Resources

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Christian Environmental Stewardship

Books
Booklets
Leaflets
Papers
Papers from Au Sable Fora
Videotapes and Audiocassettes
Land Use Planning Resources
Your Church as a Creation Awareness Center
Au Sable Institute Materials
Ordering

BOOKS

The Care of Creation
Focusing Concern and Action, edited by R. J. Berry with an Introduction by John Stott. In this book, an international group of theologians and scientists comment on the Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation, which was issued in 1994 and has been endorsed by several hundred church leaders throughout the world. Their stimulating reflections are accompanied by the text of the Evangelical Declaration and Lynn White, Jr.'s, still-provocative 1967 essay from the journal Science, "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis." Contributors include Ron Sider, Loren Wilkinson, Alister McGrath, Calvin DeWitt, Jürgen Moltmann, Susan Drake Emmerich, Michael Northcott, Howard Van Til, Richard Bauckham, Richard T. Wright, Oliver O'Donovan, Ghillean Prance, Peter Harris and others. 2000. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. $17.99

Caring for Creation
Responsible Stewardship of God's Handiwork, by Calvin B. DeWitt with responses by Richard A. Baer, Thomas Sieger Derr and Vern Ehlers. Is there a Christ-centered response to such environmental crises as global warming, land degradation, and species extinction? In Caring for Creation, Calvin DeWitt presents a biblical approach to being a good steward of the earth, critiquing our culture's dominant "Number-One" religion of selfishness. 1998. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. $11.99

Earth-Wise
A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues, by Calvin B. DeWitt. Christians play a crucial role in keeping the earth as stewards of God's creation. DeWitt, a nationally recognized authority on environmental issues, describes in detail the wonders of God's creation, how fallen humanity and modern society have abused it, and how Christians can respond. This six-session study guide includes discussion questions for use in group settings. 1994. Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications. $7.75

Earthkeeping in the '90s
Stewardship of Creation, by the Fellows of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship, Calvin College: Peter DeVos, Calvin DeWitt, Eugene Dykema, Vernon Ehlers, and Loren Wilkinson (editor). This classic, comprehensive guide to environmental stewardship from a Christian perspective begins by reviewing the state of the planet -- from land and resources to people and other creatures. It examines the roots of the environmental crisis in the history of western thought, and dissects the models that govern present-day attitudes toward creation and technology. Finally, it presents a theology of stewardship and offers guideposts and suggestions for practical action. 1991. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans (Lightning Print reprint edition). $35.00

Ecology, Justice and Christian Faith
A Critical Guide to the Literature, by Peter Bakken, Joan Gibb Engel and J. Ronald Engel. The first comprehensive and critical overview of Christian perspectives on the relationship between social justice and ecological integrity, this annotated bibliography focuses on works that include environmental values, social concerns, and theological reflection on the interrelations between them. This body of moral reflection on the relationship between ecological ethics and social and economic justice (sometimes called "eco-justice") will interest those involved in religious education, research, liturgical renewal, public policy, community action, lay witness, and personal life-style transformation. 1995. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. $59.95

The Environmental Crisis
The Ethical Dilemma, edited by Edwin R. Squiers. The first Au Sable Forum brought together a group of 27 scholars - biologists, theologians, political scientists, and others -- to explore the ethical aspects of major environmental issues in the context of Christian faith and practice. A stimulus to thoughtful consideration of our relation to Creator and Creation, this cross-disciplinary collection of papers from that conference covers a wide range of opinions and concerns. Discussion questions and suggestions for further reading are included. With contributions by Hans Schwartz, Loren Wilkinson, Calvin De Witt, James Skillen, Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, and others. 1982. Mancelona, MI: Au Sable Institute. 368 p. $6.95

Evangelicals and the Environment
Theological Foundations for Christian Environmental Stewardship, edited by J. Mark Thomas. This collection of papers from a worldwide consultation sponsored by the Au Sable Institute and the World Evangelical Fellowship addresses biblical and Christian responses to environmental issues from a variety of professional vantage points -- theology, biblical studies, history, ecological science, policymaking, church leadership, environmental management, and youth ministry. Drawing on experiences from Kenya, India, Indonesia, Paraguay, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the U.S., they give valuable insight into the theory and praxis of Earthkeeping around the world. With contributions by: Chris Sugden, Calvin DeWitt, Chris Wright, Praveen Kapur, Loren Wilkinson, Thomas Finger, Bruce J. Nicholls, Neil W. Summerton, Fred Van Dyke, Wayan Mastra, Calvin Redekop and Wilmar Stahl, and Chris Seaton. 1993. Evangelical Review of Theology 17, no. 2. $9.95

