Our vision...For the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, caring for the environment is core to our spiritual vocation. As stewards of creation, we must strive to live a life that sustains our environment and in turn allows all of us to live healthy and just lives through sharing and protecting the earth’s resources for everyone. Therefore, during these dire environmental times, we must actively put forth solutions and actions that can be embraced by the diocese and its members, and be a beacon for all people in our region.
Bishop Sutton has set out on a personal mission to make the Diocese of Maryland and its Churches more “green.” In fact, he has been dubbed the “Green Bishop.” Many religious leaders have stressed for years, that it is important for Christians to have both environmental awareness and responsibility. Many scriptures in the Bible tell us that we have a responsibility as Christians to protect and preserve God’s wonderful creation. One of the most well known is: “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son” from John 3:16. We also often pray during the Prayers of the People saying, “For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.” But Bishop Sutton suggests another, more simple reason. The second Commandment: Love thy neighbor as thyself. It is all encompassing. Many of our habits affect those in third world countries, often in a negative way. To help guide the Diocese toward the goal of making their parishes and communities more environmentally friendly, Bishop Sutton formed the Environmental Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from across the Diocese.