| As a Unitarian Universalist and a liberal religious | | | | to him for it". |
| faith, I'm confident that environmental stewardship | | | | "Since this declaration,"Harmer says, "considerable |
| is important in my religious community. Our | | | | efforts have been made to move away from |
| Seventh Principle charges us to "respect the | | | | ecologically detrimental Christian theological |
| interdependent web of all existence of which we | | | | concepts and towards an inclusive theology that |
| are a part." UU churches often seem to grow out | | | | embraces the whole of creation; the intention of |
| of the very ground in which they're planted, with | | | | this revised theology is to encourage all Christians |
| a preponderance of yurt-like buildings, and an | | | | to become communally more practically involved |
| emphasis on union with the environment. | | | | in efforts to resolve ecological concerns." |
| The Unitarian Universalist Association has a | | | | Perhaps not surprisingly, the growing religious drive |
| Ministry for the Earth, and my own church is | | | | toward sustainability is divided along similar lines as |
| actively seeking Green Sanctuary certification | | | | general scientific thought on climate change issues, |
| through that ministry, working hard to sustainably | | | | and often hinges on Third World poverty |
| walk our ecological talk. | | | | concerns. |
| But beyond us, within larger religious communities | | | | A 2007 Wall Street Journal article titled, |
| where we often part company on the basis of | | | | "Environmentalism splits Evangelical Community," |
| creed or dogma, a growing stewardship | | | | observes: |
| movement appears to herald something of a | | | | "The National Association of Evangelicals' vice |
| cosmic shift in mainstream theology. | | | | president for governmental affairs, Richard Cizik, |
| Can churches succeed where government stalls? | | | | has ... been a prominent supporter for "creation |
| Can we connect with an environmental ethic | | | | care." Nervous about associating themselves with |
| inherent in the lives of all people that would | | | | scientists or big-government environmentalists, |
| change lifestyles and social structures to positively | | | | they broadly argue that Christians have a duty to |
| impact our environment? | | | | nurture God's creation, and to fight global warming |
| In a dissertation titled, "Faith-Based Environmental | | | | due to the harm it would cause the poor. The |
| Groups in the United States and Their Strategies | | | | green evangelicals have come under attack from |
| for Change," written by Angela M. Smith, of the | | | | their peers for bad theology, bad science and |
| Center for Environmental Studies, at Brown | | | | distracting people from more pressing campaigns. |
| University last May, Smith observes that the | | | | " |
| modern environmental movement has its roots in | | | | The rift manifests itself in two camps: The |
| the spirituality of its forebears such as Thoreau | | | | Interfaith Stewardship Alliance (ISE) and the |
| and Muir. | | | | Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) |
| "Today," she writes, "that spirituality can be still be | | | | The Interfaith Stewardship Alliance who's slogan |
| seen in the secular, ecofeminist, and | | | | features the unlikely combination of words |
| environmental justice segments of the | | | | "Dominion, Stewardship, Conservation," is an |
| present-day environmental movement." - things | | | | evangelical organization that questions the scientific |
| we, as UU, recognize and to which we readily | | | | consensus on global warming. |
| respond. | | | | The ISA wants, "a proper and balanced Biblical |
| However, she notes three significant reasons for | | | | view of stewardship to the critical issues of |
| the increase in overall faith based stewardship | | | | environment and development." It takes as its |
| movements: | | | | unifying statement, the Cornwall Declaration, a |
| 1) Increased attention from mainstream press for | | | | document published by the Acton Institute in |
| religious calls to environmental action; | | | | 2000 . The Acton Institute is a think tank and |
| 2) A crisis of conscience in the secular | | | | advocacy institute "Integrating Judeo-Christian |
| environmental movement, which has been | | | | Truths with Free Market Principles." |
| criticized for its failure to promote broader ethical | | | | The Cornwall Declaration sets the stage thusly: |
| principles; | | | | "The past millennium brought unprecedented |
| 3) Faith-based environmentalism being seen as a | | | | improvements in human health, nutrition, and life |
| way to recapture earlier calls by people like Aldo | | | | expectancy, especially among those most blessed |
| Leopold for an environmental ethic to guide our | | | | by political and economic liberty and advances in |
