The Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota

The Creation Care Network (CC Network) is an informal group in the Diocese. Our goal is to bring Creation Care into the liturgy and educational programs. Some people call this the "greening" of religion. Greening means renewing our commitment to Creation Care through education, reflection, and action. Creation Care suggests a religious duty to care for God's Garden- "this fragile Earth, our island home".

It is important to know that we distinguish religious Creation Care activities from secular environmentalist activities. While the secular environmental groups focus on public policy, the Creation Care goal is to change hearts and renew faith. If people reflect on the spiritual Creation Care message and decide to act as a person or congregation, perhaps they will change their persona\ behaviors, or affect public practices and government policy. A hopeful message is the foundation of religious Creation Care thinking, not a message of gloom.

Our methods are described in three words - Education, Reflection, and Action. This model is used by most churches. Education - The Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Diocesan CC Network have many educational resources. Reflection - religious leaders must help with reflection. Action - that's up to individuals.

Let's clear up one thing for starters. About the acronym TEC, in South Dakota, we think first of Thunderhead Episcopal Camp, but this is also the acronym of The Episcopal Church. In these writings, TEC, used for brevity, means The Episcopal Church. However, our TEC (Thunderhead) is a great Creation Care resource.