Thousands of Years & Countless Religions
If we think that faith-based Creation Care is a relatively recent development and that it’s primarily Christian, we are sorely misguided. “Creation care” (and other like ideas) spans thousands of years and globally across countless religions. In Chapter 1-4 of his acclaimed book, GreenFaith: Mobilizing God’s People to Save the Earth (Abingdon Press, 2015), Fletcher Harper1 overviews the development of “green” theologies, faiths and practices in Judaism, Christianity, spirituality, ethics, indigenous religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Islam, and some variations of each.
To give you an idea of one of Harper’s foundational convictions, the first sentence of his book states “Nature, the outdoors, the environment is fundamental to religious faith and spirituality.” The final paragraphs of his book are subtitled “Faith in Action.” Since this article is for a Christian congregation, a summary of what Harper writes about Judaism and Christianity are only noted here.
Judaism. Harper goes back to the first story of creation itself (Genesis 1) and works through the Old Testament (Torah) to highlight primary tenants:
- God made the earth and it was very good.
- God is committed to the full community of universal life.
- God owns the earth and - through stewardship - so do humans.
- The biodiversity of nature demonstrates nature’s goodness and its right to exist for its own sake and for God’s sake.
- Humans have a place in the larger order of the universe which, in turn, evokes authentic humility.
- Everything God created - human and non-human - are joined in mystical, collective praise of God the Creator.
- The second story of creation (Genesis 2) establishes humanity’s responsibility to guard, protect and watch over nature.
- Wastefulness and extravagance are contrary to the biblical limits for human care of the earth.
Christianity. Harper Fletcher reviews the full breadth of New Testament books - including the apocryphal Revelations to John - in GreenFaith where he clarifies:
- Jesus’s connection to nature throughout His life, teachings, actions, death and resurrection.
- “...Christ is the force that enables the universe to cohere, to exist, to make sense.”
- “...The scope of Christ’s resurrection is not focused solely on Christians (or people). It is truly universal. ‘All things … whether things on earth or in the heavens’ are reconciled to God.”
- “Revelation's vision (of the second coming) isn’t an endorsement of a ‘torched’ mind-set. It’s a confirmation that God’s commitment to the Earth is every bit as real (and) long-lasting as God’s commitment to us.”
- “The time has arrived for Christianity to recognize creation’s basic dignity along-side humanity’s.” (Food-for-thought from this article's author: In Communion and Baptism, the sacramental elements of bread, wine and water, are indeed for humanity and directly proceed from nature.)
Faith-Based Environmental Organizations & Programs - Christian
Now we step away from Fletcher Harper’s book to look at the broad scope of environmental organizations, programs and advocacy in American Christendom. The list below is not all-inclusive; any one of the following will lead to many other web pages of resources and faith community actions. This list is not presented in any particular order. However, since we’re an ELCA congregation, the first three are those related to the ELCA.
Lutherans Restoring Creation (ELCA) lutheransrestoringcreation.org
LRC is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA. They accomplish their goals by cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all. LRC is driven by laity, pastors, lay professionals, synodical leadership, and others who hold positions in the ELCA and its institutions. This movement grows out of a long history of Lutheran concern (the ELCA’s 1993 social statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, and other pre-ELCA Lutheran documents) and involvement.
Web of Creation webofcreation.org/
The Web of Creation websites maintained by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (ELCA). As the founder of the Green Congregation Program, the Web of Creation has been a Christian ecumenical organization active in providing environmental resources for faith communities in the area of worship, education, building and grounds, lifestyle at home and work, and public witness.
Bible and Ecology www.bibleandecology.org
Bible and Ecology is an offshoot of the Web of Creation. Its purpose is to provide resources for individuals, churches, pastors, scholars and activists wanting to explore the biblical foundations for sustainability and eco-stewardship ("creation care"). We want to challenge people to see - and to begin to read - the Bible as an ecological book. Our aim is to point to some of the best resources currently available, both print and online, on the Bible and what it has to say about creation, the deep connectedness of all forms of life and the role of humankind in helping to sustain and heal the earth.
United Methodist Creation Justice Movement umcreationjustice.org
The Creation Justice Movement is emerging at this kairos moment to connect and support groups within the United Methodist Church and beyond for the work of creation care, justice and regeneration.
Earth Ministry earthministry.org
Earth Ministry's work is focused on Washington state and the Pacific Northwest, but its website provides extensive resources useful to other faith-based environmental groups.
