From the first words of Genesis through to the Gospels and beyond, our understanding of God is shaped by our relationship to the land we inhabit.
God has given humanity a significant capacity to use the resources of the earth for our own enjoyment, but with that capacity also comes a great responsibility. That responsibility is to care for God’s creation, not to undermine or destroy it.
We believe that the two commandments of Christ: to love God and to love our neighbour; are inherent in protecting the environment. Why would someone who loves God want to destroy the beautiful gift that He has given us, of a home rich in diversity of plant and animal life? Likewise, why would someone who truly loves their neighbour (in the widest sense, of loving all humanity), want to destroy the world that their neighbour inhabits, for their own personal gain?
The Church therefore takes care for the environment very seriously. In fact, it is one of the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission:
- To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- To respond to human need by loving service
- To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation
- To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth
Why not have a look at the theological resources on the environment that we have available?
Here you can find prayers, theological reflections, book reviews, special services and links to other useful theological information on the environment.
