Defending creation: Let’s change how we interact with the world, say bishops Robin Russell, Nov 20, 2009
UMR PHOTO BY ROBIN RUSSELL
The denomination's bishops are calling on United Methodists to help renew God's creation through a series of action steps that address poverty, environmental degradation and proliferation of weapons and violence.
By Robin Russell Managing Editor
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C.—Most people tend to think of poverty, weapons of mass violence and environmental concerns as isolated—and often overwhelming—global problems.
But making a difference depends on seeing how they are all interrelated, say United Methodist bishops. That means the choices we make affect God’s creation—including other people and nations—no matter what part of the world we live in.
Calling for a Wesleyan-like accountability for how we interact with creation and our neighbors, the denomination’s bishops have released their first official statement on environmental issues in nearly two decades. More than 5,400 United Methodists had input into the document through an online survey, focus groups and regional conversations.
“We cannot help the world until we change our way of being in it,” the 69 active United Methodist bishops said in their pastoral letter “God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action,” adopted during their November meetings. They are asking United Methodists to read the letter in churches during Advent.
The document, which has been in the works since the 2004 General Conference, updates a 1986 episcopal statement, “In Defense of Creation: The Nuclear Crisis and A Just Peace,” which criticized the proliferation of nuclear arms. The new document offers a more holistic and integrated plan to better care for the whole of creation.
“To see the interconnectedness of it all is one of the big strengths of the document,” said Bishop Patrick Streiff (Central and Southern Europe Area), who added he was “deeply moved” by how the bishops responded.
Wesleyan theology
The document’s Wesleyan framework will help people respond not in fear but with a sense of hope, “knowing that God is renewing ever-again his creation,” Bishop Streiff said.
“No matter how bad things are, God’s creative work continues,” the pastoral letter states. “Christ’s resurrection assures us that death and destruction do not have the last word.”
Environmental stewardship is a form of Wesleyan “social holiness,” the document states, and Wesley believed that Christians are called to be channels of God’s blessings to the world.
But instead, certain practices and policies around the world—even by Christians—have resulted in the poor and needy being neglected, global warming being hastened and an increasing proliferation of weapons.
Bishops are calling United Methodists to lead the way through confession and repentance: changing the harmful things we do and becoming good stewards of what God created. And they are starting with themselves.
Among their pledges in the letter, the 50 U.S. active bishops and the 19 bishops from Europe, Africa and Asia say they will “measure the ‘carbon footprint’ of our episcopal and denominational offices, determine how to reduce it and implement those changes.” (A carbon footprint is an estimate of how much carbon dioxide is produced to support activities such as travel and home energy use).
“Every time we travel and gather people, we increase our carbon footprint,” said Bishop Jane Middleton (Harrisburg Area). “We need to think about how we meet. It begins with looking at our own spiritual connection to God as we respond to these enormous challenges before us, changing the way we live and live together.” Bishop Christian Alsted (Nordic and Baltic Area) praised the document as “a good first step” and added that the church needs to take concrete steps on climate change, including “the way we travel, the cars we buy.” Bishops might make more use of video conferencing, for instance, instead of gathering twice a year for council meetings.
“What do we need to change—even where it might hurt, even where it might make it more inconvenient?” he asked in an interview. “While it’s easy, convenient and very fast to fly, I could take the train. It’s slower and more inconvenient. But is it right to fly?”
Bishop Jose Quipungo (East Angola Area) reminded his colleagues that his country has been a victim of the technology in other parts of the world that has produced smaller weapons such as landmines. It costs 100 times as much to remove a landmine than to position it in the first place, the document states.
Bishop Sally Dyck (Minnesota Area) cited the world’s increasing population, saying statistics show that show one child in the U.S. has a carbon footprint that equals that of 13 children in Bangladesh. Over-consumption of fossil fuels and natural resources, she added, means others will suffer scarcity, neglect and poverty.
Wesleyan scholars
Tying together all these issues was just one of the challenges of crafting the document, say two scholars from Candler School of Theology who worked on the project. Another was the emotional response heard at “listening and learning events” throughout the denomination.
