Across West Virginia's rolling hills and high plateaus spans the Monongahela National Forest (the "Mon") – West Virginia's only national forest. Within its boundaries, sporadically scarred by extreme resource extraction practices such as clear-cut logging and mountain-top removal mining, thrives some of the wildest and most diverse forest lands in the eastern United States. "It's a place where you can expect to find something different, something spiritual there," says Carol Warren, of the West Virginia Council of Churches, describing the Mon wilderness. "It's a place where we can really see the handiwork of God unspoiled and things in the state where they are as they should be and as we want to preserve them."
The West Virginia Council of Churches is one of several faith-based organizations (of more than 40 organizations in total) endorsing the WV Wilderness Coalition's citizens' proposal to protect pristine wilderness areas throughout the Mon. The diverse coalition of individuals and groups advocating for more designated wilderness exhibits the many and varied values that wilderness provides for West Virginians. The Council's support of the wilderness campaign also highlights the increased involvement of the faith community regarding environmental issues such as climate change and wild lands conservation.
The Council is promoting preservation of West Virginia wilderness as one of its 2008 Public Policy Priorities – a select group of issues, approved by the Council's Board of Directors - which focuses the Council's Government Concerns and Peace & Justice Program Units on issues including health care, education, poverty alleviation and environmental protection. Because of the Council's "concern for the dignity and well-being of all God's children and creation, the [Council] promotes a Christian witness on public policy issues."
Wilderness preservation remains a policy priority of the Council. "As Jesus often drew apart to wild places to pray, we recognize their importance to the human spirit," the Council declares in its 2008 Policy Priorities Report. In another statement, the Council explains their sense of responsibility to serve as stewards of the land: "In obedience, we are obligated to care for God's wondrous Creation that we may one day walk with God in the garden without shame."
One way in which the Council is active in the campaign is the distribution of "God's Gift of a Wild and Wonderful Land," a DVD and informational packet which serves as a "Christian declaration on the spiritual values of West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest." The DVD and informational packet was produced by Christians for the Mountains - yet another faith-based organization endorsing the West Virginia Wilderness citizens' proposal. The Council has distributed the DVD to each of its Board members and had a showing of the film at one of the Council's annual meetings. The Council has also reached out to West Virginia's leaders in Washington, DC. Rev. Dennis Sparks, the Council's Director of the Board, sent letters to West Virginia's Congressional delegation and West Virginia's Gov. Manchin, on behalf of the WV Council of Churches, advocating for more West Virginia wilderness.
The last time wilderness was designated in West Virginia was over 25 years ago. The West Virginia Wilderness Coalition has been working diligently for years to ensure the permanent protection of the remaining wild places across West Virginia's public lands. Hundreds of businesses, organizations, healthcare professional, local governing councils and commissions, and concerned citizens currently endorse the campaign that will permanently protect the wild lands that provide a diverse habitat to many endangered species. Pressures from development such as road-building and resource extraction continue to threaten the survival of these vulnerable species and their habitats. These habitats not only provide the animals with shelter but also provide humans with a peaceful place of retreat, relaxation, and rejuvenation. As Carol Warren explains, "It's not just a getting away from; it's a going to."
To find out more about the WV Council of Churches, visit their website at http://www.wvcc.org/. Check out the WV Wilderness Coalition's site, http://www.wvwild.org/, to find out more about the campaign.
