Spring 2011, Vol. 91, No. 3

The EMU Crossroads magazine, published three times a year, most recently focused  on sustainability.   Multiple articles profile alumni with unique methods of “going green.”  It is both inspiring and informative, and worth checking out. Visit http://emu.edu/now/crossroads/ to view the magazine online.

By Patrick Maxwell

If you want to know what the wrath of God looks like, just ask Calvin Redekop. In a startling tale of cosmic justice made personal, Redekop — the editor of Creation & the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World — relates in the book’s introduction his story of the consequences of offense against God’s created order. As he came of age in Montana in the 1930s, Redekop witnessed huge dust storms, ecological devastation, and eventual agricultural collapse brought about by the transformation of the rich prairie ecosystem into monoculture farmland generations before him. It’s a tale reminiscent of the Biblical adage of God visiting the crimes of the fathers upon their descendents; as in the Old Testament stories of sin and judgment, the farmers who transgressed against creation brought down punishment on their children and grandchildren.

Redekop’s introductory story thus frames humanity’s environmental destruction in spiritual terms, and the rest of the book tidily follows suit. Perspectives from Mennonite theologians, activists, economists, and laypersons fill out a vision for an Anabaptist ethic grounded in the very real awareness that ecological sin brings destruction and poverty. The book is surprising in its scope; it begins with a summary of humanity’s effect on the biosphere, and covers both Anabaptist thought and action both past and modern. Although undoubtedly a scholarly work, the essays are engaging and generally easy to read, and the authors include examples, stories, and anecdotes to aid the reader’s understanding.

While Creation & the Environment is certainly not the only book to attempt a fusion of Christianity with modern environmentalism, the authors’ attention to extra-Biblical knowledge places it ahead of purely theological works. The essayists use a mix of Scriptural influences and modern-day examples from the fields of sociology, biology, and economics to build a grounded, relevant theology of environmental responsibility. So while Leviticus 25 proclaims “the land is mine, for ye are but strangers and sojourners,” the book’s opening essay (“Economics, Development, and Creation,” by James and Karen Harder) shows the extent to which that verse has been disobeyed. The overall effect is engaging and effective, and the book — and, by association, the Mennonite Church — proves itself as a relevant source in the arena of creation care.

Overall, the book is relevant, well-written, and engaging. The only thing it needs? A second edition. The original was written in 2000, and essays date from years earlier (one author even feels compelled to explain what “electronic mail” is!). In a field like environmentalism, staying current counts — but in all other arenas, this book is a winner. Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.

This is a blog by Phil Wood, a UK based Mennonite who is part of the Wood Gree Mennonite Church near Epping Forest, London.  Phil is also I also a lifelong birdwatcher and a member of the Green Party.  Phil’s blog covers a variety of topics, including the ecological crisis from a British perspective. Here’s a link to entries with an ecological theme.

The review is by Luke Gascho, chair of Mennonite Creation Care Network’s Creation Care Council. The book, Global Warming and the Risen Lord, is by Jim Ball.

A gripping center point in this book is the statement “Overcoming global warming is a spiritual challenge.” Such a statement is rare in most conversations about climate change and environmental degradation. Skeptics in society – as well as in the evangelical Christian community – often dismiss the evidence of global warming and overlook the idea that the condition of the soul is at the core of the cause and thinking about the issue. Jim Ball tackles this concept head-on in his writing.

This book is a valuable resource for leaders and laypeople that want to gain understanding of a topic that is regularly in the news, in political debates, and in daily conversations. Dr. Ball develops a logical framework for the reader, which can be studied in a sequential reading of the book or used as a resource by selecting individual chapters to inform conversations. The three sections of the book intersect with each other in a remarkable fashion. As a reader, I appreciated the careful outline and description of the realities of climate change in the first section. A strength of the book’s argument comes from the author’s carefully footnoted statements about climate change that are based on the best scientific sources. Illustrations of the impacts of climate change are inserted graphically through out the book. I believe that someone who reads the book carefully will either be convinced of the reality of climate change or will recognized what they already believed about the issue has been articulated in a helpful manner for increased understanding.

The middle section of the book is strategically and artfully placed between the description of the climate change issue and the last section dealing with responsive actions. Jim carefully leads the reader through a thorough biblical study of who the Risen Lord is and who we are in relation to the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. I am grateful for the way’s that Jim lifts up the teachings of Christ as a clear and crucial guide for how we must act in our daily lives – and in particular in response to the daunting challenges of climate change.