United Methodists expressed anger at continued habits that contribute to ecological problems, impatience, frustration, anxiety and sometimes cynicism, said Ellen Ott Marshall, an associate professor of Christian ethics.
“The church has made statements before,” the team was told.
“The Council of Bishops knows that words are insufficient,” Dr. Marshall said, “but recognizes that it’s important though to have a historical record.” Her goal, she added, was “to craft genuine hope that’s sturdy enough to inspire people on this long, long journey.”
Reflecting regional nuances in the confession section of the document was especially challenging, she added. For those in the Global North, for instance, confession meant acknowledging we “consume more, waste more and militarize more” than others and must “take responsibility for the environmental damages we have caused. . . . We must also confess the greed and selfishness that motivate us to pursue our own comfort while ignoring those in need.”
In contrast, those in the Global South “must acknowledge corruption that threatens our societies,” the document states. “When we spend precious resources on weapons, we are stealing from the poor of our country. We confess selfishness and greed, made worse in contexts of scarcity.”
Dr. Theodore Runyon, professor emeritus of systematic theology, said the writing team was careful to maintain a Wesleyan focus on God’s initiative and grace throughout the document. Wesley saw salvation as a “restoration of the image of God,” he said, and that idea of restoration extends to the world as well.
“For Wesley, the world is a trust given to us,” Dr. Runyon said, “and our relationship to our neighbors is part of that trust.”
“Our reason, our will and our freedom equip us to respond to God’s initiative in calling us to stewardship for the world. To care for the world, to till it and keep it—this is the way we fulfill our responsibility together.”
Engaging young adults
Young people, even those outside a faith community, have jumped on the project with “real electricity,” said project manager Pat Callbeck Harper. Despite a cynicism about a denominational statement making any difference, they are drawn to environmental issues. “They are not very hopeful, generally, about the mess that’s been left to them,” she said. “But when I share with them the history of the United Methodist Church’s work on poverty and disease, on nuclear disarmament, the work of professing against war and violence—the cynicism just falls away and they become hopeful and they want to know more about this United Methodist Church.
“We stand on broad shoulders as United Methodists this day, all the way back to Wesley. It’s pretty courageous stuff.”
Bishop Warner Brown (San Francisco Area) believes the document is a way to get young United Methodists engaged in making a difference in the world because they understand how environmental degradation intersects with health and poverty issues.
“The whole world is awash in weapons,” he said, “and these impact the poorest of the poor worst of all. Youth and young adults in particular are aware of this, and are excited about how this connects them with the world they are inheriting.”
John Hodges, 26, of the General Board of Discipleship’s Division On Ministries With Young People, agreed that young adults are looking for ways to interact with global issues.
“Young people believe that something can be changed, and changed for the better,” he said. “And they see themselves as having power to bring about change.”
Materials for young adults will include an interactive Web site that will include updated video clips and stories of how United Methodists can become involved.
Episcopal commitment
At their fall meeting, bishops pitched in to help spread the word, including helping with costs for more translations of material. “God’s Renewed Creation” has already been published in French and Portuguese.
Retired Bishop Don Ott held a basketball to mimic the success of the Nothing But Nets campaign, and asked his colleagues to reach into their pockets “to advance the proclamation of what we’ve done here this morning.”
“I’m asking for $10 bills, in my pocket, along with the promise that you’ll find a way to financially support this. Here’s the deal: You give me $10, I’ll match it.”
Before they left Lake Junaluska, bishops had raised several thousand dollars toward a $100,000 goal.
Supplemental resources for the document and pastoral letter include a liturgical version to be used during worship services and a workbook for Sunday school classes and other small-group gatherings.
UMR PHOTO BY ROBIN RUSSELL
Wesleyan theology 
“The Council of Bishops knows that words are insufficient,” Dr. Marshall said, “but recognizes that it’s important though to have a historical record.” Her goal, she added, was “to craft genuine hope that’s sturdy enough to inspire people on this long, long journey.”
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