Fora

1992 Forum: Evangelical Christianity and the Environment

News Release

"Humans are called to a special task of caring for creation in a shepherdly manner, since they reflect God's image in a unique way." This was the conclusion of a worldwide Forum on Evangelical Christianity and the Environment, held at Au Sable Institute near Mancelona, Michigan USA. Attended by 60 individuals from 8 countries and 5 continents with a wide variety of expertise, academic disciplines and professions, the 5-day meeting addressed biblical and Christian responses to environmental issues. Sponsors of the event were the Unit on Ethics and Society of the World Evangelical Fellowship Theological Commission (c/o Bong Rin Ro, Box 94, Choong, Jeongro, Seoul, Korea) and Au Sable Institute (Mancelona, MI 49659 USA)

The Forum was held in the context of study of local flora, fauna, geography and geology of the area, and began with a challenge to evangelical churches by co-convenor, Calvin DeWitt, (Institute Director and Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA) who reviewed seven specific degradations to which creation is currently subjected.

Addressing theological foundations, Chris Wright (United Kingdom), Praveen Kapur (Kenya), H. Paul Santmire (USA) and Jesudason Jeyaraj (India) spelled out the biblical basis for the care and keeping of creation. These theologians and ensuing discussions affirmed God as Creator-- fully distinct from Creation-- but fully involved in Creation. Recognizing that the creation account begins by showing the threefold relationship between God, creation, and humanity, the Forum affirms the responsibility of humans for the care of the Earth and its creatures.

The final report of the Forum, drafted interactively among a committee, its co-chairs Neil Summerton (UK) and Susan Drake (USA) and all participants, summarized the theology involved by saying that "All creatures are deeply intertwined with and dependent on each other, and humans have no right to destroy or despoil other species." It acknowledges that God's deep involvement in Creation comes "from the triune God's free love and grace. God the Son, as the eternal Word, gives form to all creatures, and became human flesh, with which all creatures are interconnected; while God the Spirit breathes energy into all." The report affirms that "all God's creatures are valuable in and of themselves, apart from any usefulness to humans" and "We wholeheartedly affirm that the universe, as created by God, is good."

Lessons for the care of creation and methods and practices of environmental stewardship were drawn from the practices of Christians worldwide. Following descriptions of mission churches in Paraguay by Calvin Redekop (Conrad Grebel College, USA) and in Bali by Wayan Mastra (Indonesia) the Forum concluded that one outcome of Christian compassionate mission was increased child survival, often without compensating activity to relieve subsequent pressure on the environment. But, as the example of the Balinese church shows, it is possible to form Christian community with a lively relationship to the surrounding creation. In Bali, the revelation and love of Christ and concern for creation is being expressed by building churches amid gardens and water, establishing experimental farms, and setting up credit unions and employment programs, without compromising the uniqueness of Christ's revelation or obliterating the many positive aspects of the Balinese culture.

Helping to put missions and church development in context, Deryke Belshaw (University of East Anglia, UK) described the interactions among rural poverty, population growth, and the environment. In its response, the Forum affirmed that "The evidence of growing numbers of poor people in the world is unmistakable, as is the evidence of the worsening condition of the Creation contributing to and in part caused by poverty." The report goes on to say, "We recognize that a fundamental cause of poverty is the sinful nature of humankind which manifests itself through violence, greed and self-interest overriding the God-given mandate to meet the needs of both the human and natural creation, and specifically of the poor... We believe that it is of equal importance when addressing the needs of creation to deal adequately with needs of the poor, and specifically to address world hunger."

In addressing problems and challenges of two-thirds world development the Forum report concludes that "In poor countries, sustainable development requires first and foremost addressing the following interrelated tasks: the establishment of a just and stable political power; economic development to provide jobs and alleviate poverty; capital investments in human development to stabilize populations and enable people to improve their well-being and their livelihoods; protection of God's creation, in large part by providing poor and landless peoples with alternatives to the over-exploitation of marginal lands; and support for improved development practices that are both appropriate within the culture and to the task."

The final report affirms "the concept of sustainable development, as that which seeks to provide an environment that promotes a life of dignity and well-being compatible with the continuation and integrity of supporting ecosystems." In the light of Christian teaching it states that the concept of sustainable development "includes the concern that material blessings should be available to successive generations as a fundamental God-given right." And it explains its basis by saying "We note that beneath this concern lie absolutes of justice, equity and human responsibility which are not always expressed. Sustainable development cannot depend on the changing values and aspirations of succeeding generations, which may be in conflict with each other and with the divine will."

An important contribution of this meeting of evangelical leaders was its evaluation of spiritual response to environment so prevalent in the world today. Following presentations on "Forms of Spiritual Response to Alienation from Creation," by Thomas Finger (USA), Loren Wilkinson (Canada), Bruce Nicholls (India) and Wayan Mastra (Indonesia), the Forum concluded that "Humans participate most fully in God's purposes for creation through personal appropriation of the benefits of Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection, which become present, participatory realities through the Holy Spirit." It went on to say that "Essential for this participation is spirituality focussed on Jesus's teaching and his cross, enlivened by the Spirit who moves throughout creation and connects our yearnings with those of all other creatures."

