July 17th

Rooted and Grounded

Last fall, I had the privilege of attending the Rooted and Grounded Conference at AMBS as we explored topics of climate hope. Among others, Avery Davis Lamb’s presentation titled “Making Room in the Anthropocene” has especially stuck with me. He explored how we as Christians may act to show hospitality and care to all the creatures with whom we share the earth. He noted that our every action has the potential to affect the flourishing of all creatures in positive or negative ways, so we must strive to make our impact as positive as possible.

Unfortunately, many of our actions are not achieving this ideal. Jesus’ ministry revealed a different form of actions; actions that were at peace with creation rather than exploitative. These actions worked to create a world in which all creatures can thrive and coexist. It is these actions that are required to aid in the creation of what Lamb called “Ecological Arks”. Ecological Arks are places that allow all of creation to flourish while protected from the forces of eco-destruction.

Lamb held up the “church forests” of Ethiopia as an example of an ecological ark. Church forests are pockets of biodiversity surrounding orthodox churches in northern Ethiopia. The churches are enveloped by the forest, and as a result, the forest is regarded as part of the church and is respected as such. Small walls protect these forests from the forces of erosion and desertification while not restraining the creaturely inhabitants of the forests. The orthodox churches within regard the forests as miniature Gardens of Eden; vital to the church communities as well as to the biodiversity and many life forms of the area.

Ecological Arks rely on hospitality extending beyond allowing physical space for other creatures to exist. They require an intimate relationship with all of creation; attentiveness to the needs and actions of our fellow creatures and the willingness to make sacrifices. We must be joyful when others are flourishing and strive for improvement when they are not.

While church forests are a very literal example of ecological arks, there are ways in which we can turn our own lives into small ecological arks. By incorporating intentionality and love into our interactions with the natural world, we can deepen our relationship with creation and become willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our creaturely siblings.

Overall, the Rooted and Grounded Conference did not paint climate action in as hopeful a light as I had been expecting. What it did do, however, was emphasize that while the big picture may seem an impossible task, focusing in on the areas where you as an individual can make a difference and on the small successes is more manageable. And that it where I find climate hope.