February storms aren’t surprising in Canada, but the extreme weather fluctuations that we’ve seen here this winter and the increase in storms and droughts around the globe in recent years are certainly worth noting. As Canadians, we are famous for our constant conversations about the weather, but when it comes to larger environmental questions are we able to do more than just talk?
Despite withdrawing from the Kyoto Accord, Canada has maintained a presence at international climate change negotiations, and in 2009 committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020. Unfortunately, Environment Canada’s 2012 assessment of progress toward this target finds existing measures tremendously deficient and with no plan in place, in seems certain that Canada will fall far short of its established goal.
In Stephen B. Scharper’s newly-published book, For Earth’s Sake: Toward a Compassionate Ecology, he poses a number of questions we need to consider s Christians in the face of the global ecological crisis. “What is our role here?” “What on Earth are we doing?” And, “What is our proper place… between the rock of our technological prowess and the hard place of our biological vulnerability and profound interconnection with the rest of creation?”
Professor Scharper will be exploring these questions in a new worship and action guide coming out later this year. Following on the successful 2011 publication of Living Justice: A Gospel Response to Poverty, CPJ’s Living Eco-Justice will provide Christian communities with a faith-based learning tool that considers key questions in our pursuit of abundant life for all creation.
The wide range of topics and resources will make the book useful for worship, small groups, dinner table discussions, or personal times of reflection. Three main themes – creation care, ecology and spirituality, worship and action – will frame the issues explored. Each section will be grounded in a scripture passage, followed by a reflection, discussion questions, suggested activities, and a prayer. Indicative of Christ’s love and compassion, Living Eco-Justice will be inclusive and ecumenical with contributors from across Canada representing various Christian traditions.
In Living Eco-Justice, we are asking challenging questions: How do we become closer to Christ through a deepening relationship with creation? How do we move from the idea of human dominion of the Earth to one of creation justice? What does it mean, from an Indigenous and biblical perspective, for God to have a covenant with all of creation? How can ecological justice become part of our worship services? And, what will it take for Canadian churches to step up their advocacy efforts in the face of climate change? Other topics include lessons from nature, the centrality of food, and the importance of global solidarity.
With its public justice lens on the interconnections between ecological, social, and economic issues, we hope that this book will provide new information, insights, and inspiration to those who have already taken up the call to seek creation justice, as well as those who are new to environmental issues.
We know that Canada needs a plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and reach its international targets. Urgent action is also required on a national energy strategy that ensures a healthy, sustainable future for Canada. Yet our government will not change course of its own volition. Government action requires – at the very least – an active, informed, and engaged citizenry. Citizens who take responsibility for the choices they make in their homes and churches, and also for the choices are made in their name locally, nationally, and in the global community. Living Eco-Justice will be a tool that Canadian Christians can use as we work together towards abundant life for all of creation.
One possible idea could be
One possible idea could be changing the reasonably common liberation theology theme/slogan “a preferential option for the poor” to “a preferencial option for the planet”.