GUEST WRITER: LAUREN GHIGHI
Have you ever considered inviting your community into a conversation around ecojustice? Are you curious about what ecojustice is? The short and sweet: ecojustice is the intersection of social justice and environmental sustainability. April 22 is Earth Day, so this is a great time to have these conversations with the youth, children, or adults in your church. Here is a little about my story and how I fell in love with ecojustice.
Though I no longer want to be a ballerina, and I haven’t put on a swim cap since high school, a few loves from childhood still remain close to my heart. The first is my faith. I attended a vibrant church community in Texas from a very young age, which cultivated my call to ministry. The second is my love for gardening. Growing up, I spent every summer learning about gardening and sustainability from my relatives in Kansas. These two felt like distinct passions with little connection between them.
I had yet to realize the Bible was full of imagery and stories about gardening and the earth. And I still had no idea that, as Christians, we have a responsibility to take care of the ecosystems around us. It wasn’t until many years later that I learned how intertwined these two passions are. Fast forward to “The Farminary.”
Farm + Seminary = The Farminary
The Farminary doubles as a cleverly crafted classroom at Princeton Seminary and an operating farm.
Through my classes at the Farminary, I learned various composting techniques and how to care for chickens and sheep. I was also inspired to reconsider my relationship with the land and its non-human inhabitants. We live in an anthropocentric world where we often prioritize our human needs at the expense of our non-human counterparts. After all, human voices can be heard much louder and more clearly than the silent cries of overworked soil or endangered species.
What does the Bible say?
As with other areas of social justice, we see an imbalance of power where humans wield their power over the earth for profit and personal gain without regard for the well-being of the rest of God’s creation. Regretfully, Christians have used the Bible to justify this imbalance of power.
The creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 are commonly interpreted to portray humans as the pinnacle of God’s creation, with the rest of creation depicted as humanity’s God-given belongings to exploit and control. But what if we took a step back and removed ourselves from the center of this narrative? What if we read the Bible through the lens of ecojustice? Would it help us better understand how our relationship with God’s creation centers around respect and dignity?
What is Ecojustice?
“Ecojustice is a means to develop a way of living that rejects environmental destruction, cruelty, and oppression as necessary for survival, but instead posits humans as productive contributors to their communities who can nourish and improve their own lives and the lives of others, as well as the land.”
Teaching for EcoJustice, Rite Turner, xix
Ecojustice opens us up to the possibility of mending humans’ broken relationship with the rest of creation; it invites us to take a step back so we can care for the land instead of trying to control it. With this approach to our relationship with the earth, the result is mutual flourishing for all creation, humans and non-humans alike.
Youth and Our Environment’s Current State
It can be easy to feel hopeless when assessing the state of our environment, waste production, and pollution levels. The weight of environmental destruction feels crushing and irredeemable. Though the current climate crisis impacts every generation, young people, especially, feel the impact and constant dread of this decline. Without glossing over the irreparable damage done by humans, ecojustice can point us toward hope. All is not lost. With God’s help, we can still redeem our relationship with the Earth. There can be a way forward that acknowledges the harm done and offers us an alternative for the future. The steps are small, but the outcome is great.
Ecojustice opens us up to the possibility of mending humans’ broken relationship with the rest of creation.
Next Steps
As Christians, we couple our faith with action. Ecojustice in action can take on many forms, so here are some next steps towards ecojustice you can take with your church or youth group:
- Learn more about waste management and consider reducing waste in your home and church (e.g., recycling, composting, local donation centers).
- Perform an energy audit and brainstorm how your church can use energy more sustainably. Start here!
- Young people have been involved in the environmental justice movement since before today’s youth were born. Explore the inspiring work young people have done and continue to do to advocate for environmental justice here!
- Read your Bible through the lens of ecojustice and notice how familiar verses take on new meaning. In doing so, we shift our focus from humans wielding all power and control over the Earth to a relationship with the Earth rooted in care, respect, and mutuality. Check out these familiar stories: Genesis 1:1–2:4, Genesis 2:4–9, Genesis 9:1–7, Leviticus 25:1–9, and Matthew 25:25–33.
- Plant or participate in a community garden. Learning more about God’s plants and flowers can help develop knowledge and appreciation for the earth and instill a deeper connection with creation.
- Volunteer at a local conservancy, trash clean-up, or farm. There are many non-profits dedicated to the work of ecojustice who would love your support!
Free Download for Earth Day!
Our spiritual practices become more grounded and embodied when we tend to the soil, protect the water, and honor every living thing as part of God’s good creation—especially now, as the changing climate and the deep wounds of our planet remind us that this sacred work matters more than ever. That’s why we’re inviting you to choose an action step, big or small, to live out your care for creation in tangible ways.
To support you in this sacred work, we’re offering a free downloadable bookmark and coloring page—a simple, creative way to inspire reflection, spark conversation, and share your commitment to Earth’s flourishing with others. Simply enter your first name and email below, and we’ll email you the freebie.
Lauren Ghighi
Lauren is a Pastor for Youth and Young Adults at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Lauren is passionate about creating spaces of inclusivity and belonging for young people, and she strives to empower and equip young people to take their faith seriously. Lauren also enjoys cooking with her husband, being outside, and talking on the phone with friends and family.
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