On paper at least, or on pixel perhaps I should say, there is solid support across every Christian denomination for environmental protection – whatever else they might disagree on (a good resource for this is www.blessedearth.org/files/bin/341, and another excellent resource is Dave Bookless’s authoritative analysis found at www.arocha.org/int-en/3289-DSY.html)
One example, from the Evangelical Church in America, http://www.elca.org/socialstatements/environment: We see the despoiling of the environment as nothing less than the degradation of God's gracious gift of creation.
Another, from the US Catholic Bishops, http://usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/bishopsstatement.shtml : The whole human race suffers as a result of environmental blight, and generations yet unborn will bear the cost for our failure to act today
A third, from the Orthodox Church, http://nccecojustice.org/downloads/anth/orthox.pdf: The value of the creation is seen not only in the fact that it is intrinsically good, but also in the fact that it is appointed by God to be the home for living beings
And so on, and so on…evangelicals, traditional and megachurch, all of one mind. After all, it is the same Bible, more or less, so you might think, how difficult could it be? Yet, when it comes to concrete action from parishioners – you and I sitting in the pew – how much are we energized by what our church leaders, pastors and priests say? How much do Christians act out the Creation Care message?
On the eve of Earth Day 2010, a huge group of churches - across the United States, and as far afield as Uruguay, South Africa and the UK - will be linking up for a simulcast by the Blessed Earth organization. This non-profit is headed up by Matthew and Nancy Sleeth, who have radically downsized – Matthew giving up a doctor’s salary – to fully live the green message (www.blessedearth.org). This event is a launch of their new films (from the makers of Rob Bell’s popular NOOMA series) called Blessed Earth. Separated into two six-film discs, (“Hope for Creation,” and “Hope for Humanity”) the films are mainly intended as an encouragement to get the less-connected among the Christian faithful more motivated, more committed, more energized to do something on Earth Day.
It will be hosted at the Northland megachurch in Orlando, which regularly has ten thousand people at its services. The church’s pastor, Joel Hunter, has been a great Creation Care advocate for a good while, and has thrown his not inconsiderable weight of personnel and influence behind it. But the evening is attempting to be as broadly appealing as it can be, incorporating as it does video statements from Christian and secular leaders, music, Nancy Sleeth’s personal account of their own green journey and - after sampling two of the films - a live questions and answers session with Matthew Sleeth taking questions from the audience and the web.
Why is all of this such a big deal? Well, whether you are Christian or not, the lack of involvement by the churches – and their road-to-Damascus conversion to environmental protection (if you will forgive the pun) – really matters. We are talking an army of tens of millions, working to save the planet…if they can unite.
I discussed this with Will Sears recently – he is Blessed Earth’s Communications Director. I asked him about the challenges of getting the word out and enthusing all fifty states and beyond. Will told me that ‘The hope is that this simulcast will foster many thousands of local initiatives...and that these will finally mobilize churches and their congregations to really get out there and do something – so that once they understand that God really needs us to look after the wonderful creation he gave us, they can act it out. THAT’S why the event is on the eve of Earth Day…so that the thousands who attend can wake up on April 22nd with a whole new spirit of “serving God and saving the planet”’.
A Christian, or just interested? Visit www.blessedearth.org to sign up yourself. Should be fun. Maybe it will start a trend. God knows we need it.
