Reflecting God’s care
Reflecting God’s care
A journey through justice and environment
by Sarah Clarke,
The morning dew clings to grass stems as I walk through the garden, reminded of how God tends to his creation. There’s something profound in this simple act of care – the way the earth sustains life, the delicate balance of ecosystems, the intricate web of relationships between all living things. It’s a reflection of how God cares for us, and how we’re called to care for his creation.
Module: Justice, Environment and Mission in a Global Context
Examine Christian engagement in issues of justice, development and the environment, addressing theology and missional practice, and reflect on the implications in your own context. 31 March to 4 April 2025
This spring, we’re inviting you to explore this divine calling through our Justice and Environment module, running from 31 March to 4 April. It’s an exciting journey that will take you from city streets to rural pathways, examining what it means to be image bearers of God in today’s world.
Rediscover our call
The biblical narrative begins with humans placed in a garden, given the profound responsibility to tend and keep it – שמר (shamar). It’s the same word used to describe how God watches over and protects his people. When we read in Psalm 121 that God “neither slumbers nor sleeps” as he keeps Israel, we see the depth of care we’re called to mirror in our relationship with creation.
Yet somewhere along the way, we’ve lost sight of this calling. We’ve separated earth care from theology, as if caring for creation were somehow peripheral to our faith. Nothing could be further from the truth. When God created humans in his image, he called us to reflect his character in every aspect of life, including our relationship with the earth and its inhabitants.
Immersion experience
Our five-day module explores this calling in both urban and rural contexts. The first part immerses you in city life, where we’ll grapple with environmental challenges in concrete jungles and examine how justice issues intersect with earth care. The latter part takes us to rural settings, where we’ll experience firsthand the rhythms of creation and explore sustainable practices that honour our role as image bearers.
This isn’t just another environmental course. It’s a deep exploration into understanding our identity as God’s representatives on earth. We’ll examine how Christ’s redemptive work encompasses all creation and what that means for our mission today. Through practical experiences, theological reflection, and community engagement, you’ll develop a rich understanding of how to embody God’s caring presence in your own context.
Journey with others
You’ll engage with others who share your commitment to justice and earth care, building networks that can support your ministry long after the module ends.
Think of it as a journey of discovery – discovering what it truly means to tend and keep as God tends and keeps, to care as God cares, to protect as God protects. We’ll explore how this calling shapes our approach to contemporary challenges, from urban development to rural sustainability, from social justice to environmental care.
Becoming image bearers
By the end of our time together, you’ll have not only a deeper theological understanding but also practical tools and strategies for implementing earth and people care initiatives in your own context. You’ll see how our calling as image bearers shapes everything from local church ministry to community development.
The earth reminds us daily of God’s faithful care. Each sunrise speaks of his constancy, each raindrop of his provision, each growing seed of his nurturing presence. As his image bearers, we’re called to reflect that same faithful care in our relationship with creation and each other.
Will you join us on this journey of discovery? Come explore what it means to be God’s image bearers in a world crying out for care and justice.
To register or learn more about the Justice and Environment module, contact Helen Harwood on pioneer@churchmissionsociety.org
