EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Four, Number Six July/August 1995 ENGLISH VISITOR REFLECTS ON GREEN CHRISTIANS A brief summary of ideas expressed by Dennis Richards, a Methodist lay preacher and editor of Green Christians, journal of England's Christian Ecology Link, in conversation with his New York host Rev. Finley Schaef of Brooklyn, while on a trip to North America. "I think what comes across most from the US and Canadian green Christian movements is that change has to start from the grass roots. It's really no good waiting for the leadership to do something. That fits in very well with Jesus' approach — he didn't try to reform the Sanhedrin but went straight for the ordinary people — fishermen, tax-collectors, women. "There are two ways of looking at the question of why Christians should be concerned about ecology. From a human rights point of view every person, being made in the image of God and loved by God, has a right to a healthy environment. And as all life is interdependent we should take care of whole habitats and ecosystems. "A more radical way of looking at the question is to consider God's purpose in creating the universe. The universe is probably at least 10 billion years older than our planet. All this creation could not possibly be for our selfish use. God seems to delight in creating a diversity of living and non-living things for their own sake. This demands that we treat the whole creation with respect. "Jesus seems to have been very aware of God at work in natural phenomena: the growth of yeasts, of mustard seeds, of wheat and weeds. His parables draw upon farming metaphors: shepherds, vineyards, farmers. The God of Jesus Christ is a God who watches over and nourishes the flowers and birds. For this reason we also should be concerned about creation. "Concerned individuals of several denominations in England in 1982 set up the Christian Ecology Group, now the Christian Ecology Link (CEL) with about 350 members. Practical ecological projects of local churches include recycling schemes, care of churchyards and glebe land to encourage wildlife, switching to organic bread and wine, and ecological audits to look at church energy and waste practices. "Some churches and cathedrals have turned the Harvest Festival service into a service for the celebration of creation, while there are animal blessing services in others. "On a theological level we have the writings of Sean McDonagh , a Catholic priest who served in the Philippines; Ann Primavesi, an Irish ecofeminist; and Lawrence Osborn and Tim Cooper, who are evangelical Anglicans. In addition to CEL's Green Christians there is a scholarly journal, Theology in Green. "As a green Christian, a major concern for me is the relationship between social justice and ecology. We urgently need to reform the world economic systems. From Dennis Richards Flat 3, 35 Buckingham Gate London SW1E 6PA, UK. Home     Table of Contents