Creation care refers to the theology and the practice of caring for the earth and all its creatures. More exactly, creation care focuses on the proper treatment of people and all the more-than-human aspects of the natural world—animals, plants, soils, ecosystems—that grace us with their beauty, complexity, and mystery.
While the modern Christian environmental movement can be traced back to the work of pioneering Lutheran theologian Joseph Sittler in the 1950’s and 60’s, the term “creation care” is of relatively recent provenance, having come into common parlance only since the 1980’s. An important catalyst among North American Christians was the publication in 1980 of Earthkeeping: Christian Stewardship of Natural Resources, edited by Loren Wilkinson and co-authored by 6 other scholars. Republished in an updated version in 1991 as Earthkeeping in the 90’s: Stewardship of Creation, this volume gave voice to the growing sense that Christians ought to serve and protect the earth (Gen. 2:15).
Since the early 1980’s Christians have formed creation care groups of many kinds: local gatherings of like-minded people from different churches, such as Holland Creation Care; national organizations, such as the Evangelical Environmental Network; educational non-profits, such as the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies. Writings on creation care have been penned by Protestant pastors and leaders, e.g.,Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, e .g, Bartholomew I, and Roman Catholic popes, e.g., John Paul II, and more recently Pope Francis.
The main claim of those who advocate for creation care is simple: authentic Christian faith includes care for the earth and its plethora of creatures. Earthkeeping is integral to Christian discipleship. Such a claim is embedded in what we sing and pray and confess. For example, in the second line of the doxology we sing “praise God all creatures here below.” In the Lord’s Prayer we pray that God’s will be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” And in the opening line of the Apostles’ Creed we declare “I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth” and in the second to last line we confess that we believe “in the resurrection of the dead.” In other words, a theology of creation care is embedded in our music and liturgy and confessions, but we often do not notice it or give it the attention it deserves.
Such a theology is also in the Bible, from the very first chapters of Genesis to the very last chapters of Revelation. Scripture begins and ends with rivers and trees and a God who creates and sustains and will bring to perfection heaven on earth. We are called to be caretakers of this good (though abused) earth. In a world of increasingly large and pressing environmental problems, this is gospel–good news indeed.
~Steve Bouma-Prediger, Hope Church member