As we strive for justice and peace, we can learn from what each other are doing. We can share in our successes and collaborate on our challenges. Post your stories - from everyday advocacy (the little things that sometimes happen and you even don't realize they're advocacy until it's over) to parish and community efforts that you are a part of. This is the place for Episcopalians to share how we are striving for justice and peace! Take a few minutes to tell us how you've made a difference in your community. You'll be amazed at how just one story – yours – could inspire people around the world. We welcome your contribution!
"Do all you can for other people," he says. "That's what makes the world go round." I enjoy volunteering at The Kentucky Refugee Ministries in Louisville as time permits. KYRM helps in the resettlement of refugees from many places around the globe...
This is my story of trying to make a difference in the world around me and further away: I've been recycling since the 70's. I pick up litter everywhere I go. I've recently been entering codes from Tropicana orange juice to the Save the Rain Forest project during 2009. Each code turned in to tropicanarainforest.com saves 100 sq ft of rain forest in S. America. At my church we grow veggies for the poor, and at another church #2 and #4 plastic bags and used batteries are collected and recycled or disposed of properly. I take hazardous waste like oil-based paint to the proper disposal place, also used electronics. Those items that are reusable, I take to the Salvation Army or to the Reuse Store. I buy reused clothes. Collect money and buy groceries for the poor. I knit sweaters for poor kids and scarves for poor seamen. Give spare blankets, etc to the homeless ministry. I sponsor a child through World Vision. I buy animals from Heifer Project as gifts at Christmas. Went with a group to New Orleans where we cleaned up several homes and served a hot meal to the people living in FEMA trailers. I write my government officials to encourage them to pay attention to such bills as stopping global warning, human slave trading, racial hatred etc.
I am an Episcopalian and a vegan. I went vegetarian for spiritual reasons (not Christian, since I didn't know of any precedent or respected tradition to support it at that time) about 9 years ago. I gave up eggs and dairy as soon as I found out how battery hens and veal calves are kept in close confinement, along with other agricultural practices that I didn't want to support, and could live just as well without supporting. But shortly afterward, I discovered two clergypersons: J.R. Hyland (an evangelical pastor who wrote the "Humane Religion" magazine articles and God's Covenant with Animals), and Andrew Linzey (an Anglican theologian, who wrote a pamplet, "Toward a Prophetic Church for Animals", Animal Gospel, Animal Theology, and many others). Andrew introduced me to the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals. That was when the (mis)treatment of animals became a Christian concern for me.
When the ECW was discussing the 2008 Christmas party, we came to the subject of the traditional gift exchange. We always had $15 gifts wrapped and put in a pile...then by number, each person chose a gift, or stole one from a previous person. Kind of standard for a gift exchange. This year one woman said, "I don't need another $15 (useless!) gift. How about if we give our $15 to a charity instead?"
I am an Episcopalian and a vegan. I went vegetarian for spiritual reasons (not Christian, since I didn't know of any precedent or respected tradition to support it at that time) about 9 years ago. I gave up eggs and dairy as soon as I found out how battery hens and veal calves are kept in close confinement, along with other agricultural practices that I didn't want to support, and could live just as well without supporting. But shortly afterward, I discovered two clergypersons: J.R. Hyland (an evangelical pastor who wrote the "Humane Religion" magazine articles and God's Covenant with Animals), and Andrew Linzey (an Anglican theologian, who wrote a pamplet, "Toward a Prophetic Church for Animals", Animal Gospel, Animal Theology, and many others). Andrew introduced me to the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals. That was when the (mis)treatment of animals became a Christian concern for me.
