Books, Videos & Curricula

101 Ways to Help Save the Earth with Fifty-two Weeks of Congregational Activities to Save the Earth

Produced by the Eco-Justice Working Group of the NCCC, care of the United Methodist Church's (UMC) General Board of Church and Society. This guide examines the many ways that our current lifestyle contributes to the global environmental crisis. The first part of this guide explains the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, and acid rain. The Citizen's Guide then lists 101 simple steps which each of us can take to help avert these potential disasters.

At the Table

Focuses on food systems and the impact of food choices

By the Waters

Focuses on water quality and use

Care of the Earth: An Environmental Resource Manual for Church Leader

Author: Tina B. Krause, editor. A collection of essays arranged by topic. Part I: And God saw that it was good: Exploring Green Theology. Part II: What then shall we do? Developing Awareness, Assessment and Advocacy for Environmental Action through the Congregation

Cherish the Gift: A Congregational Guide to Earth Stewardship

Author: Causey, Cindy Ubben. Pastors and lay leaders will find practical ideas and timely information in this hands-on guide to environmental stewardship for the church. A sound biblical argument calls congregations to action, followed by facts and figures that detail the current environmental woes that plague the earth. subsequent chapters focus on specific activities and programs that congregational departments can organize - from fellowship dinners, worship services, and youth groups, to the church office, educational programs, and property maintenance.

Earthkeeping Ministries: A New Vision for Congregations

Author: Greenstone, Suse.

EarthScore: Your Personal Environmental Audit & Guide

Author: Lotter, Donald W. While intended for personal and household use, this resource can also serve as a helpful guide for congregations that want to quantitatively evaluate their ecological “footprint” and take steps towards greater sustainability and social equity.

Eco-Church: An Action Manual

Author: Fritsch, Albert and Angela Ladavaia-Cox. This resource contains helpful audits, suggestions, and resources for individuals and congregations.

Environmental Ethics in Action

Dr. Robert Stivers, professor of Ethics at Pacific Lutheran University addresses the question of how religious people are to minister to the earth. The process of discerning how to do this begins in personal faith and its empowering spirituality. Enabled to act with integrity, Christians seek guidelines in the traditions of the Church and their own experience of the Holy Spirit.

Environmental Stewardship Resource Manual

Author: Environmental Stewardship Committee. This manual can be used by lay Christians, priests, youth groups, deacons, bishops -- in short, by anybody--as an introduction to Christian environmental stewardship and as a source of materials for a wide range of activities. The manual's contents can be used for reflection, worship preparation, Christian education, and as a source of ideas for actions that you can take in your home, workplace, church, and community.

God's Earth Our Home: A resource for congregational study and action on environmental and economic justice

Author: Bhagat, Shantilal P.

Green Guidance: How to Plan Environmentally Responsible Events

Author: Sparr, Pamela. A well packaged guide for environmentally responsible meetings and events. Rich with a variety of resources that may be used in many areas of church life.

Greening Congregations Handbook: Stories, Ideas, and Resources for Cultivating Creation Awareness and Care in Your Congregation

The 225-page Greening Congregations Handbook is a “tool box” for all who want to foster creation awareness and care in their congregations. It helps readers actively respond to the question, “Why should people of faith care for creation?”

Growing a Green Church

Author: Building Church Leaders. Do you want to make sure your church is environmentally responsible? Could a drop in the utility bills give the budget a much-needed lift? Evaluate how well you're stewarding resources and get helpful tips.

Guide to Resource Efficient Church Buildings

Author: Mumma, Tracy. This guide deals with the responsible use of God’s gifts in constructing churches. It considers “embodied energy” (energy spent in production and transportation of materials), recycling, and the disposal of construction waste. This guide also gives a list of manufacturers of resource efficient building materials.

Healing and Defending God’s Creation: Hands On! Practical Ideas for Congregations

Author: White, Vera K. This resource book/curricula has the following sections: (1) Discipleship and Worship; (2) Learning and Teaching (providing lesson plans for preschool children through adults); (3) Lifestyle (individual and communal lifestyle choices); (4) Reusing, Reducing, and Recycling (exploring consumption habits); and (5) Legislation, Public Policy, and Community Involvement.

Household Ecoteam Workbook: A Six-month Program to Bring Your Household into Environmental Balance

Author: Gershon, David and Robert Gilman. This workbook divides environmental concerns into six areas and recommends that small groups meet regularly (over a six-month period) to address these areas: water efficiency, energy efficiency, transportation, and garbage/waste reduction. Each month, the group can take specific actions in order to implement ideas within a household or church congregation.

Ken Burns' National Parks Religious Study Guides and "Clips" DVDs

Two religious study guides designed to accompany Ken Burns' "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" 12-hour portrait of our national parks. These guides encourage participants to explore God in nature and our covenant with the earth. This an effective tool for groups.

Love Thy Neighbor: Parish Resources for Faithfulness in Creation

Author: Irish, Carolyn Tanner. This comprehensive program is designed to answer questions like: What are the religious dimensions of the environmental problem? What books and films can we use as parish resources? How can we incorporate creation issues in liturgy? How can children and young people be part of efforts to reorient our lifestyles?

On the Road

Focuses on the impacts of transportation