| relationships with the natural world if widespread | | | | science and technology. At the dawn of a new |
| degradation is to cease. | | | | millennium, the opportunity exists to build on these |
| "An environmental ethic inherent in the lives of | | | | advances and to extend them to more of the |
| nearly all individuals, "suggests Smith, " would | | | | earth's people. |
| change lifestyles and social structures in such a | | | | "At the same time, many are concerned that |
| way that the number of environmental issues | | | | liberty, science, and technology are more a threat |
| arising would dramatically decrease. In theory, | | | | to the environment than a blessing to humanity |
| people would simply live justly and responsibly | | | | and nature. Out of shared reverence for God and |
| with the earth, and there would be no conflict | | | | His creation and love for our neighbors, we Jews, |
| between whether or not to drill for oil in a national | | | | Catholics, and Protestants, speaking for ourselves |
| refuge, for example, or to better promote public | | | | and not officially on behalf of our respective |
| transportation since one would simply know what | | | | communities, joined by others of good will, and |
| the ethically correct solution to such a problem | | | | committed to justice and compassion, unite in this |
| would be." | | | | declaration of our common concerns, beliefs, and |
| Smith notes, too, that: "While the faith-based | | | | aspirations." |
| environmental movement is growing, the | | | | The Cornwall Declaration identifies three areas of |
| proportion of the adult American population that is | | | | "common misunderstanding": |
| Christian has declined from 86% in 1990 to 77% | | | | 1. Many people mistakenly view humans as |
| in 2001 . The percentage of non-Christian adults | | | | principally consumers and polluters rather than |
| has remained fairly steady, only increasing in ten | | | | producers and stewards. And "ignore our potential, |
| years by less than half a percent, to reach 3.7%. | | | | as bearers of God's image, to add to the earth's |
| In addition, there is a trend wherein the | | | | abundance." causing, "...The tendency among some |
| percentage of adults who identify themselves | | | | to oppose economic progress in the name of |
| with a particular religious denomination has steadily | | | | environmental stewardship is often sadly |
| declined from 90% in 1991 to 81% in 2001. | | | | self-defeating." |
| "...Evangelical Christian churches and those that are | | | | 2. Many people believe that "nature knows best," |
| nondenominational, on the other hand, have seen | | | | or that the earth-untouched by human hands-is |
| the most significant increases in membership over | | | | the ideal. Such romanticism leads some to deify |
| the past decade. The Roman Catholic church, | | | | nature or oppose human dominion over creation. |
| bolstered by immigrants, has likewise seen an | | | | Our position, informed by revelation and |
| increase in number of adherents. That being said, | | | | confirmed by reason and experience, views |
| an additional group that has witnessed important | | | | human stewardship that unlocks the potential in |
| increases in numbers consists of individuals who | | | | creation for all the earth's inhabitants as good. .... |
| profess no religion. This suggests that these | | | | Human life, says this doctrine, "must be cherished |
| changing patterns have as much to do with a | | | | and allowed to flourish. The alternative-denying the |
| rejection of faith as they do with the seeking of | | | | possibility of beneficial human management of the |
| different faiths among Americans." | | | | earth-removes all rationale for environmental |
| Might the common search for a sustaining | | | | stewardship. |
| environmental ethic become the engine that | | | | 3. While some environmental concerns are well |
| drives our theologies in a new direction? There | | | | founded and serious, others are without |
| are many religiously driven efforts underway to | | | | foundation or greatly exaggerated. |
| help people think about the world in new ways, | | | | Among the concluding goals of the document: |
| and Smith breaks them down into three | | | | - We aspire to a world in which human beings |
| categories: | | | | care wisely and humbly for all creatures, first and |
| - Christian stewardship | | | | foremost for their fellow human beings, |
| - Creation spiritualists and | | | | recognizing their proper place in the created order. |
| - Eco-justice advocates | | | | - We aspire to a world in which liberty as a |
| Within the category of Christian stewardship, | | | | condition of moral action is preferred over |
| which includes aspects of the creation spirituality | | | | government-initiated management of the |
| and eco-justice, divisions occur, even as groups | | | | environment as a means to common goals. |
