Sensitizing Christians to the value of creation : exploring the role of the Eucharist

Abstract

Many Christian churches incorporate environmental policies as part of their mission while others appear hesitant to embrace ecological concern. I set out to explore the nature of this difference and the possible reasons for it by interviewing 12 clergy from a wide variety of Christian traditions. I also examined the possible role of the Eucharist as a catalyst for environmental mission. A grounded theory approach to my interview data revealed two commonly held clerical beliefs, each with potential ecological implications: Christ‘s redemption extends to all creation, not merely the human soul, and God intends the Earth to be transformed into a new creation—a transformation that began at Christ‘s resurrection. The study concludes with a recommendation for continued research into the effect of frequent Eucharist observance and regular teaching about the biblical mandate of creation care.