Ways Environmental Evangelicals Are Making a Difference…

The biblical creation story says God created the heavens and the earth and all living things in six days and then gave humans responsibility for protecting our earthly home. Christians are divided over whether the story is literally true or not, but there is one issue some believe shouldn’t divide us: the environment. It’s in crisis, and it’s reached the point that  some evangelicals are going green.

This statement isn’t meant to be condescending, though it may sound that way. It’s meant to point out that evangelicals and other conservative Christians haven’t historically supported efforts to protect the environment – but that situation is changing.

Some Evangelicals Are Going Green

Many conservative Christians argue that environmentalism is leading the nation toward neo-pagan nature worship, while others think we are entering the end times, which makes worrying about the environment pointless, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and others.

Despite these arguments, some evangelicals and other conservatives are beginning to change their thinking and are supporting organizations such as the Evangelical Environmental Network and GreenFaith.

Here’s what you should know about it….

The Evangelical Environmental Network’s Work

One group is the non-profit Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), which was founded in 1993 and is based on the belief that God’s people have a responsibility to “tend the garden.” To that end, it:

• Educates individual people, families and churches about environmental issues
• Mobilizes evangelicals on environmental issues and climate action
• Advocates policies that protect the environment
• Offers programs that champion climate legislation
• Produces environmental materials to equip people and churches with environmental facts

Climate action is of particular interest to EEN. The ministry emphasizes Christian responsibility for taking care of all God’s creations “by preventing harmful activities, including those that contribute to climate change,” according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a non-partisan research organization.

EEN also posts blogs, daily devotionals and other materials “to help Christians understand our connection to the environment.”

GreenFaith’s Mission

Another Christian non-profit that’s dedicated to protecting the planet is GreenFaith. The organization, though not specifically evangelical, includes evangelicals such as environmental activist William Morris, who “challenges the often misinterpreted concept of having ‘dominion’ over the Earth.”

Besides serving as a faith organizer in GreenFaith, Morris is chair of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action.

He believes many evangelicals have a “narrow understanding of Scripture (that) has contributed to a toxic environment, particularly in the Western world.” He underscores God’s intention for all creation to flourish and pushes back “against the destructive path humanity has chosen that unfortunately hurts our planet.”

Learn more from Morris here.

Grassroots Efforts

GreenFaith was founded in 1992 by an Episcopal priest, the Rev. Dr. Franklin E. Vilas, and other Christian and Jewish leaders in New Jersey. Initially, the organization focused on environmental stewardship, financing, legislation to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and solar power. But it does much more today.

“The most vulnerable among us – who’ve done nothing to create the climate crisis – and the planet are suffering. Governments, extractive industries, and financial institutions continue to destroy the fabric of life,” GreenFaith noted.

“Around the globe, local GreenFaith members and Circles are rising together to end the era of extraction and exploitation and to create bold transformation.” GreenFaith Circles are groups of people involved in grassroots efforts to protect planet Earth. More than 100 circles exist in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America, GreenFaith said.

The organization opposes fossil fuel projects and financing, supports renewable energy and promotes “green” jobs that help people avoid poverty.

“In the face of the climate crisis, our local GreenFaith Circle aims to bring together people of faith and goodwill to seek a just and sustainable future for our sacred planet,” the organization said. “We are a part of a global network of people of faith and goodwill working to stop climate change now.”

GreenFaith believes the earth and its inhabitants are “sacred and at risk.” Consequently, it is “building a worldwide, multi-faith climate and environmental movement,” the group explains. “We envision a world transformed, in which humanity in all its diversity has developed a shared reverence for life on Earth….”

And it isn’t timid about its activism. It recently played a major role in organizing the Summer of Heat campaign, held July 28-Aug. 3, which called on Citibank to stop financing fossil fuel projects. The company is the second largest provider of funds for coal, oil and gas projects worldwide, according to the Washington Post.

‘We Come with a Message’

More than 40 protests were organized through the campaign. During one demonstration, approximately two dozen faith leaders and their supporters were arrested when they chained themselves to the front doors of Citibank’s New York headquarters, according to news reports.

While Christians played an important role in the protests, they weren’t alone, as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, indigenous people and others joined them. Following the protests, Citibank’s chief sustainability officer met with four religious environmental activists to discuss the company’s history of financially supporting fossil fuel projects.

“We come to give a message to Citibank. Repent. Change your ways,” said the Rev. Jeff Courter, a Presbyterian pastor and leader of the GreenFaith NYC Circle. “Creation bears witness to the devastation caused by fossil fuels – typhoons and floods, wildfires, and droughts, and the poorest suffer the most. It’s time to put people before profits.”

GreenFaith also organized a non-partisan voter turnout campaign this fall that encouraged houses of worship to send postcards to potential voters. In addition, it invited and trained congregations to staff get-out-the-vote phone banks in September and October.

Other Environmental Activists

Faith-related environmental activist groups also include the following:

Target Earth is composed of individuals, churches, college fellowships and other ministries in 15 countries. It focuses on being “stewards over everything God created,” according to Learn Religions. 

The group describes its mission as “Serving the Earth, Serving the Poor” by saving endangered animals, rebuilding forests and otherwise building a sustainable future, the organization said.

Target Earth “offers internships and short-term team efforts to go into the field and make a difference.”

Eco-Justice Ministries helps churches develop ministries that “work toward social justice and environmental sustainability,” Learn Religions explained. It provides links to environmental events, produces newsletters and provides churches with information about environmental public policy.

A Rocha Trust is a “Christian nature conservation organization that does work around the world in a cross-cultural manner,” according to Learn Religions. It has five core commitments:

• Christianity
• Conservation
• Community
• Cross-cultures
• Cooperation

The group seeks “to use God’s love to promote scientific research, environmental education, and community-based conservation projects.”

National Religions Partnership for the Environment consists of independent faith groups such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Council of Churches USA. It’s dedicated to training leaders and educating others on public policy related to the environment.

“The organization is founded on the idea that if we are called to love our Creator, then we must also love what He created,” Learn Religions said.

American Scientific Affiliation scientists no longer “see a line in the sand between science and God’s word.” The group investigates any area that relates to the Christian faith and science and publicizes its findings.

It also “focuses on environmental science in which many papers, discussions, and educational materials are presented from an Evangelical perspective….” Learn Religions noted.

Parting Thoughts

These examples of evangelicals going green are important. With more than two billion members, the Christian faith is the largest religion in the world, and evangelicals are a major group within it. Consequently, the support of evangelicals and other conservative Christians on environmental protection is critical to future success.