Evangelical Environmentalism Comes of Age

Environmental activism constitutes the “fastest-growing form of Christian ministry,” according to Fred Krueger, director of the Christian Society of the Green Cross. Here is a brief survey of leaders in evangelical environmental ministry:

The 12-year-old San Diego-based Floresta (619/298-7727) provides technical and financial assistance to help subsistence farmers plant fast-growing trees, thus contributing to reforestation, replenishing the soil, and containing water erosion. Some of the trees are harvested for wood products, fruit, and spices.

In 1995, 225 Third World families participated in Floresta’s Agroforestry Revolving Loan Fund. With an operating budget of $250,000, Floresta is active in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Money comes mainly from foundations, corporations, churches, and individual donors.

The Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) (610/645-9392) started in 1993 and has become the major source of networking among evangelicals and Christian organizations committed to creation care. Supported by foundations, churches, and individuals, the een operates on a $200,000 annual budget from the Philadelphia offices of Evangelicals for Social Action.

EEN has provided an “Evangelical Kit for Caring for Creation” to more than 1,000 churches. The kit contains a wide variety of worship resources—ranging from suggested children’s activities to a booklet on sermon writing.

The Christian Environmental Council (CEC) operates under the auspices of EEN and holds an annual conference to plan and to pray for the advancement of creation care. The CEC’s Advocacy Committee constitutes the political arm of the evangelical environmental movement. Consisting of attorneys, ministers, and others, it studies various issues before recommending when and how to enter the public policy fray.

The Christian Environmental Association (CEA) (408/441-1571) started a decade ago but went through a major reorganization in 1993 when president Gordon Aeschliman took over.

The CEA, with an annual budget approaching $2 million, operates a state-of-the-art, solar-powered environmental research and education center in the jungles of Belize. The center is a popular spot for students at Christian colleges to study for credit. In addition, the CEA coordinates short-term missions projects—ranging from 10 days to three months—in 14 countries. The projects focus on such ecofriendly efforts as reforestation and cleaning up water.

Incorporated in 1993, the Philadelphia-based Christian Society of the Green Cross (800/650-6600) is guided by the motto “Serving and Keeping Creation.” Director Krueger says, “We noiced a severe disconnection between Christians’ belief and behavior regarding environmental issues.”

Thus, each of Green Cross’s 20 chapters has taken on a specific project, from developing an ethnobotanical center in New Hampshire to sponsoring a radio program in West Virginia that applies Christian theology to ecological issues.

Green Cross, with an annual budget of about $300,000, also has a program to help churches save on energy bills. “A medium-size church that follows our recommendations will save $1,000 [annually] in lighting alone,” Krueger says.

Copyright © 1996 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Up & Comers: What does the future of American evangelicalism look like? Get a glimpse of the twenty-first century in this issue's gallery of 50 evangelical leaders age 40 and under.

Cover Story

Up & Comers, Part 2

Cover Story

Up & Comers, Part 1

Martyrdom: Another Iranian Pastor Killed

Reforming Gomorrah

Against the American Grain

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from November 11, 1996

Greening of the Gospel?

Pentecostals: Youth Leaders Launch Racial Reconciliation Network

Former Yugoslavia: Will Croatians Welcome Serbian Baptists Home?

Congress: Profamily Victories in Spite of Override Failure

White House to Name Panel

Pastor Paul

Internet: Ministry Critics Take to World Wide Web Soapbox

PTL: Bakkers Write Separate Autobiographies

New ERA: Bennett to Use Insanity Defense at Trial

Why Women Like Big Government

Muslim Mobs Kill Five in Indonesia

Agencies Aid Starving North Koreans

A Generation of Debtors

News

Pastor X

News

News Briefs: November 11, 1996

Straight Arrow

Letters

Editorial

McMissions

A Letter to Future Leaders

Ex-Deacon Guilty in Securities Scam

Dorothy Has Her Day on Film

Anti-Mormon Evangelists Sue

News

News Briefs: November 11, 1996

Revelation and the Gay Experience: What Would John Wesley Have Said About This Debate?

Revelation and Homosexual Experience: What Wolfhart Pannenberg says about this debate in the church.

Revelation and Homosexual Experience: A Pastoral Manifesto

Jews Oppose Baptist Outreach

Ex-Treasurer Accused of Embezzlement

Showcase: Birth Announcement

God’s Groovemongers, Bowls & Beasts in Sharps & Flats

Romancing Pentecostalism

View issue

Our Latest

Wire Story

Top ACNA Leader Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

Following a string of scandals, the accusations against Archbishop Steve Wood come amid plans for the denomination to overhaul its abuse response.

The Russell Moore Show

 Listener Question: Should Communion Be Open to All Believers?

Russell takes a listener’s question about church membership and the Communion table.

Anti-Fragile Faith in Chaotic Times

Slow Theology highlights how a long obedience in the same direction grows.

News

Christian Colleges Object to Trump ‘Overreach’ on Higher Ed

The administration’s compact with universities would freeze tuition for five years and cap the number of international students, among other measures.

Will There Ever Be Peace in the Middle East?

An explainer on sectarianism, and how it keeps the region divided.

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube