Earth Stewardship is……
using resources wisely and sustainably.
caring for the natural environment and treating it as something worthy of respect for its own value not just its usefulness for commercial exploitation.
encouraging the human built environment to be healthy, wholesome and sustainable.
trying to discourage and avoid practices that lead to misuse of water resources, accumulation of heavy metals, greenhouse gases and other forms of pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
fostering understanding of environmental issues through education and promotion.
Mission Statement
The Australian Earth Stewardship Team (AEST) will promote World Church Earth Stewardship (ES) Principles and embrace as its mission the encouragement and support of congregations in embodying ES principles. We will do this through aiding congregations to have active ES teams and, where there is sufficient support, to identify potential Australian environmental projects within their communities and geographic locations. We will work towards all church properties and activities in congregational locations reflecting leading practice ES Principles.
Australian Earth Stewardship Team
Don Semmens (Bendigo, VIC), Corey Moore (QLD), Emma Ghazarian (VIC), Linda Hazell (Laurieton, NSW), Lyn Lander (NSW), Tim Prescott (Forster, NSW)
Contact the AEST: AustralianEarthStewardshipTeam@gmail.com
Ideas/stories from congregations around Australia
Earth Stewardship Team visit the Bendigo Congregation
The Bendigo congregation has many initiatives that align with the principles of Earth Stewardship including their community garden and 'Pop-Up' op shop which benefit both the church and community. During the visit the AEST joined with the congregation to up-cycle/ re-purpose old t-shirts into some useful bags!
Community Gardens Flourish at Ferntree Gully and Bendigo
In 2015, Ferntree Gully Congregation established a Community Garden at the church with vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. A local committee, with support from the local council and generous suppliers, has arranged monthly Open Days for the local community creating opportunities to “grow” relationships with nature and people. A great story of earth stewardship in action.
Bendigo Congregation has also agreed to establish a Community Garden at the front of the church and to include the church youth club and local community in the planning and implementation process. It has become a real conversation starter with the local community watching the early stages with interest.
Thoughts to consider:
Do you think growing fruit and vegetables encourages generousity?
Working together on shared projects increases the resilience of communities.
What is a “earth stewardship” related project that would benefit your community?
(Images: The Communitity Garden at Ferntree Gully, ready for the underplanting of natives. Bendigo Community Garden is a mixture of ornamental and productive plants.)
A Focal Point for Peace in the Frankston Community
During 2015, utilising the skill of volunteers from within the Frankston congregation, a Peace Garden was constructed in an area that adjoins the west side of the chapel. The Peace garden, which has a grassed area with seating, a peace pole with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages plus a wooden dove, continues to provide a focal point for those seeking a quiet space to reflect on creation.
Thoughts to consider:
Are there quiet places for reflection in your community?
Could you help maintain or create communal spaces?
Reuse and Recycling through Sorting Rubbish in Perth
Perth Congregation Earth Stewardship Team took advantage of an opportunity when the City of Stirling introduced a three bin waste collection system in 2015. They reorganised the waste handling in their congregation by adopting a two bin system in their kitchen, with recyclables now separated from general waste. They have also made available information explaining the new system for their congregation to encourage everyone to participate.
Thoughts to consider:
Do you know whether your local council has recycling or green waste collections?
Could you handle rubbish better at home or in your organisations?
How could you help others understand why sorting rubbish is a step towards better Earth Stewardship practice?
Cleaning up Australia... One Piece of Plastic at a Time
Some younger members of John’s River Congregation get together with their friends each year to pick up rubbish on Clean Up Australia Day (first weekend in March). This is a great chance to do something practical for the environment, have some fun with friends and teach Earth stewardship principles.
The local beach often gets plastic washed up because of ocean currents and we find all kinds of interesting things... some of which have been in the ocean for years. Photo from 2013.
Thoughts to consider:
Are there areas in your community that could use a clean up?
Do you have some friends that aren’t afraid to muck in and get things done?
It’s not hard to organise an official clean up site or join an existing one.
Contact us
If you’ve got some great ideas about Earth Stewardship or would like to discuss some of our great ideas, please get in touch.
AustralianEarthStewardshipTeam@gmail.com
