ONE EPISCOPALIAN’S VIEW ON THE ENVIRONMENT

BY REV DAVE SAKRISON
ST FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
MOAB, UTAH

Where to begin, the previous writers in this series have pretty much said it all. They have eloquently and articulately expressed not only what I believe in but have given me some new insight for that I am grateful. What truly is a common thread throughout the essays is that there is a common concern and awareness of this time and place in our human history. Another thing I find is that all the diverse faiths have so much in common. We as a species are at a critical juncture, what we do or choose not to do will have consequences.

The Episcopal church is made up of many diverse people and therefore many diverse views and beliefs, this is my way of saying that the views that I express in this article are my own and not necessarily those of the Episcopal Church.

My first real awareness of environmental issues did not come from a religious perspective or teachings but from my sixth grade teacher Mrs Jorgenson at E.C. Hughes Elementary School in Seattle. She obviously had made a lasting impression on me, back then (mid-fifties) she was known not as an environmentalist but a conservationist. Her beliefs, concerns and advice have stayed with me throughout my life and as my belief system has grown I have connected her love and concern for the environment to my religious beliefs.

As a member of the Episcopal faith I subscribe to the words of our Baptismal Covenant particularly the last three questions and responses:
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of
every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.

As an Episcopalian I have an obligation to see God in all things knowing that all of creation is my neighbor and that I have an ethical and moral mandate in caring for and sustaining all of creation. I realize that all of creation is interconnected and that no part of creation can be separated from the whole to do so violates the covenant. I believe that I am part of creation and that I am creator myself, I have a ongoing relationship with all things, a cause and effect relationship if you will. My faith asks me to consciously live in this way and I try to do so, it is a holistic approach to living and looking at life and the world. It brings a certain balance to all that I do and think.

The Hopi Indians have a word which I think reflects the current state of our world and the lives we are living, the word Koyaanisqatsi (which was also the title of a film in the 80’s) it means 'crazy life, life in turmoil, life out of balance, life disintegrating, a state of life that calls for another way of living’. This world has become out of balance. We live in a finite world with finite resources and yet our desire to consume and live the way we do does not reflect this reality.

As the mayor of Moab I am often asked what motivates my stance on environmental issues and some of the environmental goals that our community has achieved. Obviously my religious beliefs come into play but I think more importantly and the answer I often give is “because it is the right thing to do”. Our lives and our planet are out of balance and it is up to each of us as individuals to try to bring some balance back into it all. Whether you are religious or not, individually we need to take responsibility and set an example for our children our neighbors and our communities. That the example we set and live by will create change and awareness and hopefully balance. Our responsibility to bring balance back into this world lies not only to all of humanity and creation but more importantly to those yet to come. The crisis we all face is not a religious issue, if our collective faiths and beliefs can help motivate people and help solve the problems all the better. We need to reach out, educate, sound the alarm to the population at large and elect people and leaders that understand not only the problem but have an idea of what the solutions are as well.

It is the right thing to do...the clock is ticking...take responsibility.

In closing I would recommend a couple of books Simpler Living Compassionate Life by Michael Shut, the Plan B books by Lester Brown, and an excellent article by Auden Schendler in the Jan/Feb issue of Orion Magazine.