MAY 6, 2020

World Renew has joined a group of national Canadian churches, development agencies, and faith-based organizations in a new collaborative and strategic response to climate change.

For the Love of Creation – A Faith Based Initiative for Climate Justice began on April 22, 2020 – the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. This ecumenical initiative grew out of joint efforts underway through KAIROS Canada – ten churches and religious organizations working together in faithful action for ecological justice and human rights.

For the Love of Creation aims to engage people across Canada in action and dialogue on the topic of climate change through theological reflection, local and congregation engagement, and political advocacy.

Ida Kaastra Mutoigo, the Canadian Co-Director of World Renew, is grateful for this opportunity to join with others who believe it is a matter of justice to protect the earth and its vulnerable people and who see the power of being faithful to God’s call for relationship with creation.

“In Psalm 19, the influence of creation is noted as the ‘heavens declare the glory of God’ and in Psalm 96: 11-12 where ‘the heavens rejoice, earth is glad, the sea resounds, the fields are jubilant and all the trees of the forest sings with joy,’” said Kaastra Mutoigo. “Creation has great potential to call us to the amazing handiwork and power of our Creator God in ways that strengthen our faith in Him.”

The participants in For the Love of Creation are united around such creation care goals as helping reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada to meet and exceed the targets from the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP 21). They also share a recognition that the effects of climate change are not only environmental, social, political, cultural and economic – they also have spiritual implications for our world.

Ida Kaastra Mutoigo, the Director of World Renew, Canada

“In our current context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we witness the power of God’s creation when a virus that is invisible to the naked eye has the ability to stop travel, diminish economies, and completely transform the status of health,” said Kaastra Mutoigo.

“Not only are we impacted by creation in ways that affect faith and life, God also calls us into a relationship of practicing good stewardship of His creation as noted in Genesis 1:28. How we show our love and care for creation then is a way of showing our love and honour for God. In this light, we are delighted to sign onto the For the Love of Creation ecumenical statement.”

Those currently signed on to For the Love of Creation are committed to working together for at least the next eighteen months, and from there commitment will be on a year-by-year schedule.

Kaastra Mutoigo is hopeful about how God will work through all those connected to this cooperative journey and asks for prayer as activities begin and move forward.

“Pray for churches and leaders involved to grow in their understanding and faith in God, including a greater commitment to caring for creation as God intended,” she said. “Pray for wisdom in engaging political and church leaders so that dialogue and advocacy will be healthy and lead to changes in policy and practices impacting resilience in communities.”

To find out more about KAIROS Canada’s For the Love of Creation initiative, please click here.