abbreviated version of a presentation on eco-faith to mid north coast presbytery, July 2008 http ://ecofaith.org/mnc/

abbreviated version of a presentation on eco-faith to mid north coast presbytery, July 2008 http://ecofaith.org/mnc/

Me… (Rev Dr) Jason John B.Sc (hons), B. Th, Grad Dip Env Stud, PDC, PhD. Jason John. Background in zoology, environment as well as Christian minister (deacon). Modern Western and Ancient Hebrew Creation Stories. UniQld chaplain, PhD on evolution, ecology, environmentalism meeting faith (2001-2004) 2005-2007 ecominister, Scots Church Adelaide Adelaide ecofaith community Now- presbytery minister, MNC minister at Bellingen Uniting Church 0.4 ecominister, mid north coast presbytery 0.6

eco-faith ecos ecology our house: earth“nature” “environment” creation + faith “the faith” / “your faith”

eco-faith the simple reminder that the “ecos” or creation is part of our faith story. four aspectstoday…

ecospirituality: experiencing God in creation ecotheology: talking about God in creation ecoworship: worshipping God with creation, or as Creator. ecojustice: right relationships with the rest of creation

ecospirituality ecoworshipecojustice ecotheology ecofaith

eco-spirituality we encounter our Creator in creation. "Animals are footprints of God." "God’s entire divine nature is wholly and entirely in all creatures, more deeply, more inwardly, more present than the creature is to itself …God is entirely and personally present in the wilderness, in the garden, in the field.“ (Luther)

eco-theology “We pray that we may be ready when occasion demands to confess the Lord in fresh words and deeds. chapter 11, Basis of Union

eco-theology Aquinas "A mistake about Creation will result in a mistake about God.", Summa Contra Gentiles II. 2. 3 (or: the more we learn about creation, the more we learn about God.)

eco-theology What are the new stories about creation telling us, or inviting us to ask about, our Creator?

eco-theology What are the new stories about creation telling us, or inviting us to ask about, our Creator? “…the Uniting Church enters into the inheritance of literary, historical and scientific enquiry which has characterised recent centuries, and gives thanks for the knowledge of God's ways with humanity which are open to an informed faith. [we live] within a worldwide fellowship of Churches in which we will learn to sharpen our understanding of the will and purpose of God by contact with contemporary thought. Within that fellowship we also stand in relation to contemporary societies in ways which will help us to understand our own nature and mission. Basis chapter 11

eco-worship existing church: http://www.seasonofcreation.com In the seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter we celebrate the life of Christ. In the season of Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit. Now, in the season of Creation, we have an opportunity to celebrate God, the Creator.

eco-worship THE SEASON OF CREATION – 2008 Australian Version September 1 Creation Day September 7 1st Sunday in Creation – Forest Sunday September 14 2nd Sunday in Creation – Land Sunday September 21 3rd Sunday in Creation – Outback Sunday September 28 4th Sunday in Creation – SJS (Synod) October 4 St Francis of Assisi Day October 5 5th Sunday in Creation – Blessing the Animals* October 12 Final Sunday in Creation – River Sunday

eco-worship THE SEASON OF CREATION – 2008 Australian Version September 1 Creation Day September 7 1st Sunday in Creation – Forest Sunday September 14 2nd Sunday in Creation – Land Sunday September 21 3rd Sunday in Creation – Outback Sunday September 28 4th Sunday in Creation – SJS (Synod) October 4 St Francis of Assisi Day October 5 5th Sunday in Creation – Blessing the Animals* October 12 Final Sunday in Creation – River Sunday collaborators wanted contact Jason

eco-worship New ecofaith communities seeking fresh words and deeds about the Creator through worship in/with creation. Adelaide Taree? Bellingen

eco-worship New ecofaith communities Adelaide

eco-justice … that coming reconciliation and renewal which is the end in view for the whole creation. chapter 3, Basis of Union

eco-justice … that coming reconciliation and renewal which is the end in view for the whole creation. the church’s calling is to serve that end

eco-justice … that coming reconciliation and renewal which is the end in view for the whole creation. the church’s calling is to serve that end to be a fellowship of reconciliation, a body within which the diverse gifts of its members are used for the building up of the whole, an instrument through which Christ may work and bear witness to himself.

eco-justice … that coming reconciliation and renewal which is the end in view for the whole creation. the church’s calling is to serve that end one way: the ecofootprint idea ecofaith.org/footprint

ecofaith.org/footprint

http://www.climateinstitute.org.au (corrected) “publicity” $7 / week 7 tonnes / Year

Energy Efficiency $0 / week 7 tonnes / Year http://www.climateinstitute.org.au (corrected)

ecofaith.org/footprint more info next presbytery

ecospirituality ecoworshipecojustice ecotheology ecofaith reconciliation and renewal for all creation ready when occasion demands to confess the Lord in fresh words & deeds (& some old ones)

ecofaith- mnc (smrf 2008-2013) Our occasion: growing tendency to seek the Spirit in creation, outside the church. the ever growing impact of (many) humans on God’s creation fresh words: for those outside the church seeking a community of faith to belong to, who are open to “church” but not in its current form for existing church communities seeking to express their love of the Creator through their love of creation. Fresh deeds: partnerships with community organisations (people of good will) our location: spreading out from Bellingen, into the northern zone, into the presbytery

2009: Starting in Bellingen 2010+: helping others take root, starting Nth Zone ad hoc “eco” communities: Taree

abbreviated version of a presentation on eco-faith to mid north coast presbytery, July 2008 http ://ecofaith.org/mnc/