In addressing the various spiritualities emerging in this time of developing environmental awareness the Forum report affirms "that supernatural forces of evil seek to block the accomplishment of God's purposes for creation" and that the participation of Christians in environmental concerns will "involve struggle with these forces, and sometimes to involve suffering, which we will overcome through reliance on the triune God." While affirming the value of the Gaia hypothesis (that the earth, or its living creatures, form one interconnected system) for scientific research, the report of the Forum rejected the religious implication sometimes drawn - that the earth is a divine being. It acknowledged that many people in the environmental movement are attracted to Gaia spirituality "as a result of the spiritual hunger prevalent in secularized industrial societies." This presents a serious challenge to the church particularly since it often reflects "the church's failure adequately to proclaim its living, triune God as both clearly distinct from and intimately involved with the creation" to the very people who are in "an intense religious search."

The Forum concluded by relating biblical teaching on the care and keeping to action in church in society. Ronald Sider, Steven Bouma-Prediger, and Paul Menth (USA) addressed applications to advocacy, justice, and the expression of environmental concerns at the Earth Summit in Rio, while Forum co-convenor Chris Sugden (UK) evaluated the Brundtland report, "Our Common Future" and Neil Summerton (U.K.) focussed on principles for environmental policy. In its concluding statement, Forum participants affirmed that "The Christian community, who follows the one who is the Truth, must dare to proclaim the full truth about the environmental crisis in the face of powerful persons, pressures and institutions which profit from concealing the truth. Such recognition of hard truths is a first step towards the freedom for which creation waits." And they went on to say that "The Christian community needs to develop practical policy approaches to the environment and environmental issues, based on Biblical principles and sound analysis." In addressing environmental problems effectively, they concluded that "Christians need to form and join environmental organizations that apply explicitly Christian principles to environmental problems. In addition, they have an important witness as participants in secular organizations."

A particularly lively presentation on environment and youth was made by Christopher Seaton and Greg Valerio (UK) describing their remarkable and effective evangelical youth ministry that addresses the environmental concerns of young people, including such things as a great evangelical/environmental rally in Hyde Park, London. In response, the participants had this to say on youth: "Because they will be around the longest, young people should (and often do) have a special interest in the care of creation. This special interest of the young requires the development of a robust environmental apologetic to be made available to youth and youth ministries." And they went on to observe that "A commitment to evangelism is integral to efforts to care for creation and vice versa. Young Christians need not only to be equipped with evangelistic materials, but to be given practical teaching on issues of lifestyle, as well as opportunities to express their care of creation in a meaningful way."

In a final paper, Fred Van Dyke (USA) presented a critical and penetrating Christian ethical evaluation of public policy. In response the Forum affirmed that "The Christian community must be willing to identify and condemn social and institutionalized evil, especially when it becomes embedded in systems. It should propose solutions which both seek to reform and (if necessary) replace creation-harming institutions and practices."

Pointing toward the future, the Forum concluded that "God draws all creatures towards a final fulfillment, the bodily resurrection of redeemed humanity and the liberation of all creation. The resurrected Jesus is the "first fruit" of this liberation. The resurrection enlivens our responsibility for involvement in environmental matters, since it indicates how highly God values material reality, and arouses our hope, giving energy for the task."

"When people come to Christ and churches are formed," the Forum concluded, "then in the process of obedient discipleship, care for creation frequently emerges". "This care needs to be more consciously and systematically taught and sought as a mark of Christian discipleship, both for the individual Christian and for the Christian community, in place of expressions of discipleship which are limited to the life of the individual. Caring treatment of non-human creation will enhance our care for the crown of creation, men and women."

In making specific recommendations to the churches and Christian missions the report indicates that "Churches should seek to develop as creation-awareness centres in order to exemplify principles of stewardship for their members and communities, and to express both delight in and care for creation in their worship and celebration. They should particularly aim to produce curricula and programs which encourage knowledge and care of creation." In addressing God's rest and the significance of the sabbath, it observed that "More thought is needed, to develop ways in which Christians in differing cultures should observe the sabbath, for the sabbath is for creation." It further indicates that "The Christian community must initiate and support the process of education (for all its members) on the Christian approach to environmental ethics. In particular, Christian colleges and seminaries should provide teaching in this area. The church's goal should be the growth of earthkeepers, both in the habits of everyday life, and in the provision of leadership for the care of creation."

A major outcome of this meeting of evangelical leaders was the formation of an International Evangelical Environmental Network for which Wayan Mastra (Bali, Indonesia) was appointed Chair, and Chris Sugden and Calvin DeWitt were appointed the Secretariat. The network is for the purpose of disseminating information among evangelical Christian individuals and organizations having environmental and development concerns. Persons and organizations wishing to participate in this network should contact either Chris Sugden, IEEN Secretariat, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, P.O. Box 70, Oxford, OX2 6HB, U.K (FAX: 0865 510823) or Calvin DeWitt, IEEN Secretariat, Au Sable Institute, 731 State Street, Madison, WI 53703 USA (FAX: 608 255-0950).

The World Evangelical Fellowship/Au Sable Institute Forum was funded by the Tear Fund (United Kingdom), the Protestant Alliance for World Mission (Stuttgart, Germany) and Au Sable Institute (Mancelona, Michigan). The final report of the Forum is scheduled for publication in Transformation in October, 1992, and the papers of the Forum are scheduled for publication in the April 1993 issue of Evangelical Review of Theology.

For additional information on Au Sable Forum 1992 contact:
Peter Bakken, Coordinator of Outreach
Au Sable Institute
PO Box 260170
Madison, WI 53726
(608) 663-4610 Phone
(608) 663-4614 FAX
e-mail: outreach@ausable.org

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