Evocations of Grace
Writings on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics, by Joseph A. Sittler. Edited by Steven Bouma-Prediger and Peter Bakken. As early as 1954-well before such popular books as Rachel Carson's Silent Spring-the influential Lutheran theologian Joseph Sittler wrote on the need to think about "a theology for earth." Perhaps most famous for his eloquent and provocative address "Called to Unity" given at the 1961 World Council of Churches in New Delhi, Sittler prophetically and insistently gave voice to what he called "ecological commitment as theological responsibility." This volume gathers ten of Sittler's seminal works, with a bibliography and original essays by the editors. 2000. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans. $20.00

The Just Stewardship of Land and Creation
A Report to the Reformed Ecumenical Council, by editor Calvin B. DeWitt. 1996. This report confronts the present-day crisis in Creation -- environmental degradation and soicial injustice -- from a Reformed perspective It moves from affirming God's love and care for creation to reviewing how our violation of that love and care leads to problems of land dispossession, food shortage, and environmental abuse. But it goes beyond these grim truths to consider how we can restore and keep creation in our economies and our churches. With contributions by Drinah Banda-Nyierenda, Delmar Vander Zee, Arie Van Eek, and Richard L. van Houten. Grand Rapids: REC. $10.00

Let Them Praise
Developing an Environmental Education Program that Honors the Creator, by Patricia Fagg. This introduction to the principles of environmental education begins by asking "Why should Christians be concerned about the environment?" After showing how we can know God's heart through prayer, service, and studying God's word and God's world, it lays out the foundations of environmental education and offers advice on how to hire a naturalist and hone your own skills as a naturalist. Pre-punched to fit a three-ring binder. 1998. Mancelona, MI: Au Sable Institute. $20.00

Redeeming Creation
The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship, by Fred Van Dyke, David C. Mahan, Joseph K. Sheldon, Raymond H. Brand. Four biologists affirm that, in the light of Scripture and the presence of God, we can face environmental crises with hope. Moving beyond a mere survey of our planet's ills, Redeeming Creation brings Scripture into fruitful dialogue with current scientific findings. The authors eloquently draw on their own experiences as teachers and scientists to articulate a Christian response to the glory and travail of creation. What emerges is a clarion call to a biblically informed individual and corporate response to God's world. 1996. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press. $15.99

Tending the Garden
Essays on the Gospel and the Earth, edited by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. 1987. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. The authors call the church back to its biblical and theological roots so that it may understand freshly its task of serving God's creation. They examine the relationship of God, humanity, and all creation in order to develop a specifically biblical environmental ethic. Based on the 1984 Au Sable Forum. With contributions by Loren Wilkinson, Robert P. Meye, William Dyrness, Robert K. Johnston, Paulos Mar Gregorios, Mary Evelyn Jegen, Larry L. Rasmussen, John Leax, and Paul W. Brand. 150 p. $9.95 Out of Print -- Limited Supply.

BOOKLETS

Biblical Principles for Respecting the Integrity of Creation
By Calvin B. DeWitt. Biblical quotations and commentary on ten principles for earthkeeping make a powerful case for the scriptural basis of environmental concern. 16 p. $3.00.

Celebrating the Wonder of a Tree
By Dean Ohlman. Why do trees evoke in us such powerful feelings? What does the Bible have to say about them? What does science tell us about trees? Do trees reveal God to us? How have we humans cared -- or failed to care -- for trees? An informative and inspiring look at one of God's most amazing and significant creations. Grand Rapids: Radio Bible Class Ministries, 2002. 32 p. Free.

Celebrating the Wonder of Creation
By Dean Ohlman. An educator and naturalist meditates on the joy of Creation and on the relationships between ourselves, God, Creation, and other people. An inspirational resource for personal or group devotions. Grand Rapids: Radio Bible Class Ministries, 1998. 32 p. Free.

Christianity and the Environment and A Bibliography on Environmental Issues
By R. J. Berry A noted geneticist argues that faith's answer to "why" complements science's answer to "how," and that Christianity, properly understood, leads to responsible stewardship rather than to flagrant abuse or escapist mysticism. From Science and Christian Belief, April 1991. 18 p. $1.00.

Fragile: Handle With Care
An Earth Keeping Handbook Mennonite Central Committee Ontario. Facts about the environmental impacts of our high-consumption lifestyle, and simple steps we can take in our everyday lives to reduce our use of water, energy, materials, cars, etc. 1989. 36 p. $2.00

God's Good Earth
By Paul Brand. A former missionary doctor in India compares the natural gift of good soil and our spiritual growth and nourishment as followers of Christ. Grand Rapids: Radio Bible Class Ministries, 2000. Free.

