A growing chorus of evangelical leaders is calling Christians
and churches today to deal seriously with creation care. Their core
message is that caring for God’s world is an essential element of allegiance to
Christ, the author and heir of creation; and that the world’s poor suffer the
most from environmental degradation and climate change. As such, they tell us that caring for the
earth is essential to loving both the Creator and our neighbors who depend on
creation’s bounty.
Many Christians will be surprised at this, because of the
prevailing assumption that creation care and climate change are controversial
topics among evangelicals. In fact,
however, the evangelical community has spoken with notable consistency. The following list of major declarations on
creation stewardship bears this out:
- Evangelical Declaration on Care of Creation (1994, Evangelical Environmental Network, adopted by many evangelical leaders in the 1990s) [i]
- Oxford Declaration on Global Warming (2002; issued by 70 leading climate scientists, policy-makers and Christian leaders from 6 continents) [ii]
- Micah Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change (2009, The Micah Network, representing churches in 83 countries) [iii]
- Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action (2006, Evangelical Climate Initiative, signed by more than 330 presidents of Christian colleges , leaders of Christian service agencies, authors and pastors) [iv]
- African Church Leaders’ Statement on Climate Change & Water (2008, issued by All-Africa Council of Churches) [v]
- Christians and Climate Change (Australian Evangelical Alliance, national affiliate of World Evangelical Alliance) [vi]
- Christian Reformed Church Creation Stewardship Report (2012, denomination of more than 1,000 congregations in the U.S. and Canada) [vii]
- National Association of Evangelicals; Loving the Least of These (2011, representing 45,000 local U.S. churches in 40 denominations) [viii]
- Cape Town Commitment; Lausanne Global Conversation (2010, Lausanne Movement, founded by Billy Graham, John Stott and others to direct global evangelization, with delegates representing more than 190 countries) [ix]
- Prominent mainline Christian declarations, including the Vatican [x], the World Council of Churches ,[xi] and the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. [xii]
Each of these declarations has its own unique voice. The
Lausanne Cape Town Commitment addresses world evangelization, and incorporates
creation care as a core element of Christian mercy and witness in the world,
calling on all Christians to repent of complicity in the exploitation of the
creation:
 |
| The burden affects the poor most of all |
The Micah Declaration and the National Association of
Evangelicals highlight justice to the world’s poor, who are most vulnerable to
drought, disease and flooding from climate disruptions.
“If the things we have been
reading are true, that we are called to love God and to love our neighbor, that
our climate is changing, and this change will affect the poor most of all,”
writes the NEA, “then we, the evangelical family, have no choice but to act on
this problem.” [xiv]
The African Church Leaders and the Australian Evangelical
Alliance bring the unique perspectives of Christians in those regions: with the
African sensitivity to the suffering of the developing world because of the
actions of the industrialized North; and the Australians seeking repentance as
one of the leading per capita greenhouse gas emitters.
The Christian Reformed Church brings a scholarly tradition
and rigorous review of science and theology, leaving no stone unturned in
reaching their assessment:
“Human-induced climate change is
a moral, ethical, and religious issue… [and] poses a significant threat to
future generations, the poor, and the vulnerable. Future generations will
inherit climate change, driven by emissions of today…. Poor societies
will have fewer options and resources than wealthier societies to adapt to
these changes…. Urgent action is required to address climate change.”
Add to these declarations the voices of the Vatican, the
Orthodox Church and numerous protestant churches affiliated with the World
Council of Churches, and the testimony of Christians worldwide is almost
unanimous: the gospel commands and empowers us to care for our Father’s
creation, and for the poor who are most vulnerable to its misuse.
There is, however, one voice that stands in contrast to these
evangelical declarations. In 2009, a
group called the Cornwall Alliance issued “An Evangelical Declaration on
Global Warming.” Although it names its declaration
“evangelical,” the Cornwall Alliance was formed under another name in 2000 by 25
Jewish, Catholic and Protestant leaders.
The Cornwall Declaration’s principal author is E. Calvin Beisner, a
Presbyterian elder. [xv]
Contrary to the evangelical
declarations listed above, Cornwall declares that: (1) there is no convincing
evidence that human contribution to greenhouse gases contributes to global
warming; (2) the cost of greenhouse gas reductions would far exceed any related
benefits; and (3) the earth’s ecosystems are self-correcting. The
CRC Creation Stewardship Task Force states that these Cornwall statements are unsupported, and at odds with both consensus
climate science and the evangelical declarations cited above. The CRC goes further, however, rebutting
Cornwall’s claim to represent evangelicals: “Considering the limited number of
authors and their lack of religious credentials, it is somewhat disingenuous to
label these as evangelical documents.” [xvi]
Sincere Christians
hold varying opinions about creation care, and about global climate change. But
regardless of individual opinions, the overwhelming testimony of Christian and
evangelical declarations today affirms that human-caused climate change is
real; that creation stewardship is a core element of gospel living; and that
loving the least of the brothers and sisters of Christ calls for the church to
seriously confront the causes of environmental degradation.
