 January/February 2001 (XXXIX 1) |
Quaker Eco-Witness is a new project based on the religious conviction that public policy must come to reflect a clear responsibility for helping sustain the integrity of Creation. QEW is a communication and action network designed to help generate and focus a faith-based responsiveness among Friends to public and corporate policies as they bear on the human-earth relationship.
The idea and orientation for Quaker Eco-Witness grew out of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Environmental Working Group. EWG project leader Ed Dreby worked to bring Friends from across the nation into consultation on spirit-led, ecological witness at the level of public policy.
Initially under the care of Mount Holly Meeting (NJ), Quaker Eco-Witness has become an associated project of Friends Committee on Unity with Nature. During its first year, QEW has concentrated on soliciting support among Quakers for Friends Committee on National Legislation as it seeks to fulfill its policy vision of working for "an earth restored." QEW will be working cooperatively with FCNL to inform Friends on current policy issues from an ecological and faith perspective.
In addition, QEW intends to become a Quaker presence in ecological witness activities on public policy as they develop within the nation's faith communities. QEW also plans to foster dialogue among Friends about the contradiction between the ecological realities of the human situation and policies that promote unlimited economic expansion. QEW hopes to provide a voice for Friends who wish to search for public policies that will bring the integrity of Creation and human betterment into a single enduring focus.
Quaker Eco-Witness invites communication from Friends who are interested in helping with this project. The QEW guidance committee includes Ed Dreby of Mount Holly Meeting (NJ), Keith Helmuth of Central Philadelphia Meeting, Elaine Emmi of Salt Lake City Meeting (UT) and Kim Carlyle of Asheville Meeting (NC). For further information e-mail <qew@springmail.com> or write Quaker Eco-Witness, 173-B N Prospect St, Burlington VT 05401.
Keith Helmuth
Central Philadelphia Meeting
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM