Bishop Ely's Letter to Vermont Clergy on
Province One Bishops' Pastoral Letter on the Environment

February 5, 2003

To clergy serving congregations in the Diocese of Vermont:

Dear colleagues in ministry,

For over a year, the Bishops of New England have been working on a Pastoral Letter on the Environment. The Reverend Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and members of the Province One Environmental Network have assisted us in this work. We are most grateful for this collegiality and collaboration. It is now time to share the fruit of that work with all the members of the Episcopal Church in New England.

Enclosed you will find three documents:
1. A Pastoral Letter entitled “To Serve Christ In All Creation”
2. Appendix # 1 – “Serving Christ In All Creation - What Can I Do”
3. Appendix # 2 – “Selected Resources on Religion and Ecology”

I am asking that you read and/or distribute copies of the letter to the people of the congregation in which you serve. I am also asking that you make available the other resources contained in the appendices. Rather than ask you to read the letter on a particular Sunday, I am asking that you find the right time and setting within the congregation you serve so that this matter will have people’s full attention. I would ask that you find that “right time and setting” sometime within the next few months.

Some suggestions are:
1. The Last Sunday of Epiphany (Transfiguration Gospel) – March 2, 2003
2. In conjunction with a Lenten or Easter teaching series on the Environment
3. Earth Day – April 27, 2003
4. On a Sunday near the Rogation Days – May 26, 27, 28, 2003

My hope is that this letter will be much more than just a “letter from the Bishops.” I hope it will be an opportunity for our diocese and its people to focus concern and attention on the environment. We all can do something and we all can do something more to care for and about God’s creation. The Environment will be the theme of the Province One Convocation – November 21-22, 2003, so please alert people and mark your calendars now for that opportunity.

I invite your comments on this material and call to your attention the work of our newly formed Diocesan Environmental Ministry Team. The Reverend Nancy Bloomer is the convener of that team and would welcome your support and contributions. Nancy’s email address is:

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please use the enclosed postcard to indicate when and how you made this information available in your local setting.

Faithfully in Christ,
The Right Reverend Thomas C. Ely

Go to Pastoral Letter on the Environment