Leaders as disparate as the Pope, the worldwide Lausanne
evangelistic movement, the Orthodox Patriarch, and the U.S. National
Association of Evangelicals have urged Christians to act on climate change. And while the tally is not unanimous, the
growing consensus should certainly cause all Christians to carefully consider
the call they have sounded.
What should Christians do, if they are unsure about these
issues? The National Association of Evangelicals offers some excellent advice:
- Examine the wealth of evidence that exists regarding climate science, and especially ask for input from scientists within our churches and denominations;
- Place little reliance on the assertions of angry people and conspiracy-theorists, most notably those who disparage others and use careless speech; and
- Pay particular regard to the joint statements of scientific societies like the National Academies of Science, which represent the conclusions of thousands of scientists; these statements effectively eliminate any bias that might be held by an individual researcher. [xvii]
He who walks with the
wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Prov. 13:20
Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry…. James 1:19-20.
Appendix: Summary
of Major Evangelical Declarations
Evangelical Declaration on Care of Creation [xviii]
This declaration was developed in 1994 by a conference of
leaders of the evangelical community under the auspices of the Evangelical
Environmental Network. It is a powerful statement calling God’s people to
renewal and commitment to care of creation. The declaration begins with a
statement of worship for the Creator and acknowledgment of our sin and, in
particular, that “we have failed in our stewardship of creation.” It then
describes the degradation of creation and the finite limits for creation
against which we are pressing, and it asserts that “human poverty is both a
cause and a consequence of environmental degradation.” It follows with a call
for confession and repentance and states that all humans have responsibility
for creation. It concludes with several statements of purpose, among them:
- Therefore we call upon all Christians to reaffirm that all creation is God’s; that God created it good; and that God is renewing it in Christ. We seek a deeper reflection on the wonders of God’s creation and the principles by which creation works. We also urge a careful consideration of how our corporate and individual actions respect and comply with God’s ordinances for creation.
- We recall Jesus’ words that our lives do not consist in the abundance of our possessions, and therefore we urge followers of Jesus to resist the allure of wastefulness and overconsumption by making personal lifestyle choices that express humility, forbearance, self-restraint and frugality.
- We call on all Christians to work for godly, just, and sustainable economies which reflect God’s sovereign economy and enable men, women and children to flourish along with all the diversity of creation. We recognize that poverty forces people to degrade creation in order to survive; therefore we support the development of just, free economies which empower the poor and create abundance without diminishing creation’s bounty.
- We commit ourselves to work for responsible public policies which embody the principles of biblical stewardship of creation. [xix]
Oxford Declaration on Global Warming [xx]
The Oxford Declaration arose from a meeting held by
70 leading climate scientists, policy-makers and Christian leaders from across
6 continents in 2002 in Oxford, England. This meeting brought together climate
scientists and evangelical leaders for mutual scientific and theological
education at St. Anne’s College. The outcome of this unprecedented gathering of
leading scientists and evangelicals was the Oxford Declaration on Global Warming.
This declaration is well rooted in biblical, theological, and scientific scholarship.
Its three main points are:
- Human-induced climate change is a moral, ethical, and religious issue.
- The earth’s climate is changing, with adverse effects on people, communities, and ecosystems.
- Action is needed now, both to arrest climate change and to adapt to its effects.
It then goes on to recommend actions by Christian
denominations, churches, and organizations to increase awareness of climate
change, set an example through our own actions, and urge action by national
governments. [xxi]
Micah Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate
Change [xxii]
The Micah Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate
Change synthesizes the findings of the Fourth Triennial Global Consultation
held in Kenya by the Micah Network from July 13-18, 2009. The meeting attracted
members of the Micah Network from 38 countries, and the declaration arose from
their deliberations. It recognizes that God established just relationships
among all of creation, including the establishment of women and men as
stewards. It acknowledges that through our sin we have failed to be faithful
stewards, but that God “is already at work to renew all things.” It
specifically identifies global warming as a result of human activity and
enumerates the potential impacts of that warming. It then challenges
individuals to “teach and model care of creation” and calls on “local,
national, and global leaders to meet their responsibility to address climate
change and environmental degradation.” It concludes with the statement “We will
labor with passion, persistence, prayer and creativity to protect the integrity
of all creation, and hand on a safe environment and climate to our children and
theirs.” [xxiii]
Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action [xxiv]
The Evangelical
Call to Action was produced by the Evangelical Climate Initiative
(ECI) in January 2006. The ECI is “a group of senior evangelical leaders in the
United States who are convinced it is time for our country to help solve the
problem of global warming.” The Call to Action has four main claims:
- Human-induced climate change is real.
