Christians called to steward creation
Although climate change remains a controversial subject, people of faith are becoming increasingly concerned about the phenomenon. From British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, Christians are taking active roles in stewarding God’s creation and staving off catastrophe, before it’s too late.
“Christians are committed to addressing a lot of very important issues, but with climate change we have a very narrow window of time to start heading in a different direction,” says climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe. “Climate change is already affecting our lives and other issues we really care about and it’s becoming more urgent every year that passes without us taking serious measures to reduce the impact we are having.”
Despite decades of warnings about the effects of climate change and countless awareness campaigns, some Christians believe climate change is a myth. Hayhoe says she has realized most skeptics have good reasons they don’t believe, but attributes it largely to false information being promoted by people the Christian community generally trusts.
“People we trust and whose values we share are telling us this is not a real issue,” she explains. “Many of the news outlets and politicians who share our Christian values are the same ones that are telling us that climate change isn’t real, but it’s already affecting our brothers and sisters at home and around the world, especially those who are most vulnerable if a flood or drought comes along.”
Hayhoe says her faith is a key reason she takes climate change so seriously. As weather patterns become more extreme, Westerners are generally able to adapt, but in the developing world, among people Christians already support through organizations like Compassion International, World Vision and Food For The Hungry, poverty compounds the problem.
“Climate change is not about polar bears or the planet,” she says. “It’s about people being harmed by this global problem. When we recognize that this is not about tree-hugging, but this is about caring for people, then as Christians we already have the values we need to take action on this issue.”
As a Christian, Hayhoe says she feels a responsibility to engage skeptics in discussions about their reasons for not believing in climate change.
“As I talk to people, I’ve heard that they think it is just a natural cycle, it’s just volcanoes or the sun. So I respond, ‘let’s talk about that and look at the reasons why scientists don’t think so. Then you can make up your own mind based on good information.’”
Hayhoe was the feature speaker for Trinity Western University's (TWU) 2014 Distinguished Lecture Series. Each year, the series hosts leading Christian scholars who excel in engaging their faith with their field.
Bill Strom, professor of media and communications at TWU says, “We cannot go through life unaware of how human activity can destroy or mend God’s world. We are called to steward God’s creation. Katherine Hayhoe will inspire our students and professors in their journey of [exploring] God’s lordship over all we do.”
On Canada’s East Coast, the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island has formed a “Creation Care Network” in response to strong concerns for the environment raised at its annual synod.
“The network helps Anglicans get a sense of the broader world, connect and support each other and make a difference both locally and regionally,” says network chair Marian Lucas-Jefferies. “Our job is to let the people come up with their dream for caring for creation and to find ways of encouraging and supporting them.”
In urban areas, the network is supporting community garden initiatives, with Christians coming together to share food and learning to grow vegetables. Rural churches are promoting sustainable agriculture.
“We have some parishes interested in wind power projects and some interested in solar power projects. We are sponsoring a workshop on how to ‘green’ your church and reduce your carbon footprint. The network helps people carry out all kinds of initiatives—anything from a community garden to liturgical practices and worship resources that help us be more sensitive to our Christian call to care for God’s creation.”
In October, the diocese’ annual youth conference was dedicated to caring for creation. Participants spent the weekend studying God’s plan for creation from the first chapter of Genesis, blessing animals on an organic farm and exploring how enhancing their care for creation strengthens their relationship with the Creator.
“It’s so important that we don’t sit on our hands as Christians,” says Lucas-Jefferies. “We have a crisis on this planet, and the Church has a role in caring for people and caring for God’s creation. Sunday services are only the beginning of our serving the Lord.”
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