Creation Care Action Plans
The Creation Care Action Plans are designed to help congregations see creation care as a part of God’s redemptive work and take part in God’s vision of reconciliation for all creation. Each plan strives to meet churches where they are at and empower them towards further creation care action. The plans were developed as a part of CSCS’s Climate Futures Fellowship program in 2020 and are informed and inspired by the experiences of Anabaptist pastors in the US and Canada.
Take the quiz to find out which plan is right for your congregation.
Plan 1
Congregations in this category have not fit creation care into their current theological or social perspectives for a variety of reasons. A church might be focusing on other issues, or they might feel that environmentalism is a politicized, polarizing issue that pastors cannot or should not address. A few creation care actions may have been accomplished, but not intentionally. (i.e. solar installation for financial stewardship, not environmental). Plan 1 is designed to reframe the conversation around creation care through the eyes of faith and explore low-risk creation care action ideas that fit the church’s current commitments.
Plan 2
Congregations that score between 10 -15 have taken a few initial steps towards intentional creation care. Generally, congregations in this range are motivated to care for creation out of biblical responsibility and a concern for other people. This may look like doing a few facilities updates or a small group study on creation care, but the church lacks organizational structure and vision for accomplishing creation care projects. Plan 2 will help the church develop a Creation Care Team and walk through the initial stages of visioning, planning, and project execution.
Plan 3
Congregations in this category see creation care as a part of their congregational identity of living simply, stewarding resources, and caring for the world. They have been pursuing creation care for a significant period of time and have accomplished much in this area, but they have not developed a long term creation care plan. Plan 3 works through pastoral responses to environmental emotions, creation care communication strategies and long term planning exercises.
Plan 4
Congregations in this category see creation care as a form of stewardship of the land, stewardship of tradition and culture, and an integral part to a relationship with Christ. They see social awareness of economic and historical injustices as connected to creation’s treatment, and the church has a long history of activism in these areas. Plan 4 focuses on listening to the needs and injustices within their broader community and identifying and participating in reconciliatory actions alongside other local organizations.
Cumulative Resouces
Creation care resources from trusted, faith-based sources can be hard to come by, especially when you are just starting your creation care journey. The Cumulative Resource page is designed to meet congregational creation care needs in one convenient location. It includes lists of creation care organizations, worship and educational materials, facilities resources, and outreach and advocacy ideas. Click the button below to explore resources and save materials for current and future projects!