THE EARTHKEEPING
MINISTRIES CONGRESS
THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY
September 13-15, 1996
Summary Report
CHRISTIAN ECOFEMINISM
How does ecofeminism, with its powerful and insightful critique of our current crisis, provide churches with the elements of a much-needed new vision as well as an ethic of care embracing all of creation? How do churches lead society in moving away from patriarchal structures of power to new forms of leadership?
Resource Persons
Eleanor Rae, Ph.D., a past president of the North American Conference on Christianity and Ecology, is founder and president of the Center for Women, the Earth, the Divine in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and a member of the U.N. Women and Spirituality Working Group.
The Rev. David Dodson Gray, an Episcopal priest and publisher (Roundtable Press) of books on environment and feminism in Wellesley MA, is co-director of the Bolton Institute for a Sustainable Future.
Lydia H. Walker, L.P.C., is Coordinator of Outreach and Training for the Church of the Brethren Disaster Response and Disaster Child Care Program in Appalachia, and also conducts workshops integrating women's spirituality and ecojustice with Christian stewardship.
"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
"Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand . . . to you, O people, I call and my cry is to all that live." (Proverbs 8: 1-4)
"Ecology is the context within which we all live. We need eco-feminism because feminism is not enough." (Eleanor Rae)
"The circle is a way of being. Be attuned to the cyclical nature of life." (Lydia Walker)
"Ecofeminism is a convergence of the energies and insights of two groups. It combines a concern for ecology and the earth with a feminine critique of male culture. Ecofeminism challenges any assumption based on our control over nature." (David Dodson Gray)
Current Trends
We are in a new era of exploding planetary consciousness. The world's governments and world religions are encountering demands for economic and social justice for women and for preservation of the environment. Feminism has radicalized our consciousness and changed our world view in fundamental ways. Grass roots movements such as voluntary simplicity, house churches, small faith communities, creation spirituality, bioregionalism, equitable sharing of land, new food systems, holistic medicine and preventive health care — all are declaring the need to change our ways from domination over, to creative cooperation with, all of creation.
Our Vision
Our vision for the future is that most Christian communities, by the year 2000, will embrace and celebrate diversity in congregations. In their worship, churches will use rituals that celebrate creation. In their education programs, they will pay attention to the use of inclusive language, and question hierarchical assumptions. In making policies they will use biocentric, rather than purely utilitarian, perspectives. The meaning of time, sacred space and place will be reflected in their facilities and management practices.
Challenges
Blocking the adoption of such policies and practices in local congregations is the fear of risk-taking in the face of the unknown; hierarchical resistance to change and fear of loss of power; fear of losing old ways of thinking and believing; and economic uncertainties. The church is not listening beyond its own definitions of what is right. The Judeo-Christian traditions have their own momentum and authority. Women's stories have been erased from history. The patriarchal mindset prefers an institutional chain of command as being more efficient than the ecofeminist circle.
Panelist David Dodson Gray pointed to a major challenge in the churches.
"We live in a social construction of reality that is done entirely from the point of view of the male body and male life experience. This has given us male philosophy, male theology, male psychology and male generic language. The assumption that reality is one great hierarchy pervades our religion, our culture and intellectual history — God is at the top and males are next, and everything else will accommodate.
"But life on this planet is not organized in a pyramid of power over. Life on this planet is instead a system of interconnectedness, and we and all other species live within the circular flow of energy within ecosystems and within the biospheral cycles of life. Our dream of dominion in our anthropocentric illusion is fast becoming a nightmare in our ecological destruction of this planet."
Strategies
Therefore, we encourage Christian communities to:
- Risk the new, speak truth and name lies. Challenge patriarchal assumptions of mastery, separation and hierarchy; affirm women who speak out.
- Live in harmony with creation; learn to honor feelings; make time for appreciation of nature; ritualize and tell nature's story.
- Through prayer, guidance and education, develop an earth honoring spirituality. Continually simplify lifestyle. Pray for peaceful death of outmoded institutions. Educate for the long term; study Celtic Christianity and the lives of the medieval women saints. Reclaim our Christian traditions that affirm the value of women's participation in the church and community.
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