the country. Renewal and other organizers plan to take the quilt to various college campuses in the coming year with the “Green the Golden Rule” message.
If you are interested in having the quilt come to your college, send an email to info@renewingcreation.org
All photos are taken by Chris Elisara.
Additional media coverage from the weekend:
Think Progress:
Religious Youth To Obama: ‘Creation Care Is A Swing Vote For Many Evangelicals’
Sojourners:
White House Earth Day Briefing Offers Hope, Reminds Us There Is Still Much To Do