Chapter 10 is a very powerful account of Dr. Ball’s personal experience with Christ in a youth and on into his life’s work. It is here that the reader discovers why Jim is so passionate about the poor of the world and the why Christians need to act. It is gripping to read of the events of his hometown as he was growing up as a child. He shares the tensions of the civil rights issues, as well as the ways that the church failed to lead or act on the injustices that surrounded them in daily life. Jim makes it clear that the injustices of climate change are areas where Christians must act today and that we should learn from the failures of our inactions in the past. The case is articulated well, with passion, and with inspiration. The church must act and not deny.

A critical theme that runs throughout the book is that of the poor and our responsibility to take action. This point is made with regional and global statistics as well as with a biblical context. I am impressed with how Dr. Ball articulates that the Risen Lord demonstrated His love for the poor and disadvantaged – and calls His followers to walk in His steps. As Christians, we have often fallen into an individually focused view of who Christ is. Jim doesn’t allow us to be in that mode of operation. As he says, “Christ… afflicts the comfortable.” Christians of the 21st Century must act on Christ’s teachings, which also means leading in response to global warming.

The final section of the book is filled with realistic and credible responses to climate change. The reader is not left with a feeling of hopelessness, but rather the awareness that there are practices that will make a difference and must be pursued now. I found the concepts of mitigation, poverty-reduction and adaptation to be grounded in good practice and policy. As Dr. Ball notes, we must have a moral and political will to act, secure funding, provide good governance, right policies, accurate information, integrated responses and community engagement.

I am grateful that a person like Jim Ball has written this book for the evangelical church. He is able from his years of work on the issues of climate change to speak with integrity. His passion for the topic is evident in this book and has great congruence with the professional leadership he has provided to the church and society for several decades. He calls us to be alert and responsive – and of great importance – to be spiritually healthy. Read this book, be moved and act.

Who takes the temperature of the planet? If you’ve never visited the web site of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sorted out their working groups or read their summary reports, there’s no time like the present.

A web site
On October 24, 2009, author Bill McKibben and the nonprofit, 350.org sponsored an international day of climate change action, inviting people from all over the world to create an action around the number 350—the safe threshold of ppm CO2 required for a healthy planet. Visit 350.org to view thousands of pictures from 182 countries.

A book by Andrew Farley and Katherine Hayhoe.

This book is written by a husband-wife team from Lubbock, Texas. She’s a scientist; he’s an Evangelical pastor. They were inspired to write about climate change together after fielding questions from friends who wanted to hear from fellow Christians.

“Love God, love your neighbors and remember the poor,” Farley says. “This was the unwavering mandate of the early church more than 2,000 years ago. And this is our solidly biblical motivation for caring about climate change today and how it already affects real people.”

“It’s not about blue or red or any kind of politics. It’s about thermometer readings and history. It’s about facts, figures and reality,” Hayhoe says.

Ilovemountains.org is a site about the consequences of coal mining and mountaintop removal. One nifty feature on this site is a place where you can type in your zip code and see if coal powers your electricity. If it does (likely) you can find out what mines that coal comes from and what communities are impacted.

Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies

Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies has campuses in Michigan, Washington, Southern Florida and India. It offers university-level academic programs, community programs for K-12 as well as retreat facilities. The library offers a handful of on-line texts including “Biblical Principles for Respecting the Integrity of Creation” and “Three Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship” by Calvin Dewitt. Resources such as Let Them Praise: Developing an Environmental Education Program that Honors the Creator by Patricia Fagg may be ordered. Their site reaches outward by offering links to other Creation Care websites.

http://www.ausable.org/or.resources.cfm

Congregations Caring for Creation was founded in 2004 and is based in Minnesota. The goal of this organization is to educate congregations on the effects of global warming and to change public policy. This website offers earth prayers, examples for “Earth Day” worship services, suggestions for “greening” buildings and educational pieces in the form of movies, DVD’s, seminars and interviews with people such as Cal Dewitt and Majora Carter. Under “Faith Traditions,” they offer what they consider to be the best resources on stewardship that each congregation has to offer including Baptist, Jewish, Quaker, Catholic and Unitarian traditions. Congregations Care for Creation also suggests actions from energy audits to legislative exploits under “Creation Care Actions.”

http://www.ccc.nonprofitoffice.com/index.asp?