Creation Care Movement (Evangelical)

The Creation Care movement is an increased environmental focus among Evangelical Christians who recognize good stewardship of God's creation, the Earth, as a biblical mandate. Distinct from Earth-focused “ecology,” the term creation care focuses on biblical commands to take responsible stewardship of God's creation and care for those in need. Creation Care advocates recognize climate change's serious effects on those in poverty, particularly women, but it is not generally considered a “women's issue.”

In 2006, Jim Ball organized the Evangelical Climate Initiative, a petition for Congress to limit carbon dioxide emissions. Other Creation Care projects include the 2008 Green Bible, which prints references to the Earth in green text; the Evangelical Environmental Network and its magazine Creation Care; programs for churches, including Flourish and Eco-Congregation; conferences such as the 2008 Reform Conference, which seek biblical solutions to environmental issues, poverty, and injustice; and the study-abroad Creation Care Study Program. Related work includes the Mennonite Creation Care Network and missions organizations such as Care of Creation.

The 2006 Evangelical Youth Climate Initiative reflects the significant increases in “creation care” at many Christian colleges, including “green” initiatives and chapters of Peter Illyn's environmental stewardship group Restoring Eden. In 2008, student leaders coordinated by Anna Jane Joyner launched “Renewal: Students Caring for Creation”; the Sierra Club's Melanie Griffin is an adviser.