EcoChurch
"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Romans 8:19-21
The call to action to care for God’s earth in the last few years has become increasingly urgent and as we witness global economic issues, climate change and reports of significant environmental losses, the role of stewarding God’s creation into freedom lies right at the heart of our discipleship. We are called to seek justice and this matter involves us all. The call is not on one individual to find solutions but a call for us to work together as the body of Christ.
At LOVECHURCH we are encouraged by the Church of England and the decision to ask all churches to reduce their impact to net zero by 2030, which is 20 years ahead of the global edict.
We have started our journey by recently gaining an EcoChurch Bronze award by A Rocha and are now looking forward to growing a dedicated, enthusiastic and inspired Eco team to help us achieve Gold. Over the coming months, we will be adding further pages of information and projects for you to champion! Why not come along to our Talking Climate Justice Event on 22 October 2022, join us at Hilfield Friary for Act for Nature Day on 12 Nov 22 or fill out our form here, and sign up as a member of the Eco team?
As we continue our Eco Church journey, we must continually consider the Church of England Environment Programme and Net Zero Churches here.
TREASURE: The Fifth Mark of Mission
“To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”
As a church, our role is to be the earth's stewards and protect its resources and through Scripture, we feel the call to action now! The term creation care is not just about caring for the planet - scientific evidence shows poor management of the earth’s resources impact people everywhere. This is because climate change is a “threat multiplier.” The issues related to climate change: refugees, sustainability, disease, hunger, conflict or the extinction of species are exponentially increasing, and we need to make sure we do not abuse or neglect the responsibility God placed in our Spirit, hearts and hands.
How? The answer lies in our understanding of creation care and knowing it is a part of every Christian’s discipleship. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15. God gave us the responsibility to look after the earth he described as very good, but our thinking needs to change from damaging individualistic lifestyle choices to advocating for the most vulnerable and harmed. Through action to protect the planet, we are caring for one another in the way God envisioned and through this, we find Gospel hope.
TRANSFORM: The Fourth Mark of Mission
“To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.”
Our understanding of the theology of creation care shapes the Kingdom of God. As Christians, we can create a ripple effect throughout society by setting an example. This calls for us to be vessels of environmental justice and help stop the impact on those who are already the most disadvantaged. Everything we read in Scripture explains our journey to God’s New Kingdom is through caring for ALL of God’s creation and this will ask us to be radical in making changes to our lifestyle and choices.
As Christians, we are called to lead the way and be champions of hope: “God sends forth the Spirit to create and to renew the face of the earth” Psalm 104:30 and “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18-19