| try to move forward in their search for a unifying | | | | - We aspire to a world in which the relationships |
| theory of religious stewardship. | | | | between stewardship and private property are |
| Often, differences hinge on principles of | | | | fully appreciated, allowing people's natural incentive |
| eco-justice, the main difference between | | | | to care for their own property to reduce the |
| Protestant and Catholic environmentalism, notes | | | | need for collective ownership and control of |
| Smith. "In Protestant environmentalism, | | | | resources and enterprises, and in which collective |
| eco-justice is only one among many approaches | | | | action, when deemed necessary, takes place at |
| to solving the environmental crisis. Within | | | | the most local level possible. |
| Catholicism, ... it seems to hold greater weight." | | | | - We aspire to a world in which widespread |
| To me, that makes the intensity of faith based | | | | economic freedom-which is integral to private, |
| environmental efforts, even more poignant. | | | | market economies-makes sound ecological |
| Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in the foreword to a | | | | stewardship available to ever greater numbers. |
| global effort called the Earth Bible Project, put it | | | | - We aspire to a world in which advancements in |
| this way: | | | | agriculture, industry, and commerce not only |
| "Planet Earth is in crisis. More and more life | | | | minimize pollution and transform most waste |
| systems are being threatened. Scientists estimate | | | | products into efficiently used resources but also |
| that at least half, and perhaps as many as 80% | | | | improve the material conditions of life for people |
| of the world's animal and plant species, are found | | | | everywhere. |
| in the rainforests. The rainforests are the lungs of | | | | Signers of the doctrine include the American |
| the planet producing much of the oxygen that | | | | Baptist Association, the Catholic Church, the |
| humans and other oxygen-dependent creatures | | | | Episcopal Church , the Evangelical Lutheran Church, |
| need to survive. The rainforests, alas, are still | | | | the Mennonites, the Presbyterian Church , |
| being destroyed at an alarming rate. | | | | Seventh Day Adventists, and the United |
| "Resolving the ecological crisis of our planet, | | | | Methodist Church. |
| however, is no longer a problem we can leave to | | | | The Evangelical Climate Initiative takes a different |
| the scientists. Just as are all part of the problem, | | | | tack, stating, "The same love for God and |
| we are also part of the solution. We all need to | | | | neighbor that compels us to preach salvation |
| come to terms with the forces that have | | | | through Jesus Christ, protect the unborn, |
| created this crisis and the resources within our | | | | preserve the family and the sanctity of marriage, |
| traditions that can motivate us to resolve the | | | | and take the whole Gospel to a hurting world, also |
| crisis. One of those traditions is our biblical | | | | compels us to recognize that human-induced |
| heritage." | | | | climate change is a serious Christian issue requiring |
| The Earth Bible project seeks to "develop a set | | | | action now." |
| of principles to re-read the biblical text from an | | | | The ECI has issued their own statement, called |
| ecojustice perspective." The project seeks not to | | | | "Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action1: |
| defend biblical text blindly, says Tutu, but to | | | | Human-Induced Climate Change is Real |
| "identify those passages which may have | | | | 2: The Consequences of Climate Change Will Be |
| contributed to the crisis and to uncover those | | | | Significant, and Will Hit the Poor the Hardest |
| traditions which have valued Earth but been | | | | 3: Christian Moral Convictions Demand Our |
| suppressed." | | | | Response to the Climate Change Problem |
| It's a complex effort, at best, and the Earth Bible | | | | 4: The need to act now is urgent. Governments, |
| Team acknowledges that "much of the Bible does | | | | businesses, churches, and individuals all have a role |
| not seem to reflect a religious worldview that | | | | to play in addressing climate change starting now. |
| was particularly sensitive towards the natural | | | | The preamble to "An Evangelical Call to Action" |
| environment." | | | | asserts: |
| Yet they nevertheless hope to uncover | | | | "As American evangelical Christian leaders, we |
| "suppressed Earth traditions that resist the | | | | recognize both our opportunity and our |
| dominant patriarchal anthropocentric orientation of | | | | responsibility to offer a biblically based moral |
| the text, "" Readings from the Perspective of the | | | | witness that can help shape public policy in the |
| Earth" the first part of the Earth Bible project, | | | | most powerful nation on earth, and therefore |
