Ecostewards Journal Winter Spring 99

The Religious Campaign for Forest Preservation (RCFC) is a new national coalition of clergy and religious leaders, fiscally sponsored by WSI. The RCFC targeted Congress and Administration officials January 31-February 4. Over forty concerned citizens and members of the RCFC made the trip to Washington in an effort to convince public officials that the relentless logging of America's public lands is as much a spiritual wrong as it is an environmental catastrophe. They called for an immediate end to all cutting of old-growth forests and an end to commercial logging on public lands.

At the prayer breakfast on Monday, February 1, they had the first of two opportunities to meet with Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. The members present at the opening breakfast session felt well-received by the Secretary, who heard their presentations and the goals of the Religious Campaign for Forest Preservation.

Members fanned out to representatives and senators following this prayer breakfast with the Secretary. A bill to outlaw commercial cutting in the National Forests of the United States has already been introduced into Congress by two congressional representatives; other legislators voiced support over the course of the visits by members of RCFC. On the other hand, several legislators saw an emphasis on the conjunction of religious values and forest policy as dangerous, impolitic, or worse! During their remaining days in Washington, members carried the word to every legislative office in Congress. A Monday meeting with department chiefs of the US Forest Service was also enlightening, including a conversation with Chief Michael Dombeck. Late that afternoon, a dozen delegates from the RCFC gathered with Secretary Babbitt in his private conference room. On Wednesday, the delegation had the opportunity to meet White House officials to explain their positions and concerns.

What gave the Campaign its force and the persuasive power of an idea whose time has arrived? "Each of us," says Fred Krueger, Campaign Coordinator, "has a moral obligation to spread the word to Congress and the White House that destruction of God's Earth and His creatures is a sin." The Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation believes that there are theological and Biblical mandates for persons of faith to take action to cherish and protect the Earth's flora and fauna. "The Scriptures tell us in no uncertain terms that preserving God's handiwork must be part of our religious calling, whether one is a Christian or a Jew," adds Mr. Krueger.

Dr. Barak Gale of San Francisco, chair of the Bay Area chapter of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, pointed out that the Washington meeting coincided with the holiday of Tu B'Shevat, which has, since the 1600's, represented "a renewal of our commitment to Tikkun Olam, a healing of the world, in its most literal sense."

Rev. Owen Owens, national chairman of the RCFC, notes: "Do we really want to be remembered only as a generation of users, not preservers? It is time to use our minds and faith to preserve whole forests, not mere tree plantations, for the future. We must approach forest stewardship from a Christian point of view." Ann Alexander, New York lawyer and chair of the Christian Environmental Council, stresses that "saving ancient forests must be a faith-based effort, not only an environmental imperative. Our Scriptures clearly teach that forests are a place where God is present, and cares and provides for his creatures who inhabit them. Paying timber companies nearly a billion dollars every year to needlessly decimate these irreplaceable forests, which God created and loves, is to commit a sin of waste and greed."

Around the world, deforestation has caused an unprecedented series of natural disasters this year. Paul Thompson, President and CEO of MAP International, a Christian international relief and development organization, describes what he surveyed in hurricane-ravaged Honduras recently: "In helicopter flights above Choluteca province, we saw the clear effect on humans caused by commercial deforestation. Where the forest has been logged, you could see literally thousands of landslides in a 360-degree panorama." He emphasizes "the unrelenting relationship between environmental degradation and poverty." Connie Hanson, President of Christians Caring for Creation in Los Angeles, says, "I'm confident that our message...will have a tremendous impact on our lawmakers...The ultimate victory of this cause is assured."

This week in Washington is only an initial effort for the determined members of RCFC. Three regional conferences, in the Southeast, the Upper Midwest, and the West, are planned, followed by a national conference in West Virginia in the fall. Grass-roots organization will simultaneously go forward throughout the country at the level of local churches and congregations. Make way, Forest Service and forest-related business, for the RCFC: a better forest policy will certainly be the result of this national campaign.