The Man who Talks with the Flowers
The Life Story of Dr. George Washington Carver, by Glenn Clark. African-American scientist George Washington Carver believed that faith, science and technology can work together to show us how to meet human needs while living in harmony with God's Creation. Shakopee, MN: Macalester Park Publishing Company, 1994. Free.

LEAFLETS

All of these leaflets are available on-line.

Caring for Creation: An Introductory Bibliography.
An up-to-date list of books, websites, and other resources for exploring environmental theology and ethics from a Christian perspective. Free.

Caring for Creation: Awareness, Appreciation, Stewardship.
An encouraging and empowering response to the question: How should we respond to the groaning of creation? Free.

Loving Rembrandt but Despising His Paintings
A parable that gently but pointedly prods us to consider: Can we love the Creator while abusing Creation? Free.

Seven Degradations of Creation
A brief outline of the major threats posed by humans to God's handiwork. Free.

Three Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship
Earthkeeping, fruitfulness, and Sabbath: three ancient ideas to guide our relationship to the Earth in the new Millenium. Free.

Who and Whose is Behemoth?
Job 40 gives us a "God's-eye" view of the strange and wonderful species with whom we share the Earth. Free.

PAPERS

Christian Environmental Stewardship
Preparing the Way for Action by Calvin B. DeWitt. Biblically-based responses to common objections Christians raise to environmental concerns. From Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, June 1994. Free.

Christians and The Environment in the 1990s by Joseph Sheldon and A Green Reader for Christians in the '90s by John Wood. A Selective Bibliography of recent works on faith and ecology, with annotations. Free.

Creation Watch
Primer Sheets (set of seven). Each sheet includes a short description of an environmental degradation, an appropriate Bible verse, and a list of technical references for further information. Includes: alteration of planetary energy exchange; land degradation; deforestation and habitat destruction; species extinction; water degradation; global toxification; and human and cultural degradation. Free.

The Lord God Made them All
Bible Studies on God's Creatures, the Creator, and Creation's Restoration, by Calvin B. DeWitt. Seven lessons designed to open a window upon God's creation through Bible studies, hymns, and discussion questions. Free.

Seven Degradations of Creation
Responding in Worship. This resource adapts the material in the "Creation Watch" papers, with expanded biblical quotations., for use as the basis for a worship service incorporating environmental themes. Free.

The Seven Degradations of Creation.
By Calvin B. DeWitt. A survey of the major dimensions of the global environmental-social crisis, concluding with scriptural requirements for Creation's care and keeping. From Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought, February 1989. Free.

PAPERS FROM AU SABLE FORA

1986 AU SABLE FORUM "PLANETHEONOMICS"
Is our present economic system on a collision course with the environment? What are the alternatives? What kind of an economy would embody the values of justice for all and care for Creation? Economists, scientists, and theologians probe these questions in two collections of provocative papers on "planetheonomics" - a term coined to bring together "planet" + "theos" (God) + economics.

Planetheonomics
Papers on Economics, Ecology, and Christian Faith, by J. Mark Thomas, Robert D. Hamrin, Bob Goudzwaard, Herman E. Daly, Donald A. Hay, Lans Bovenberg and Theodore R. Malloch. $6.00

Planetheonomics 2
Further Papers on Economics, Ecology and Christian Faith, by Ragnar Overby, Calvin B. DeWitt, Thomas Berry, Stephen Carr, Charles Overby, W. Calvin Hurst, and Paul Brand. $4.00

Annotated Bibliography on Planetheonomics
By Fred Van Dyke. $3.00

1987 AU SABLE FORUM "A CHRISTIAN LAND ETHIC"
Writer and conservationist Aldo Leopold (A Sand County Almanac) called for extending our sense of ethical obligation to include our relationship with the land - the complex web of living and nonliving things that surrounds and supports us. He termed this a "land ethic." On the centennial of his birth, Christian scholars and scientists gathered to ask: Can there be a Christian land ethic? What would it be like? Papers from that conference explore these questions from a variety of geographic and disciplinary perspectives: Africa, Europe, and the Americas; theology and biblical studies, economics, education, and ecology.

African Land Ethics
Contribution to a Christian Perspective on Land by Mutombo Mpanya.

