Land and Wilderness New and News The Public Land Management Omnibus Bill, with the support of thousands of people of faith, has been passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Obama. Click here for more. Click here to read a blog by staff member Jordan Blevins on Mountaintop Removal Mining (MTR), and here to visit our new website on MTR Faith and Lands Humans so not own the Earth. The Earth is the Lord's, and we are tenants who hold the land in trust from God and in partnership with all creatures. Through God, the land nourishes all life and provides us with what we need to survive. As part of our call to be stewards of creation, we have a responsbility to the land, and ensure that it serves the good of all Creation, and to protect it for future generations and for all life. Learn More Public Lands: In the United States, there are 623 million acres of land held by our government in the public trust and managed to serve the good of society. Wilderness provides spiritual and recreational opportunities. Wilderness also provides essential habitat for wildlife, including endangered species. National Landscape Conservation System includes more than 26 million acres across the United States. Mountaintop Removal Mining - While MTR may be a more convenient way to mine coal, we cannot overlook the damage it causes in light of the convenience it provides. People of Faith Take Action Learn about the faith-based campaigns in Arizona and Wyoming Click here to learn about churches engaged in wilderness issues. View letters sent to West Virginia's members of Congress and Governor supporting Monongahela National Forest Episcopal Bishops Call on Congress to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge National Public Lands Day -Join an event taking place near your church or worship center. Click Here for more information. Christians for the Mountains is taking action to protect against mountaintop removal. Get Outside! Take your congregation, adult study class, or youth group outside to experience and enjoy God's sacred gift of land. Whether you roll up your sleeves for trail maintenance or a tree planting, hold a worship service outdoors, or just go for a hike in a nearby conservation area, witnessing the glory of God's lands firsthand is a great way to kindle the stewardship ethic and share in fellowship. On God's Wild Land photo contest! View the winner and the pictures! Links and Resources Faith-Based Resources Click here to download a wilderness resource from the youth of Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church Rooted in God's Word and Lands Land Stewardship Anthology Out of the Wilderness Earthkeeping Ideas The Presbytery of the Cascades in Oregon provides online resources for church creation care efforts. Visit Renewal in the Wilderness, which offers spiritual retreats in nature for adults. “Spiritual Importance of Wilderness” by Jim Doenges. “Christianity and Wilderness” A theological and historical commentary posted by Christians for the Mountains. “Encounter at Ghost Ranch: Reflections on Desert Spirituality” by Belden Lane. “Peace with God, Peace with the Land: A Reflection on Religious Responsibility for Wilderness” The East Texas Wilderness Cathedral Statement from the Religious Campaign for Wilderness. Essays on Tending the Garden from Boise Vineyard Christian Fellowship. “Food and Faith” wilderness sermon on Exodus 16 by Leonard J. Vander Zee. “The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity” by Walter Brueggemann. Other Resources What is Wilderness? A brief commentary examining various definitions. Give the Land a Hand 2006 National Public Lands Day The Wilderness Society Campaign for America's Wilderness The Backyard Wildlife Habitat program of the National Wildlife Federation provides resources for maintaining healthy wildlife habitat in your own backyard.   wilderness and faith wilderness and faith wilderness and faith wilderness and faith wilderness and faith