The Episcopal Church’s ambitions for creation care are as lofty as they are underfunded. The global climate crisis looms large, and it is especially on the minds of younger generations, persons of color and indigenous persons who are and will be disproportionately affected by climate change. While the relative proposed budget allocation to Creation Care in 2022 has increased over the previous triennium’s budget adopted in 2018, it is still the least funded expense category put forth by PB&F at just 1% of total allocations. Will it be enough?
At this year’s curtailed General Convention, substantial chunks of legislation will pass by unnoticed. Amidst the commotion, however, Resolution A086, “Continuing the Task Force for Care of Creation and Environmental Racism” presents an opportunity to reflect upon the creation care work set before us.
The scale of the call is difficult to digest. Natural disasters hit our communities with increasing frequency and force; marginalized communities bear disproportionate burdens of pollution; younger generations face a uniquely uncertain future fraught with eschaton and theodicy. Answering these calls, the Task Force for Care of Creation and Environmental Racism works not only on creation care itself, but also at a crucial intersection of issue areas including racial justice, economic justice, and evangelism.
Resolution A086 calls the Task Force to programming, theology, implementing carbon offsets, supporting just transition, establishing networks of asset-based programs, nurturing partnerships with environmental justice organizations, and implementing a grants program to accomplish it all. This is vital, expansive work that deserves not only attention but resources.
While care for creation is a pillar of ministry that will continue to go underfunded this triennium, legislation before the 80th General Convention presents a glimpse into an exciting future of creation care networks. Massive growth in digital networking thrust upon the church by the pandemic may open pathways to collaboration and innovation that wouldn’t have been possible only a few years ago.
Digital networks have already sprung up, institutional and otherwise, connecting previously isolated ministries, leaders, and land managers across our church. Additionally, the pivot to digital attendance at previously in-person events has already lowered the environmental impact of the Tasks Force’s activities, including the Episcopal Church’s Delegation to the UN Climate Conference (COP26) in 2021, and could serve as a model for other areas of ministry as well.
The Task Force for Care of Creation and Environmental Racism has done vital work to further its mission, not only in the tasks it has accomplished but also by modeling environmentally sustainable operations. An increase in proposed budget allocation is good news for this ministry – but will it be enough? With such a small portion of General Convention funding, the question ultimately falls upon those the Task Force will support, from individuals to dioceses.
God so loved creation that he gave his only Son. What will we give?
The Episcopal Herald 