Sustainability policy
With love and the laws of nature, God has created an ecosystem so complex that it is difficult for humans to distinguish between what is useful and what is not. We depend on the whole. Humans have been given the power to rule as well as to cultivate and care for creation (Mos 1.) Jesus is a role model when it comes to holding power and responsibility. He always takes a stand for those who are hurt. He always speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves.
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Ps 24:1)
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:31)
All humans on earth depend on natural resources such as fresh air, clean water, land for a healthy food supply, safe housing and an ecosystem that daily takes care of waste products and builds up new natural resources.
The Western lifestyle with very high consumption of energy and goods has so far required large amounts of raw materials and has caused pollution that degrades the quantity and quality of natural resources and ecosystems. As a great number of people are adopting a Western consumption pattern, the pressure on common resources increases. The consequences are an increased risk of conflict and ill health that further marginalizes people and communities with little resources. Humanity faces a very big challenge to develop its society so that it can be sustainable in the long-term for everyone – today and for future generations, which the UN member states have also decided on through Agenda 2030 and the 17 global sustainability goals.
Immanuel Church has a responsibility to protect God’s creation and thus love its neighbor. We confess sharing the blame but also express our strong will for change.
Immanuel Church shall therefore actively work for:
- a sustainable church’s consumption of goods and services in the long-term as possible,
- the theological and pedagogical development to include perspectives on sustainable development
- the participation of congregational members, visitors, and companies as well as other stakeholders – and to be inspired by – the church’s work in terms of sustainable development,
- a work characterized by continuous improvements in line with the development of knowledge
Anchored in the United Church’s sustainability work and in Immanuel Church’s ministry plan, an action plan must be drawn up each year to concretize the focus of the sustainability work above. In the following annual report, successes and setbacks in the sustainability work will then be reported.
The board is ultimately responsible for the church’s work regarding sustainable development with the support of the Sustainability Committee appointed by the annual meeting. The sustainability committee should include at least one representative from each language group. It must also include at least one adjunct staff representative with time set aside in their position to coordinate the work. This policy shall be publicly available on the website.