- The consequences of climate change will be significant and will hit the poor the hardest.
- Christian moral convictions demand our response to the climate change problem.
- The need to act now is urgent. Governments, businesses, churches, and individuals all have a role to play in addressing climate change—starting now. [xxv]
The Call to Action has been signed by Christian college and
ministry leaders, pastors and authors. A partial list of its 330 signatories
can be found at the ECI website.
African Church Leaders’ Statement on Climate Change &
Water [xxvi]
The African Church Leaders’ Statement was developed
by the All Africa Council of Churches at a meeting held in Kenya in 2008. The
Statement affirms “the reality and urgency of climate change and the adverse
negative impact it has on entire humanity and particularly on poor and
vulnerable communities in Africa.” It goes on to state that greenhouse gas
emissions have arisen and continue to arise largely from industrialized
countries while the negative consequences of [global warming] are felt largely
in the global south. It calls upon the governments of the global north to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support adaptation in the global south, offer
financial and technological support, promote and implement low carbon
strategies, and compensate developing countries for damage already done. The
statement also appreciates “the efforts of churches and faith-based
organizations in advocating for the rights of the poor and vulnerable
communities in the continent [of Africa]” and further challenges them to
“recognize the reality of climate change” and to “stand in solidarity with
communities that are currently suffering from the negative impacts of climate
change.” It also challenges churches and faith-based organizations to develop
curricula and training modules that help integrate climate change issues into
educational material and to establish “eco-congregations” that have a focus on
“checking consumerism through behavior change.” [xxvii]
Christians and Climate Change (Australian Evangelical
Alliance) [xxviii]
The Australian Evangelical Alliance’s declaration brings the
voice of Christians in “a developed nation whose way of life has benefited most
from the causes of global warming.” It
notes that Australia is perhaps the world’s biggest per capita contributor to
greenhouse gas pollution. It seeks forgiveness for treating “the world as ours
and not God’s,” and offers repentance into “a lifestyle and a way of relating
to others and the world which is most caring for both people and the world and
honoring to God.”
It asserts that there is now no reputable science which
denies either that climate change is happening or that a large part of global
warming is human-induced; and states that climate change will affect everyone, but
will cause the greatest suffering among the poor. It calls for developed nations to reduce
greenhouse gases from 2000 levels by 60% by 2050.
Christian Reformed Church Creation Stewardship Report
[xxix]
In 2012, the Christian Reformed Church adopted an
exhaustively-researched response to global climate change. Its 121 pages
contain thorough treatments of environmental and climate science, as well as
the theological foundations for creation care.
“Human-induced
climate change," said the CRC report “is an ethical, social justice, and
religious issue.” The CRC affirmed that
care for the creation is inseparable from loving God and our neighbors. They
went much further, however, honing in on the issues of Christian justice:
“Climate change poses a significant threat to future generations, the poor, and
the vulnerable.” They called on all CRC churches to promote stewardship and to
seek justice for the victims of climate change, notably the poor and future
generations.
The CRC declaration extends its call to care for all species
that God has made. “We are called to commit ourselves to honor all God’s
creatures, and to protect them from abuse and extinction, for our world belongs
to God.”
“Thus our ultimate motivation in creation care is not any
secular notion of ‘saving the planet’; salvation is through Christ alone. The
Christian’s ultimate motivation for creation care is love for God and neighbor.
This love for our neighbor includes both this generation and generations to
come because we do not know the time of Christ’s return.”
In addition to the core findings regarding climate change,
the declaration called for specific actions by churches and members. These
include:
- to live sustainably within God-given resources;
- to seek justice for the poor and vulnerable, and for future generations;
- to reduce individual and collective carbon emissions to the atmosphere;
- to advocate for public strategies that reduce carbon emissions; and
- to advocate for an effective global framework to assist populations that are bearing the brunt of the negative effects of climate change.
National Association of Evangelicals: Loving the Least of
These [xxx]
The National Association of Evangelicals claims to represent
45,000 local churches in 40 denominations in the U.S. In 2011, the NAE published Loving the Least
of These, a 56-page document addressing global climate change, its impact on
the poor of the world, and the implications for Christian discipleship. The NAE’s publication brought together the
perspectives of pastors, scientists, development agencies and pro-life
advocates.
