Disciple: The New Earth Day Awards

Celebrating hope for tomorrow

By the Rev. Jill Staton Bullard

The purpose of diocesan Creation Care is to educate and encourage new actions and thought processes so that Creation Care—namely, thought processes and actions that benefit the earth and its habitants rather than harm them—becomes a way of life embodying our Christian call to love God and neighbor.

- Mission Strategy of the Diocese of North Carolina

All of us know about the climate crisis and the damage we humans have perpetrated on both the creatures of this planet and each other. Many of us have worked through our congregations, our neighborhoods and our communities to take action to help in remediation and education efforts. The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina has a Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry that is widely known for its weekly green tips and the Green Grants that help give smaller congregations a boost with new Creation Care efforts. Congregational initiatives and projects are honored each year at the annual convention when the committee bestows The Rev. Tom Droppers Memorial Green Congregation Award. The work of the committee also helped create the diocesan goals and strategies for Creation Care as part of the overall mission strategy of the Diocese.

This year, the committee introduced a new annual award, the Earth Day Award, to celebrate good and positive ways that Creation Care is being implemented across the diocese. Unlike the award bestowed at convention, the recipient of which is chosen by the committee, nominees for the Earth Day Award will come from anyone aware of a noteworthy Creation Care effort. Future awards may go to a person, project, event, congregation or partnership—any of which may be nominated if it contributes and brings hope to the planet and its inhabitants. For though our current situation is serious, we cannot lose hope. We must believe our actions can make a difference, and the Earth Day Award is intended to celebrate those actions.

[Image: This year’s Earth Day Award plaques are whimsical pine wood discs from the sawmill of Bob Kellogg, member of St. Philip’s, Durham. Photo by Jill Staton Bullard]

THE FIRST-EVER WINNERS

The idea for the award came from a desire to honor two people who have served on the committee for years and whose contributions are beyond measure. So while all future awards will be given to one from among the nominations submitted, the committee chose to award this first-ever iteration to those who inspired it.

David McDuffie and Carl Sigel are longtime members of the Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry. Both of them have been instrumental in building the work of the committee over the last decade, leading initiatives within the diocese and coordinating with the larger community through partnerships such as NC Interfaith Power & Light, the NC Council of Churches, and other academic, sacramental and cultural partnerships.

[Image: David McDuffie]

McDuffie served as the chair of the committee through the dark days of the pandemic, keeping our work—sometimes, it seemed, single-handedly—relevant, broadcasted and ongoing. He is the author of “Nature’s Sacrament: The Epic of Evolution and a Theology of Sacramental Ecology” and a senior lecturer at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, where among the many courses he teaches is religion and the environment. His research, by his own description, “revolves around the interdisciplinary conversations between religion and the natural sciences and the ways in which these conversations contribute to ecological conservation and public health.”

In addition to being a key leader in the environmental initiatives at his home church of Nativity, Raleigh, Sigel is the knowledge-keeper of all local, state and national legislation, whether pending, tabled, passed or defeated. He knows who sponsored what and what kind of support it has, and he has even authored legislation currently in discussion in the General Assembly. Sigel was a key member, with new committee member Neil Pedersen, of the planning team for the inaugural diocesan Advocacy Day.

[Image: Carl Sigel]

Both McDuffie and Sigel represent our diocese well in other forums and at other tables. They epitomize the values we proclaim: that we must become deeper, greener churches and communities; that we must look at Creation Care through the lens of racial equity and environmental justice for all members of our communities; that we must reduce our own emissions to stabilize the world’s climate; that we must use natural systems to restore our Earth; and that we can do so on a large scale only by being ardent environmental advocates. They love those principles, and they do so with joy and hope. Most importantly, they live those principals and show their faith in this work. They embody the truth that loving their neighbors as themselves is loving all creation. It is also a part of how they show their love of God. Their faith makes this world a better place.

McDuffie and Sigel are extraordinary examples of how the efforts of an individual can have a tremendous collective impact. Through their work and leadership, they have educated, inspired, supported, encouraged, directed and cheered the work of Creation Care across the Diocese of North Carolina. They have spearheaded projects in their own congregations and championed efforts to ensure congregations had the resources they need to make their own Creation Care visions a reality.

Thus, it is with deep gratitude and joy that the Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry bestows the first-ever Earth Day Award to David McDuffie and Carl Sigel. May the example they set be one we all follow as living proof of our love for creation and the impact every one of us can make.

YOU ARE INVITED

We invite all congregations and parishioners to go deeper with us. Share your stories, send pictures of your work, join our committee, let us know about the efforts you and your congregation are undertaking to serve Christ in all creation. Know that you are not alone in your efforts, and help us to celebrate the work and hope they represent.

For there is hope for tomorrow if we all commit ourselves today to live gently on this beautiful planet.

THE PLAQUES

This year’s award plaques are whimsical pine wood discs from the sawmill of Bob Kellogg, member of St. Philip’s, Durham. The wood plaques have natural funny faces, reminding us that nature also is full of beauty and joy. These discs prompt us to remember that even though the problems seem unsurmountable, we can do this if we work in conjunction with our natural world, not against it. We really might get back to the Garden of Eden if we practice the love that God showed us through Jesus Christ.

EARTH DAY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the annual Earth Day Award will be accepted throughout the year. The deadline for a given year is December 31, and the award will be presented on Earth Day of the following year. Submit nominations via an email describing the nominated person, project, event or collaboration to the Rev. Jill Staton Bullard.

The Rev. Jill Staton Bullard is the chair of the diocesan Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry.