Members of the newly formed interfaith group in California called Desert Stewardship Project have taken on a mission to protect the most fragile ecosystem in their state.
“The coalition’s members — churches, synagogues, mosques and cultural organizations mainly in the Inland Empire — are linked by the spiritual connections between their local desert landscapes and the parched sacred grounds that have nurtured some of the world’s great religions.
Their mission is to spur more congregations to take on issues affecting desert lands, vistas and waterways and help provide what Burklo described as ‘a new dimension and depth’ to the conversations about them. The areas of interest include alternative energy development, mining, recreation, military exercises, transportation corridors and proposed national monuments.
Although the project is focused on the deserts of San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties, Burklo said it reflects a growing interest in environmentalism among religious groups in California and across the nation.”
More here.
The article has a discussion of how members of the Project are trying to balance their sense of various calls to serve in different context. It’s an interesting take on the dilemma in a time when there’s so much to do for so many.