The NAE urges Christians to examine the wealth of evidence
that exists regarding climate science; to disregard the assertions of angry
people and conspiracy-theorists; and pay particular regard to the joint
findings of scientific societies like the National Academies of Science (NAS).
They cite the NAS in observing that “most of the warming over the last several
decades can be attributed to human activities that release carbon
dioxide,” and warn of global temperature
increases of “between 3.5 and 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this
century.”
They note that thousands of Christians are engaged in
relieving the suffering of millions around the world. “Unfortunately, the
realities of climate change mean that those suffering millions may become
billions. All of us who follow Jesus will need to respond.” Specifically, they
urge the following measures for Christians:
- Actively reject materialism and live more simply;
- Use energy more efficiently, both in our homes and churches;
- Switch to renewable energy – wind, solar, hydroelectric or geothermal power;
- Consider supporting policy reforms which build into the price of energy its fuller costs to the world; and
- Contribute generously to evangelical agencies that are helping the poor adapt to the effects of climate change.
Cape Town Commitment; Lausanne Global Conversation [xxxi]
In 2010, delegates from more than 190 countries gathered in
Cape Town, South Africa, for the third Lausanne Conference on global
evangelization. Since its founding in
1974 by Billy Graham, John Stott and others, the Lausanne Movement has provided
a forum for global evangelical leaders to set the agenda for the spread of the
gospel to the whole world. In Cape Town, the Lausanne Movement incorporated the
visions of evangelicals from every region, and incorporated a truly global
perspective on the kingdom of God.
Perhaps for the first time, the worldwide evangelical church
of Christ named “care for God’s world” as a foundational component of Christian
faith in action. “We cannot claim to love God while abusing what belongs to
Christ by right of creation, redemption and inheritance…. Love for God’s
creation demands that we repent of our part in the destruction, waste and
pollution of the earth’s resources and our collusion in the toxic idolatry of
consumerism.”
In seeking to extend Christ’s peace to his suffering
creation, the Cape Town Commitment laments “the widespread abuse and
destruction of the earth’s resources. It
notes that “probably the most serious and urgent challenge faced by the
physical world now is the threat of climate change,” and that this threat will
fall most heavily on the poor. It calls
on Christians to:
- Renounce polluting and destructive habits of consumption;
- Persuade their governments to take moral action on climate and environmental issues; and
- Encourage the missional calling of those who seek to protect or properly develop the earth’s habitats and creatures.
Prominent mainline Christian declarations
- The Vatican
Pope Benedict, the Conference of Bishops,
and various pontifical institutions have issues repeated urgent calls for the
church to seriously address human-caused climate change. [xxxii] Typical of these is the Pontifical Academy of
Sciences, which in 2010 issued the following statement:
“Failure
to mitigate climate change will violate our duty to the vulnerable of
the Earth, including those dependent on the water supply of mountain glaciers,
and those facing rising sea level and stronger storm surges. Our duty includes the duty to help vulnerable
communities adapt to changes that cannot be mitigated. All nations must
ensure that their actions are strong enough and prompt enough to address the
increasing impacts and growing risk of climate change and to avoid catastrophic
irreversible consequences.” [xxxiii]
- World Council of Churches
The WCC website lists at least 49
denominational and ecumenical declarations regarding climate change and related
issues of water access, drought, flooding and hunger. While these are too numerous to discuss here,
we refer readers to the WCC website for further review. [xxxiv]
- Eastern Orthodox Church
Under the leadership of Patriarch
Bartholomew, the Orthodox Christian Church has long been a leading voice for
environmental justice and creation care. In 2009, the Patriarch issued the
following message: “The ecological
crisis, and particularly the reality of climate change, constitutes the
greatest threat for every form of life in our world…. According to the
theological understanding of the Orthodox Christian Church, the natural
environment is part of Creation and is characterized by sacredness. This is why
its abuse and destruction is a sacrilegious and sinful act, revealing prideful
despise toward the work of God the Creator.” [xxxv]
Addressing a global climate change
conference in Durban, South Africa in 2011, the Patriarch said:
“Climate change is a global problem. We share
one world and the same resources, one atmosphere and the same habitat. We are all inseparably interconnected…. When will we face the inevitable truth that
all ecological activity is ultimately judged by its impact on the poor? When
will we sense the painful reality that the continent that has scarcely
contributed to global warming [Africa] is bearing the most detrimental
repercussions, even while being the least equipped to cope with its consequences?”
