ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

INTERFAITH CREATION CARE SOUTH METRO (ICCSM) 

is a group of inspired individuals, representing nineteen faith communities in the south metro of the Twin Cities of Minnesota, who have a mutual desire to try to make a difference in taking care of God's beautiful gift of our planet Earth.  Our group utilizes our universal faith in God in providing guidance to those seeking direction on how to make a difference individually and as a whole.  We have provided that guidance through educational events held at the various places of worship that we represent.  The video above shows some pictures of our team and event participants over the years.  Check out our "Pictures of Events" page for more pictures.  The music with the video is our theme song "Save It", written and sung by Chris Erickson from our Group.

Interfaith Creation Care South Metro of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul MN (ICCSM) meets as a group.  You will see below quotes from members, a QR Code providing you access to the social media we participate in as well as a means of contacting us,  Meeting Location and Time , Contact list and Newsletter reference, Vision, Mission and Land Acknowledgement Statements  Following this is a list of the faith communities that we represent. 

"ICCSM has been an excellent transition venue from an individual congregation into a larger community effort and awareness.  Participating in ICCSM, I've appreciated the collaboration and continuous shared efforts, values, and information.  It gives me hope locally about a complex topic."  Penelope Curry, Community of Christ, Apple Valley

"In a bicycle peloton, it is the continuous process of stepping up and stepping back that allows the group to sustain the pace that no single cyclist could ever do.  Like a peloton for climate advocacy, the ICCSM has been the most productive organization of any that I have joined because we all contribute from our strengths."  Bill Middlecamp, United Methodist Earth Keeper

Check out our social media sources and how to contact us directly in this QR code.

MEETING LOCATION AND TIME:

We meet the first and third Mondays of each month from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.  There may maybe slight adjustments when holidays fall on Mondays.  Our meetings are in person but we also provide access via Zoom, the web-based video conferencing tool, for those who wish to join us via that tool.  Our in person meetings are held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church located at 13801 Fairview Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337.  The meetings are being held on the second floor in conference room 200E.  Please contact Curt Carlson at carlsoc77@gmail.com or 952-913-1544 to receive the Zoom meeting link or to get answers to any of your questions.  If emailing please include in the subject line the words Creation Care.  Please join us.  Everybody is welcome.

CONTACT LIST AND QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER:

We have a contact list that provides you with a quarterly newsletter that tells you what we are working on.  When an event is planned you also receive invite information.  If you are interested in being added to the contact list, that as of September 2024, includes 281 people please email Curt Carlson at carlsoc77@gmail.com.  

VISION:

We believe in a world where humanity lives in balanced relationship with all of God's creation, valuing and preserving our environment for the health and prosperity of future generations. We accept the responsibility to be good stewards, recognizing that actions that benefit some have consequences for all.

MISSION:

We act to restore a sustainable relationship between humans and the environment, which is the foundation of health and life for all.  We seek environmental justice for the poor and children of seven generations to come.  We use our sacred texts to provide the context for inspiring, informing, and encouraging our faith communities to action within and beyond the walls of our communities.  We rely on our shared values to transcend political and economic divisions and provide fertile ground for transformational conversations.  We inform and equip our communities to advocacy and action for solving the very serious problems of environmental destruction.  We educate and facilitate conversations to build support for sustainability policies at the local, national, and international levels.  We mentor and support new leaders of all ages to further our mission.  We appreciate and celebrate the faith that our Creator has provided all that we need.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT:

This land we are on today is the traditional homeland of the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of the Dakota, also known as Sioux, until it was ceded to the US Government in 1851.  These indigenous peoples negotiated under duress, as they knew the alternative, and with this treaty they hoped to do better for themselves than a war.  The new inhabitants of the land were known to take what they want and call it good when it serves the moment.

Indigenous peoples have lived in right relationship with this land for millennia.  In less than 200 years, the new inhabitants have transformed the environment so that it is no longer self sustaining.  Especially in this time of climate change and environmental destruction, there is much we can learn from the traditional knowledge of those whom we have marginalized.  Get to know these people now, create a relationship to this place that we are now from, the water that we now drink...we seek to know these things in an intimate way.  This knowledge will change our minds and our hearts.  We must acknowledge in a selfless way the land and water that sustains us and all life on Mother Earth.  This acknowledgement is part of becoming a balanced and present human being.  It's about honoring and protecting the land and water, honoring ourselves and our bodies, honoring those who cared for this land before us, and honoring those who come after us.

FAITH COMMUNITIES WE REPRESENT

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH, APPLE VALLEY

ST. THOMAS BECKET CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, EAGAN

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES, BURNSVILLE

UNITED METHODIST EARTHKEEPERS AND UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

SHEPHERD OF THE LAKE LUTHERAN CHURCH, PRIOR LAKE

PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, BURNSVILLE

CHRISTUS VICTOR LUTHERAN CHURCH, APPLE VALLEY

CHRISTIANIA LUTHERAN CHURCH, LAKEVILLE

CHURCH OF THE RISEN SAVIOR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, BURNSVILLE

FAMILY OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, LAKEVILLE

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, BURNSVILLE

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC CHURCH, EAGAN

OAK GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BLOOMINGTON

WOODDALE CHURCH, EDEN PRAIRIE

HOPE CHURCH, RICHFIELD

NEW SPIRIT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, SAVAGE

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, APPLE VALLEY

RIVER HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BURNSVILLE

MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH CATHOLIC, BURNSVILLE

COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CHURCH, APPLE VALLEY

MINNESOTA INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT (MNIPL)