Contributions of the Indigenous Peoples of South America and of Christian Missions Toward a Christian Land Ethic
By Ghillean T. Prance

A Critique of Christendom's Relation to Land with Direction Towards a Christian Land Ethic
By Hans Schwarz

Discovering the Importance of Christ in a Christian Land Ethic
By David S. Wise

Equipping Students with A Christian Land Ethic
The Role of Christian Colleges by Karen Longman

A Fierce Green Fire Dying
Christian Land Ethics and Wild Nature, by Susan Power Bratton.

Land and Resources
Nature's Forgotten Contribution, by Herman Daly

Rekindling the Fierce Green Fire
Preface to A Christian Land Ethic, by Calvin B. DeWitt.

The above Forum Papers are available for $2.00 each, or as a set for $11.00. Also available are:

A Christian Land Ethic.
Joint statement issued by Forum participants. Free.

Christian Stewardship of Creation
By David S. Wise. (Bibliography) $4.00.

VIDEOTAPES and AUDIOCASSETTES

Videotapes:

Want to inspire and educate your congregation or students? Use these videos in church groups, meetings, classrooms …

Between Heaven & Earth
The Plight of the Chesapeake Watermen. See how graduate student Susan Drake led both environmentalists and residents of Tangier Island, Virginia to a new awareness of the biblical basis of creation care and thus helped mediate a longstanding conflict between the two groups. Produced by Jeffrey Pohorski and Skunkfilms. 30 min. $19.95

Faithful Earthkeeping
The Church As A Creation Awareness Center. Three-part series of approximately 1/2 hour segments: 1. The Biblical Call to Earthkeeping; 2. Creation's Praise, Creation's Cry; 3. Earthkeeping: The Church Responds. Featuring Calvin B. DeWitt. Discussion Guide. $14.95

Keeping the Earth
Religious and Scientific Perspectives on the Environment. A call from scientists and religious leaders to protect the earth. James Earl Jones, narrator. By the Union of Concerned Scientists with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. Discussion guide. 27 min. $14.95

Audiocassettes:

Too rushed to read? Refresh your mind, heart, and spirit with these tapes while you drive, garden, exercise, wash dishes…

The Bible as an Ecological Handbook
Biblical principles for caring for creation. Produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Office of Environmental Stewardship. $3.00

Environment and Religion
Wisconsin Public Radio interview with Calvin B. DeWitt, environmental scientist and Director of the Au Sable Institute. $3.00

Excuse Me, Sir, That's My Aquifer!
Lively and educational songs about groundwater and related environmental issues for all ages. 20 page booklet gives words to songs, water facts, activities, a glossary, and action steps to protect water quality. $10.00

On Earth as in Heaven
By Lisa Zinn. Original songs about God, creation, and our responsibility as stewards, written and performed by Zinn. $8.00

LAND USE PLANNING RESOURCES

Creative and inspiring models for implementing the care of creation in your own community.

Community Mobilization
A Case Study of the Town of Dunn by Calvin B. DeWitt. In the 1970s, the town of Dunn in south-central Wisconsin developed and implemented a pioneering approach to community stewardship of the land. Find out how it came about and the principles guiding it. Free

Preserving Local Resources
A Guide for Town Officials by W. Thomas Lamm. Describes step-by-step how to develop a land stewardship plan for your community, with examples drawn from towns in Wisconsin. ("Towns" are the local units of government which govern the unincorporated areas of Wisconsin counties.) 1980. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin--Extension. $2.25

Town of Dunn Open Space Preservation Handbook
A detailed example of how one community surveyed and evaluated its natural, cultural and historical resources and the means of preserving them. $10.00.

AU SABLE INSTITUTE

Au Sable Institute Official Bulletin
Information on college-level courses, certificates, and internships. Free.

Brochures on the following Au Sable programs:
Institute Programs
Environmental Education Internship
Outreach Office Services
Field Ecology and Environmental Studies with a Christian Perspective
Free.

Notes from Au Sable
The current issue of Au Sable Institute's newsletter, with Institute program and alumni news, short feature articles, and book reviews. Free.

ORDERING

Multiple Copies
Items marked "free": Up to 20 copies of each title, no charge. To order more copies, please call or e-mail.
Additional copies of this resource list, up to 200 copies, are available at no charge. For more copies, please call or e-mail.
Priced items: Discounts on multiple copies of a single item (five or more) are available. Please call or e-mail for details.

Shipping Charges
10% of subtotal of your order, minimum $2.00. Priority, express, or overseas shipping extra. Donations to defray the cost of mailing free materials are appreciated. Persons with limited financial resources may request any items free of charge. Donations to help Au Sable produce and distribute these and similar materials are tax-deductible