[xxxvi]
End Notes:
[i]
Evangelical Environmental Network; On the Care of Creation; http://www.creationcare.org/blank.php?id=39
[ii]
Climate Forum 2002; Oxford, England; http://www.jri.org.uk/news/statement.htm
[iii]
Micah Network; Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change; http://www.micahnetwork.org/sites/default/files/doc/library/micah_network_global_consultation_declaration_0.pdf
[iv]
Climate Change; An Evangelical Call to Action; http://christiansandclimate.org/statement/
[v]
African Church Leaders’ Statement On climate change and water; http://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Sus-CJ-08-06-AfricanChurchLeadersStatement.pdf
[vi]
Christians and Climate Change: A statement from the Australian Evangelical
Alliance;
[vii]
Creation Stewardship Task Force Report, Christian Reformed Church; http://www.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/resources/synodical/CreationStewardship.pdf
[viii]
National Association of Evangelicals; http://www.nae.net/lovingtheleastofthese
[ix]
Cape Town Commitment, Lausanne Global Conversation - Part 2,
Section IIB, 6; http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/home/creation-care
[x]
Statements by Pope Benedict and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Quotes-from-the-Pope-and-the-Church.pdf
[xi]
World Council of Churches; http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/justice-diakonia-and-responsibility-for-creation/climate-change-water.html
[xii]
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, 9/01/2006; http://www.patriarchate.org/documents/2006-encyclical
[xiii]
Cape Town Commitment Call to Action, The Lausanne Movement, Sec. II.B.6; http://www.lausanne.org/en/documents/ctcommitment.html#p2-2
[xiv]
Loving the Least of These, NAE, p. 37; http://www.nae.net/lovingtheleastofthese
[xv]
Cornwall Declaration on Global Warming; http://www.cornwallalliance.org/articles/read/an-evangelical-declaration-on-global-warming/
[xvi]
Creation Stewardship Task Force, Christian Reformed Church, 2012, p. 108; http://www.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/resources/synodical/CreationStewardship.pdf
[xvii]
National Association of Evangelicals, p. 24-25; http://www.nae.net/lovingtheleastofthese
[xviii]
Evangelical Environmental Network; On the Care of Creation; http://www.creationcare.org/blank.php?id=39
[xix]
Creation Stewardship Task Force, Christian Reformed Church, 2012, p. 49; http://www.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/resources/synodical/CreationStewardship.pdf
[xx]
Climate Forum 2002; Oxford, England; http://www.jri.org.uk/news/statement.htm
[xxi]
Creation Stewardship Task Force, p. 50
[xxii]
Micah Network; Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change; http://www.micahnetwork.org/sites/default/files/doc/library/micah_network_global_consultation_declaration_0.pdf
[xxiii]
Creation Stewardship Task Force, p. 51
[xxiv]
Climate Change; An Evangelical Call to Action; http://christiansandclimate.org/statement/
[xxv]
Creation Stewardship Task Force, p. 50
[xxvi]
African Church Leaders’ Statement On climate change and water; http://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Sus-CJ-08-06-AfricanChurchLeadersStatement.pdf
[xxvii]
Creation Stewardship Task Force, p. 52
[xxviii]
Christians and Climate Change: A statement from the Australian Evangelical
Alliance;
[xxix]
[vii]
Creation Stewardship Task Force Report, Christian Reformed Church; http://www.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/resources/synodical/CreationStewardship.pdf
[xxx]
National Association of Evangelicals; http://www.nae.net/lovingtheleastofthese
[xxxi]
Cape Town Commitment, Lausanne Global Conversation - Part 2,
Section IIB, 6; http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/home/creation-care
[xxxii] Catholic Climate Covenant, Bulletin Quotes on
Climate Change; http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Quotes-from-the-Pope-and-the-Church.pdf
[xxxiii]
Pontifical Academy of Sciences; http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Pontifical-Academy-of-Sciences_Glacier_Report_050511_final.pdf
[xxxiv]
World Council of Churches; http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/justice-diakonia-and-responsibility-for-creation/climate-change-water.html
[xxxv]
Message by Patriarch Bartholomew for
World Environment Day (June 5, 2009); http://www.unep.org/civil-society/Portals/59/Documents/13_GMGSF/additional_Resources/Ecumenical_Patriarch_Message.pdf
[xxxvi]
Message by Patriarch Bartholomew to the UN Climate Change Conference, Durban, SA;
http://www.unep.org/civil-society/Portals/59/Documents/13_GMGSF/additional_Resources/Ecumenical_Patriarch_Message.pdf
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