Creation Care at Hope Church started as a defined ministry in early 2002.
Creation Care refers to the biblical mandate and practice of caring for the earth and all its creatures. It focuses on the proper treatment of all aspects of the natural world—people, animals, plants, soil, water, and air—that grace us with their beauty, complexity and mystery.
Our capacity for caring for the natural world is based on the fact that we have first been cared for by God. Genuine caring then comes from our core, from whom we know ourselves to really be. Micah sets the expectations: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” – Micah 6:8
Micah includes that cut-you-down-to size phrase “O mortal”. We are not primary. We are part of the created order. Micah’s reference to being shown what is “good” is a verbal link back to the creation story in Genesis. God declared each stage of creation to be good. The natural world is not an auxiliary resource; each component of creation is intended to work together for good.
We have been called to discern whether or not all things are working together for good. Where we find that not to be the case, caring means working to implement those ways of renewal and reconciliation which do bring us closer to God’s creation intent.
Over the past two decades the Creation Care Ministry has been involved in a variety of activities directed toward this goal: nature hikes, legislative advocacy, rain garden development, energy efficiency audits, adult education classes, movie nights, book discussions, pollinator garden advocacy, electronic waste recycling, solar energy promotion.
As a guide, the Creation Care Ministry adopted this working statement of purpose:
Creation Care Ministry recognizes that God deeply loves and cares for
all life on Earth and that God is not willing to accept any degrading of life.
As people of faith, we are called to join with God’s work of restoration
and re-creation. As a ministry we do this by educating when asked,
advocating when necessary, facilitating engagement with nature, and
leading by example.