| lays out six eco-justice principles: | | | | contribute to the well-being of the entire world. |
| | | | Whether we will enter the public square and offer |
| 1. The Principle of Intrinsic Worth: | | | | our witness there is no longer an open question. |
| 2. The Principle of Interconnectedness: | | | | We are in that square, and we will not withdraw." |
| 3. The Principle of Voice: | | | | ECI says, "Poor nations and poor individuals have |
| 4. The Principle of Purpose: | | | | fewer resources available to cope with major |
| 5. The Principle of Mutual Custodianship: Earth is a | | | | challenges and threats. The consequences of |
| balanced and diverse domain where responsible | | | | global warming will therefore hit the poor the |
| custodians can function as partners with, rather | | | | hardest, in part because those areas likely to be |
| than rulers over, Earth to sustain its balance and a | | | | significantly affected first are in the poorest |
| diverse Earth community. | | | | regions of the world. Millions of people could die in |
| 6. The Principle of Resistance: Earth and its | | | | this century because of climate change, most of |
| components not only suffer from human | | | | them our poorest global neighbors." |
| injustices but actively resist them in the struggle | | | | "The basic task for all of the world's inhabitants is |
| for justice. | | | | to find ways now to begin to reduce the carbon |
| This first volume identifies many problematic | | | | dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels |
| biblical texts, including an analysis of the Book of | | | | that are the primary cause of human-induced |
| Amos, which is full of a lot of God-ordained | | | | climate change." |
| pummeling of the earth and withholding of vital | | | | Signatories include "Rick Warren, author of "A |
| natural resources, like rain. | | | | Purpose-Driven Life", and the founder of the Lake |
| It also looks at Psalm 8, which declares that God | | | | Forest, Ca.-based Saddleback Church, a |
| has made man "little less than a god, crowning him | | | | megachurch of 20,000 to 25,000; Rich Stearns, |
| with glory and honor. Thou makest him master | | | | the president of World Vision; Todd Bassett, the |
| over all thy creatures; thou hast put everything | | | | Salvation Army national commander, David Neff |
| under his feet: all sheep and oxen, all the wild | | | | and Timothy George; the editor and executive |
| beast, the birds in the air and the fish in the sea, | | | | editors respectively of Christianity Today; Duane |
| and all that moves along the paths of ocean." -- | | | | Litfin, the president of Wheaton College; and Leith |
| an assertion which leads one Earth Bible Project | | | | Anderson, the former president of the National |
| author to conclude that "the Earth's interests are | | | | Association of Evangelicals (NAE) . " |
| certainly not central." | | | | "We believe the problem is serious," says ECI, " |
| And then there's Hebrews 6:7-8, which reads, | | | | but that cost-effective solutions are available that |
| "When the earth drinks in the rain that falls upon it | | | | will also create jobs, clean up our environment, |
| from time to time, and yields a useful crop to | | | | make us more efficient, and reduce our |
| those for whom it is cultivated, it is receiving its | | | | dependence on foreign oil, thereby enhancing our |
| share of blessing from God; but if it bears thorns | | | | national security. Working together, and with God's |
| and thistles, it is worthless and God's curse hangs | | | | help, we can make a difference." |
| over it; the end of that is burning." Now there's | | | | ISA argues back :"With the general assertions |
| some hefty heavenly precedent for slashing and | | | | that Christians must care about climate change |
| burning. | | | | because we love God and are called to love our |
| Most mainstream religious environmental | | | | neighbors and that God has given us stewardship |
| movements, though, are driven by basic relational | | | | over the earth, we agree. But these address |
| and ethical questions like the one Rev. Dr. David | | | | motive. They do not specify action. |
| Pickering of the UK, "What on Earth has the | | | | "The specific actions demanded by the ECI are |
| environment got to do with church?" (Bible | | | | "to find ways now to begin to reduce the carbon |
| Society, 2003) | | | | dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels |
| "...Many in the church categorize environmental | | | | that are the primary cause of human-induced |
| issues as the preserve of civil society - ," writes | | | | climate change" and to "help the poor adapt to |
| Rev. Pickering. "They do their bit at such places as | | | | the significant harm that global warming will cause." |
| the recycling bank, or put the environment on the | | | | But (we believe), the harms caused by |
