Christian Formation and Eco/Sociological Education:
“The creation of regenerate personalities, pledged to righteousness, is one of the most important services which the Church can render to social progress… Regeneration includes that a [person] must pass under the [rule] of the spirit of Christ, so that [he/she] will judge of life as Christ would judge of it. That means a revaluation of social values. Things that are now “exalted among men” must become “an abomination” to [him/her] because they are built on wrong and misery.”
Walter Rauschenbusch, Christianity and the Social Crisis, 1907
Under “God’s reign,” there would be a great reversal of the conditions of life, with joy, peace and abundance for all, including the earth. It is this sort of “kingdom” that represents the “central ethic” of the Bible.
Paraphrased from Daniel Maguire, The Moral Core of Judaism and Christianity, 1993
The Christian Formation materials we offer differ from those of traditional Christian education, which too often forgets or marginalizes the social gospel and focuses only on articles of belief, individual spiritual growth, the afterlife, Church history and uncontroversial Bible study. While we do not intend to substitute for standard formation, we do aim to re-orient the focus of formation to the preparation of followers of Christ to enter into his prophetic, activist mission of proclaiming and creating the “kingdom of God”1 on earth, within history, at the political/economic systemic as well as comprehensive personal levels, in contrast to our dominant culture.
Typically, social justice and “care for creation” are adjunct pieces of formation that those with a special interest may engage, or they are confused with charity and relatively superficial lifestyle changes. What we are missing is that if the Church en masse had truly followed the prophets’ and Christ’s radical way of love and justice long ago, as a central mission, we would not have the crisis we have today because their version of society is resonant with sustainability.
More to the point, and this is the heart of our message, the fundamental structural principles of the society Jesus envisioned and championed to the cross, the “kin-dom of God,” are, in essence, the same as those that a just, sustainable society demands today.
Hence, we need to re-learn the Bible’s primary, over-arching story of social transformation, to both resurrect the Church’s ancient vision and mission and to practically interpret them in light of today’s particular eco/social justice challenges. Further, we must address the holistic emotional, spiritual and practical processes that people in transformation must engage, far beyond the intellectual aspects. In the end, we believe that these challenges are really a God-given opportunity to joyfully live our baptismal covenant and our communion with Christ, in community, as never before.
Join us as we engage the Exodus to “Kin-dom” journey – the total transformation, or conversion, that is our deeper Christian calling!
In collaboration with Rebecca Hall, Director of the Small Groups Ministry at St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, TX, we developed "Greening Church Culture: A Guide to Adult Christian Environmental Education and Formation Curricula." This Guide is intended to assist Christian Education/Formation leaders as they choose materials for their congregations.
We are available to speak or teach in your church in the following ways.
- Sermons – Elizabeth is often available to preach - Check her writing for the "Sustainable Life Sermons" series to get a feel
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Lectures – Overview of Christianity’s inspiring Deep Conversion story and other faith/sustainability core principle linkages; Why Your Church Should Go Green - the Business and Gospel Cases; Green Communications to Christians - Strategy is Key; Presentation and Discussion of our "Greening Church Culture" Curricula Guide
- “Deep Conversion” Workshops – Longer, more interactive, and process-oriented versions of the above Lectures
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