For The Love of Creation

Care For Creation
Written By Ministry Forum

For the Love of Creation is a national initiative in Canada that brings together faith bodies and faith-based organizations to mobilize education, reflection, action, and advocacy for climate justice. This initiative, launched on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, aims to deepen collective action on climate change and make a meaningful contribution to the climate movement over the next decade.

History and Principles

For the Love of Creation builds on a long history of ecological conservation, environmental activism, and advocacy for climate justice by Canadian faith bodies and organizations. In 2019, a group of churches and faith-based organizations embarked on a journey of reflection, dialogue, and discernment to strengthen their collective climate action. The initiative is grounded in the following principles:

  • Faith-Based and Theologically Grounded: Open to all faith communities and organizations in Canada committed to climate justice.

  • Indigenous Self-Determination: Recognizes Indigenous peoples' care for the land, experiences with resource extraction, climate change, and rights, including free, prior, and informed consent, as central to climate justice.

  • Youth Empowerment: Listens to and amplifies the voices of young people who are at the forefront of the climate movement.

Theological Engagement

For the Love of Creation encourages collaborative theology, exploring the relationship with the Creator and creation, and fostering dialogue about climate justice and global warming. They have developed a guide for theological reflection, which faith communities can use to host sessions and contribute to a "Letter of the Faithful"—a grassroots pastoral epistle outlining concerns, challenges, and actions related to climate change.

Initiatives

  • Faithful Climate Conversations: Local groups engage in discussions using resources provided by For the Love of Creation.

  • Earth Week Activities: Annual events during Earth Week to engage faith communities in climate justice activities.

  • COP Delegations: Participation in global climate conferences, such as COP27 and COP28, with actions like candlelight vigils to advocate for climate justice.

Advocacy Campaigns

  • Give it up for the Earth!: A national faith-in-action campaign from February 14 to March 28, 2024, encouraging personal and household greenhouse gas emission reductions, eco-spirituality, and advocacy for stronger federal climate action.

  • Policy Positions: Advocates for ambitious national greenhouse gas reduction targets, a just transition to a green economy, implementation of Indigenous rights, and support for climate adaptation and mitigation in the Global South.

Past Actions and Campaigns

  • Give it up for the Earth! 2022: Focused on reducing emissions, learning about Indigenous communities, and urging federal climate action.

  • House of Commons e-petition (2020): Collected 2,500 signatures to urge the Government of Canada to commit to significant emissions reductions and support a just transition.

Ministry Forum
Previous

It’s Raining Books CHURCHx Course
Next

Backstory Preaching