| busy church agenda along with a range of issues | | | | mandatory CO2 emissions reductions will almost |
| competing for their attention. However, it is | | | | certainly outweigh the benefits, especially to the |
| increasingly recognized that good stewardship of | | | | poor, for whom the marginal increases in prices |
| the environment or creation care is a core part of | | | | will be a much greater burden than for the rich. |
| discipleship; it is undertaken as part of a Christian | | | | "The world's poor are much better served by |
| response to the God of creation, rather than as | | | | enhancing their wealth through economic |
| an optional extra within church life. Churches also | | | | development than by whatever minute reductions |
| report that environmental initiatives are an | | | | might be achieved in future global warming by |
| effective mechanism for Christian mission | | | | reducing CO2 emissions. It is difficult to imagine |
| because they can help the church engage with | | | | how it could possibly be that, as the ECI claims, |
| society on what is arguably one of the most | | | | "The basic task for all of the world's inhabitants is |
| pressing issues of the twenty-first century." | | | | to find ways now to begin to reduce the carbon |
| There, in a nutshell, you have it: Faith based | | | | dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels |
| sustainability helps churches engage with society | | | | that are the primary cause of human-induced |
| on one of the most pressing issues of the 21st | | | | climate change." |
| century, the common ground of our increasingly | | | | "Millions of poor people in developing countries die |
| ravaged planet and our hopes for staying alive on | | | | every year because they lack clean water and |
| it. | | | | indoor plumbing, electricity (forcing them to burn |
| Pickering has a different perspective on questions | | | | wood and dung for cooking and heating and to |
| of Biblical precedence for caring for the Earth. | | | | live without refrigeration and air conditioning), |
| "Whilst the word "environment" is not found in the | | | | sewage treatment, jobs, access to affordable |
| Bible," he writes, " - the importance of | | | | medical care, and adequate nutrition-not to |
| environmental care is implicit in many texts. | | | | mention just and orderly legal and economic |
| Genesis 1-2 records two different creation stories, | | | | systems. Not only will the policies proposed by the |
| each of which set out aspects of a proper | | | | ECI not solve any of these real, present, and |
| relationship between God, humanity and the rest | | | | vast problems, but instead they will slow down |
| of the created order. | | | | and in some cases prevent their being solved- |
| "Rather than being an ordered or scientific | | | | "...It is immoral and harmful to Earth's poorest |
| account of the origins of the cosmos the story of | | | | citizens," says ISA, " to deny them the benefits |
| creation in six days conveys the message that | | | | of abundant, reliable, affordable electricity and |
| everything is dependent for its existence and | | | | other forms of energy ... merely because it is |
| meaning upon the sovereign God. The culmination | | | | produced by using fossil fuels. Foreseeable forms |
| of creation, with the Sabbath as a day of rest | | | | of renewable energy ... won't provide reliable, |
| and celebration, reminds us that worship is the | | | | affordable electricity at least for many years, in |
| first response to God the creator. | | | | amounts that are adequate and necessary for |
| "Christian environmental care should naturally flow | | | | modern hospitals, factories, homes, communities |
| from this," writes Pickering. " The creation story | | | | and nations. To tell poor families, communities, and |
| includes a refrain "and God saw that it was good", | | | | nations that they can't develop hydroelectric or |
| which indicates that creation does not exist just | | | | nuclear energy either, because some people |
| for what humanity can get out of it, but has | | | | disapprove of them, is unconscionable. |
| value in God's eyes. The refrain reminds humanity | | | | "...We agree that it is wise to pursue increasing |
| that the whole created order is to be respected | | | | energy efficiency through the development of |
| with integrity rather than relentlessly exploited." | | | | new technologies. But a program that can only be |
| Adding man to the mix, says Pickering, and in | | | | done by government mandate is by definition not |
| "God's image" no less, "reflects the privilege and | | | | a program that the market deems cost effective. |
| responsibility we are given. ...the privilege to enjoy | | | | We believe the market is a better judge of cost |
| the gift of creation and a responsibility for those | | | | effectiveness than bureaucrats and politicians. |
