What has caring for the environment got to do with mission? This was the question posed to the A Rocha team as they shared with us during the afternoon session at the recent 'A Passion for Mission' event in London. Dave Bookless provided a theological perspective on mission involving ‘creation care’, not just as a tacked on extra, but as integral to the very heart of God’s commitment to redeem the whole of creation, not just humans. Ruth Valerio gave practical examples of how a concern for the environment can impact our daily living and work and, in the final session, Sian Hawkins used the creation of Minet Country Park in Southall as a model to show just what could be done.
While they clearly showed that a green agenda and an holistic approach to creation is a real missional opportunity, the danger is that, after hearing this kind of message, we may still continue to go about business as usual. Therefore, we asked some people within the network how they, as individuals or as organisations, have responded to what they heard and discussed.
Stephen Hingston (OMF)
It is always noticeable during a question time after sessions such as these, that some evangelicals are more comfortable than others about admitting that anything other than evangelism is peripheral to mission.
The first action I took was to use a subsequent opportunity at our daily office prayers to speak on the theology. I shared about the two Great Commissions of Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:20 – to protect God’s world creation and to make disciples. I quoted from ‘The Contemporary Christian’ (John Stott ) and ‘Mission in the 21st Century’ (Andrew Walls & Cathy Ross), which both set a clear theological framework for integral mission, and tried to set this within the context of our international mission statement - the urgent evangelisation of East Asia’s peoples.
The second action taken has been to begin an informal discussion within OMF about our own agency’s responsibility. I floated the concept of a green audit covering such topics as: zero carbon emissions and waste, sustainable transport and water, local and sustainable materials and food, natural habitats and wildlife, culture and heritage, equity and fair trade, health and happiness. If creation care is a key part of integral mission, then it needs to be a key part of our practice and organisation as well.
Tim Cutting (Mission India)
The afternoon presentation from A Rocha helped me to lift my head ‘out of the sand’ as it were and begin to consider what I/we should do in response. I must now ask myself, “Does the call and commission ‘to go’ outweigh any ‘collateral damage’ that is done to our environment as a consequence?” God has the power to redeem those we reach, but perhaps His world is not always being redeemed by our actions! How do we as a mission agency, ensure that our calling is linked into the wider picture?
‘Paradigm shift’ is the phrase that comes to mind - perhaps a new, radical (redeemed?) approach is necessary. That’s a challenge, but God is into ‘new things’!
I enjoyed the day, but at times felt distinctly uncomfortable…. Can we really make all the changes that we need to and be more integrated in our approach to mission?
Stephanie Kraft (OC International)
“(S)he who has ears to hear, let (her) hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches…”
I heard it. Now what to do with it?
Dave Bookless’ presentation on the theology and practicalities of creation care left me reeling. If everyone on our planet were to live as I do, we’d need more than three additional Earths to provide the level of resources that I use. The corollary is clear - if I continue living as I do, I am using more than my fair share; I’m taking what someone else needs; I am not living righteously.
The personal challenge was clear - to make everyday choices that promote care for all of God’s creation. The organizational challenge was a bit murkier - how can the mission agency that I serve, OC International, build this commitment into our discipleship and leadership training initiatives? How does Christian conservation fit into our understanding of core competencies for church leaders?
I suspect the cognitive binding of environmental issues with justice issues won’t be the hurdle, as OC is already strongly committed to these. I’m afraid that we’ll just get bogged down in the 'how' more than the 'why' and, as I used to tell my children when they were small, “slow obedience is disobedience”. If we take forever to implement change, it will be as if we were never touched by this truth at all.
Helen Johnston (Presbyterian Church, Ireland)
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
These words from Psalm 24kept coming to me as I listened to the ARocha speakers.
On a practical level, we were challengedto consider the place where we areserving. In order to get inside the cultureproperly, surely we need to consider questions relating to how the communityinteracts with the local ecosystems. Weneed to look at use of resources, foodchains, population growth, energy use,waste disposal and much more.
The challenge for PCI is how to morefully integrate environmental concernsand our responsibilities to all of God’screation into the everyday attitudes andactions of our church members. Throughour work overseas, we have firsthandexperience of the many complex issuesaround the world that affect us all, butare felt most severely by those whom wepartner with and endeavour to learn from.As I report back to those from PCI whosent me to 'A Passion for Mission', I havemore questions than answers. Greeningyourself, your office and your lifestylebegins with a frame of mind and requirespractical steps, both big and small.
Anne Clements (West Kingdown Baptist Church)
To be honest, as far as I was concerned as an individual, I felt that they were preaching to the converted. At home we have implemented changes to save energy, and recycle. Theologically I was also convinced. Nevertheless, I was challenged to think more broadly; to think how as a Baptist minister I could let some of what I had heard impact my ministry - both my preaching and the more practical aspects. Here is what I came up with:
- I have decided to preach a series next spring based on Dave’s book Planetwise. This will be tied into home group Bible studies in order to allow people to explore the subject further.
- As a church, we are involved in a small building project, part of which includes a glass roof atrium. We are looking into the possibility of fitting solar panels.
- At the back of the church, we have a sizeable patch of unused land that backs onto a school. Would it not be possible, with the help of local young people, to turn this into a wild life garden and open it up to the school children? Can we legitimately label this ‘mission’? A Rocha’s answer would be a resounding ‘Yes’!
Conclusions
The afternoon was more than just being about global warming, and focused on our relationship with creation. As evangelicals, we are good at activism, so perhaps the best way to conclude this review is to reproduce the outline we were given by Ruth Valerio as action points we each need to think about and even dare to begin to implement:
- Become ecologically literate in the place where you’re serving
- How does the area / community / society relate to the natural systems that are there?
- What is the state of environmental and ecological health of the area?
- What historical, political, economic and religious forces have molded your locality?
- What understanding and perception of nature is there?
- How might the community and natural systems relate sustainably?
- Practical implications
- Raise awareness internally
- Conduct an audit – what are your biggest ecological impacts? (www.carbontrust.co.uk)
- Greening your travel
- Greening your office
A complete list of the action points provided by Ruth Valerio, together with audio recordings of the A Rocha presentations, is available from the Global Connections website at www.globalconnections.co.uk/pfm