Environmental Justice from the General Board of Church and Society - Global Ministries, United Methodist Church umcjustice.org
The Economic and Environmental Justice Program calls the church and society into a greater faithfulness to the biblical vision of wholeness and justice for all of God's creation. From global warming and environmental racism to worker justice and poverty eradication, the program seeks to restore right relationships among ourselves, others and the created world. There are three primary programs: Creation Care, Sustainable Development and Hunger & Poverty.
Evangelical Environmental Network creationcare.org
The EEN seeks to equip, inspire, disciple, and mobilize God's people in their effort to care for God's creation, to be faithful stewards of God's provision, to get involved in regions of the United States and the world impacted by pollution, and to advocate for actions and policies that honor God and protect the environment. EEN's work is grounded in the Bible's teaching on the responsibility of God's people to "tend the garden" and in a desire to be faithful to Jesus Christ and to follow Him. EEN tends to be individual and congregation and denominations from more-orthodox Protestant denominations.
The Forum on Religion and Ecology fore.yale.edu
The Forum on Religion and Ecology is the largest international multireligious project of its kind. It is engaged in exploring religious worldviews, texts, ethics, and practices in order to broaden understanding of the complex nature of current environmental concerns.
The Green Seminary Initiative greenseminaries.org
The Green Seminary Initiative encourages schools of theology to be participants in, and keepers of, God's creation in all its human, biological, geological, and ecological manifestations. To that end, the Green Seminary Initiative is dedicated to building a nationwide coalition of theological schools that infuse care of the earth into all aspects of theological education.
Interfaith Power and Light interfaithpowerandlight.org
Interfaith Power and Light sees itself as a religious response to global warming. It is a campaign of the Regeneration Project that mobilizes a religious response to global warming in 39 states. It focuses on tangible results in congregations, putting our faith into action through the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation.
Creation Justice Ministries (National Council of Churches of Christ) creationjustice.org
The Eco-Justice Program office of the National Council of Churches works in cooperation with the NCC Eco-Justice Working Group (of which the United Methodist Church is a member) "to provide an opportunity for the national bodies of member Protestant and Orthodox communions to work together to protect and restore God's Creation.
Let All Creation Praise letallcreationpraise.org
Let All Creation Praise offers worship resources for congregations to celebrate God's love for creation, to worship God with creation so as to reconcile and restore our human relationship with the rest of nature, and to foster love and care for God's whole creation. It also provides resources to celebrate a "season of creation" or "creation time" in the church year.
The National Religious Partnership for the Environment nrpe.org
This partnership is comprised of four major religious organizations, each representing faith communities across the US: the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the Evangelical Environmental Network, the National Council of Churches of Christ, and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Let All Creation Praise letallcreationpraise.org
Let All Creation Praise offers resources for congregations to celebrate God's love for creation, to worship God with creation so as to reconcile and restore our human relationship with the rest of nature, and to foster love and care for God's whole creation. We also provide resources to celebrate a "season of creation" or "creation time" in the church year.
Presbyterians for Earth Care https://presbyearthcare.org/pcusa-programs/
PEC is part of the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PCUSA) which works to inspire and equip congregations and presbyteries to work for eco-justice for all of God’s Earth. It produces, promotes and distributes faith-based environmental resources and oversees the Earth Care Congregations program.
Catholic Creation Care https://www.catholiccreationcare.com/
Roman Catholic Creation Care is not as much an organization as nationally-led educational and action-oriented resources for families and parishes, including personal study, an indigenous peoples’ park program, graded parish school lessons, and courses.
Creation Justice (American Baptist Church USA) abc-usa.org/creation-justice/
American Baptist Churches USA has long heard God’s call to tend, love and care for God’s creation and all people. They’ve understood that ecological care and human justice are one, two sides of the same coin. The Office of the General Secretary has partnered with the ABC Creation Justice Network, Creation Justice Ministries and ecoAmerica to galvanize the work their churches have been doing on climate solutions and to build visible national leadership. The ABC Creation Justice Network can offer introductory workshops and training sessions for clergy and congregations.
Future Creation Care Articles
While this monthly series of Creation Care articles is a work-in-progress, at least four more articles are anticipated to address these matters:
- Interconnections of Nature, Worship and Spirituality
- What Households Can do for Creation Care
- What Can HTELC Do for Creation Care
- What Households Can do for Creation Care
- Creation Care Books and Resources in the HTELC Library
Your comments about Creation Care articles are most welcomed. Please direct your questions, ideas and concerns to me. Thank you!
Glenn Oswald
603-507-7363
1 Fletcher Harper is an Episcopal priest and Executive Director of GreenFaith. His highly-recommended, easy-to-read book will soon be available in the HTELC Library.