| made in the image of God to live according to his | | | | What are needed are prudent policies that reflect |
| teaching." | | | | actual risks, costs, and benefits; an honest |
| An entirely new discipline has arisen here: An | | | | evaluation of sound scientific, economic, and |
| Eco-theology. Some have been at the leading | | | | technological data; and unbiased application of |
| edge of this trend for years - Connie Barlow and | | | | moral, ethical, and theological principles." |
| Michael Dowd, come to mind immediately, with | | | | So who's right? Do the nuances of position even |
| their traveling 'Great Story" , which they've | | | | matter so much as the fact that positions are |
| brought to Spirit of Life a couple of times now, | | | | actually being taken on environmental stewardship |
| and which meshes evolution with spirituality. | | | | by mainstream denominations? |
| But only recently has ecotheology really come | | | | When I first began exploring the differing camps |
| into the common religious vernacular. | | | | of ecotheology, I was inclined to side with ECI - |
| In, "Eco-Congregation: A successful blend of | | | | we must do drastic and difficult things now to |
| theology and ecology?" a dissertation published | | | | save the earth. But as I read on, I began to see |
| just this past May by Catherine Harmer, Harmer | | | | the logic, as well, of ISAs implications that we |
| writes, " The academic discipline of 'ecotheology' is | | | | shouldn't throw the Third World babies out with |
| still relatively new and some scholars find it | | | | the contaminated bath water. How do we balance |
| difficult to reconcile the relationship between | | | | environmental stewardship with economic and |
| theology and ecology. | | | | social justice ? How do we find a common |
| "Christianity has been, and is still often, accused of | | | | language from which to proceed? |
| being a major contributory factor of the global | | | | "In spite of their limited capacity and difficulty in |
| ecological crisis. Although it generally advocates | | | | finding a common language, however" notes |
| caring for creation, Christianity has frequently | | | | Angela Smith, " ... faith-based environmental |
| been rebuked for not always practicing what it | | | | groups ... bring something novel and important to |
| preaches. In addition to Christianity's supposed lack | | | | the table of the broader environmental |
| of positive action, some Christian doctrines are | | | | movement. Their skill in joining together diverse |
| also perceived to be detrimental influences on | | | | groups of people, their sense of hope and |
| humanity's treatment of the planet." | | | | optimism that change is possible, the strength of |
| Harmer, however, like Pickering before her, | | | | their convictions, and their work on changing |
| believes that Christianity is not intrinsically averse | | | | values complement and improve upon the work |
| to ecological issues and that positive actions are | | | | of mainstream environmental organizations. On |
| being taken within the Church to improve | | | | the whole, because of characteristics such as |
| ecological circumstances. | | | | these, the religious-environmental movement has |
| "... It is understandable that the misinterpretation | | | | great potential to bring about lasting environmental |
| and abuse of theological concepts such as | | | | change in a large number of people and |
| 'dominion', 'free-will' and 'eternal life', for example, | | | | institutions. It has just to convince others of that |
| have led to the accusation that Christianity is a | | | | potential to realize what it is capable of |
| major contributory factor of the world's ecological | | | | accomplishing." |
| crisis, " notes Harmer. | | | | "...Every prescription is likely to have both positive |
| The real question, Harmer quotes UK | | | | and negative consequences-for different aspects |
| environmentalist Jonathon Porritt as saying, is "not | | | | of the environment, different species, different |
| so much whether or not Christ would vote | | | | regions, and different groups of people," observes |
| Green, but whether or not the Church would | | | | ECI. "...and we hope our evangelical brothers and |
| have him declared a heretic for so doing!" | | | | sisters, and all who are concerned not just about |
| Harmer underscores that Green Christianity is not | | | | global warming but about other threats to human |
| new, only newly popular, and she points to 'An | | | | and planetary well being, will study it carefully." |
| Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation' | | | | Perhaps,in the long run, seriously studying the |
| issued in 1994 'to assert and emphasize that this | | | | issues will, in fact, become the common ground |
| Earth belongs to God and that we are responsible | | | | on which we can all sustainably stand. |