The following statement regarding stewardship is related to environment and is in the context of religion.

With information we present in this web link there is a serious attempt to be objective, honest, and knowledgeable. As to the accuracy of the information provided we believe that those who provide information are objective and honest in their presentations. We are aware, as you are that it is normal as opposed too abnormal for people with an agenda to have an agenda, and to preach that agenda. Our agenda is to provide information as well as a challenge for knowledge. We are not qualified to tell you that climate change is due to an increase of CO2. We can say with a great deal of authority that CO2 is a larger component in our environment today than 50 years ago. In some ways he following statements are connected to truth – 1, there are indications of climate change (temperature increase) in our world; 2, there are ways and means of reducing CO2 and other contaminates WHICH MAY BE A CAUSE OR MAY NOT BE A CAUSE OF TEMPEREATURE INCREASES; 3, it is documented that glacier and ice cap thaw is occurring, while at the same time some glaciers are growing; 4, there are some 6 billion or more people using renewable and natural resources in the world today; 5, per capita consumption of resources in the United States exceeds other countries by a substantial margin; 6, some countries have moved successfully to using and producing energy by through consumption of renewable resources; 7, when and if there is a proven cause of environmental catastrophe related to human action there will be no movement to correct that action until it is commonly a proven fact and accepted by people; 8, there is an absence of scientific and technical agreement as to causes of climate change. The previous list is an incomplete illustration of where we are. Where we are only emphases the responsibility we have toward the subject of Environmental Stewardship and where we need to go.

2 – Stewardship Defined –

Regardless of what causes or if there are changes in environment due to use of natural resources there is a definite connection TO STEWARDSHIP DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE CONSUME RESOURCES BOTH NATURAL AND RENEWABLE AND THERE IS WELL FOUNDED AND PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN AND WILL BE BENIFICIAL WHEN RENEWABLE RESOURCES ARE PERFECTED AND CONSUMED.

Originally stewardship was the job of a slave or other person to care for the household and property belonging to a property holder / owner – the household employee charged to take care of house and foreign affairs. The general view of stewardship to day is to care for something one doesn’t own. To illustrate we use resources, which are created and therefore owned by God.

Environmental Stewardship is the action or lack of action to plan, manage, and use natural resources. Resources belonging to God – our property his ownership. This includes habitat and other naturally occurring resources, which sustain life human, animal, and plant. This includes our gift as stewards not only to use all of God’s creation but also to care for that creation and refrain from abuse, over use, hoarding, wasting, or other actions, which revile that creation, and therefore the relationship we have with our creator.

There is a specific religious connection in that humanity was made in the image of God the creator, and the creator has given humanity dominion over his creation. Therefore you and I being his creation, being God Like is to act as God. God is the owner of his own creation or possessions and you and I have been awarded stewardship over those possessions therefore we are accountable for the care of and the use of those possessions.

Stewardship is the choice we make as to how we will spend or use our resources of time, talent, and treasure. We who are American citizens are very lucky regardless of our economic wealth because we have an abundance of natural resources, which we harvest and use. This brings up a real question – "THE POVERTY QUESTION". Do we bring those who are poor up to our standards of a life, or do we reduce our standard of living to improve those who are in a poverty condition. We can do both if we allow wisdom – God’s gift to direct our ways and means of achievement, and if we become ENVIRONMENTAL STEDWARDS. WE CAN DO BOTH WHEN THERE IS A UNITY OF PEOPLE – ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP WHERE WE MAKE CHOICES AND SOMETIMES THOSE CHOICES ARE INFLUENCED BY LIBERAL, OR CONSERVATIVE, SELF SERVING POSITIONS.

3 - Consider the following as related to Environmental Stewardship.

1 – Utilization of natural resources is directly related to Stewardship. How do we account for or share the resources we have at our disposal? What is my share? How or do we conserve usage.

2 - Stewardship in this reference is the exercise of our free will to make a choice as we take advantage of and use GOD’S CREATION.

3 - Those choices are directly related to SOCIAL JUSTICE as well as FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP. Social Justice equates to having an obligation and opportunity to share God’s gifts. Faithful Citizenship requires that our choices promote Social Justice as opposed to promoting self and self needs or wants. To say it another way – "he has equal needs and rights, which are equivalent to mine".

4 – God’s gifts are ours to use. We have been given dominion over his creation as we are made in his Image. We have been granted the gift of intelligence, which leads to, inventions, improvements, and comforts in our life style through using God’s gifts. This is good. Compare our standard of life today verses 100 years ago.

5 – The Christian duty of Stewardship is connected to actions and choices we make. 1, What causes climate change or is climate change real? 2, What and where do we stand re the use of renewable resources, more coal fired generation, more neuclar, harness wind, solar, and thermal? 3, Where do we stand on political issues as to how problems will be corrected – who wind what? The fact is that some actions should be taken because that is the correct moral, ethical, and Christian thing to do.

6 – Regardless of where we stand on climate change, deforestation, acid rain, ozone, and methane, sun spots, ice thaw, Et. Al. there are emissions and pollutants which can be reduced. With reduction come less waste and fewer omissions. Storing waste doesn’t eliminate the waste. There is no waste to store when there is a recycle event or when there is no residue of waste.

7 – Consider some of the following. Take an energy audit of your home. Set your A/C temp points and heat temp points for occupied as well as unoccupied times in the home. Set hot water temperature at a lower temperature. Be aware of how often, how wide open, and how long a water tap stays open when it could be reduced – both hot and cold. Consider and measure the effect of replacing incandescent bulbs with the mercury vapor light bulbs. There are many other considerations and choices.

I am personally aware of the following occurrences in my lifetime of 70 years. The following are examples of personal experiences.

• The Little Niangua River that I fished and swam in as a 4^th grader was completely dry by my senior year in college.
• As a youngster on a farm in central Missouri I can remember winters where there were several days when temperatures were below zero.
• I can remember walking in snow up to my ankles several times each winter while feeding hay.
• When I graduated from high school my parents had accumulated over their life time – one new pick up truck our only vehicle, one refrigerator, no air conditioner, 2 fans, one LPG stove, and interior plumbing.
• Today within our family there are 16 vehicles, 9 refrigerators, 6 freezers, central heat and air for 7 homes, plus many other life comforting advantages.
• When I was on farm and before 2^nd grade we had only kerosene lamps.
• My standard of life has certainly changed in 70 years.

My only point in providing the above boring information is to note that we have increased our need for utilities over a short period of time. I ask that you do an examination of your family now as compared to several years ago and equate that change to a new demand on resources. Has there been additional demands made on the resources we consume?

4 – Our attempt and purpose in providing this information is to hopefully make our parish more aware of Environmental Stewardship.

The choices and decisions and actions we can make and we can direct though our political as well as personal choices are endless. Those choices and decisions for example are, 1^st - building more coal fired electrical generation plants, or 2^nd - building atomic energy reactors for electrical generation, or 3^rd – use of wind to generate electrical power, 4^th - recycle our waste, or 5^th – reduce our personal use of energy, = many more. This is a small example of choice we are faced with now and what we do is or isn’t Environmental Stewardship.

5 – Please keep in mind the following point.

"Regardless of what we do or don’t do at some point in time we need to do it just because it is the right thing to do"