The practices of just and sustainable development (practice 6) and their connection with human rights are clear features of the paradigm for which the the Just Peacemaking Initiative is named (more about the paradigm here). Sustainability in this context is often conceived in economic terms, sometimes causing the downplay of ecological sustainability.
Additionally, the vision for the JPi connects with Fuller Theological Seminary’s “Mission Beyond the Mission,” adopted by the trustees and faculty in 1983 and reissued a few years ago. In this document, the trustees and faculty committed the institution to an agenda that includes this as a core mandate: “Seek peace and justice in the world.” In this mandate, the JPI’s work is institutionally grounded, including the plan “to apply the Christian principles of stewardship to our society’s policies for the protection of our environment and to support the call for simpler lifestyles which reflect care in the use of all the earth’s resources.” (Hear Glen Stassen preach under the title, “God is green. Do we care?”)
So What Are We Doing?
The Just Peacemaking Initiative (JPi) is currently supporting a series of co-curricular opportunities to engage issues of sustainability and stewardship in addition to advocating for a variety of greening initiatives at Fuller Theological Seminary’s campus in Pasadena, CA. Find information about upcoming events and those already offered at these links, and connect with the G3 Initiative on its Facebook fan page.
Last year, Fuller entered on the ground level of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance (SSA) as one of about a dozen founding partner schools in the United States. Tommy Givens represented Fuller at the SSA’s first conference, and over the next several months, we will be determining the nature of our relationship to the SSA and its parent organization Blessed Earth. Hear Dr. Givens speak to the relationship between Fuller and the SSA and his hope for catalyzing change:
We are pleased to announce that Blessed Earth has awarded Fuller a seed grant to support that discernment process for the next several months. Dr. Givens and Jacob Cook, Associate Director of the JPi, will be working with a task force at Fuller’s Pasadena campus to develop a plan to equip our graduates to go into their various ministries with sensitivity to the stewardship of creation. The research will touch on our facilities (especially Pasadena but also regional campuses), curriculum, relationships with other local institutions, and relationships with some key food sources.
For more information about what we’re doing and how to get involved, check the Upcoming Events page and/or email us at admin@justpeacemaking.org.
Articles about Creation Care
- Tree of Life: Dr. Matthew Sleeth Preaches Creation Care - Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on Fuller’s “News and Events” website (“Tree of Life: Dr. Matthew Sleeth Preaches Creation Care”). When Dr. Matthew Sleeth’s wife asked him what he thought was the biggest problem in the world, his response was, “The world is dying.” That statement, made years ago when he was still an [...]
- From a crazy city girl to a mad farmer: a Wendell Berry response - By Tamisha Tyler Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on Tamisha’s blog (From a crazy city girl to a mad farmer: a Wendell Berry response) and is used here with permission. Ok so I went to a Wendell Berry reading today and was very inspired to write a response. I realized that as I was [...]
- Acoustic Smog - By Chris Robertson Editor’s Note: This column first appeared on ABP News Blog (Acoustic smog) and is used here with permission. A little while back I bought The Green Bible. For me it was a small step towards environmental sustainability, but I must admit that I haven’t started a garden yet, although I’ve wanted to. [...]
- John Mustol Reviews Glen Stassen’s New Book, “A Thicker Jesus” - By John Mustol Editor’s note: This column first appeared on Ethics Daily (“A Thicker Jesus: Incarnational Discipleship in a Secular Age”) and is used here with permission. Christianity is an ethical faith so given our sinful inclinations, our lives as Christians are characterized by repentance and renewal. In A Thicker Jesus: Incarnational Discipleship in a Secular [...]
- Just Peacemaking, Spirituality, and the Environment, Part 3 - By Peter M. Sensenig Editor’s note: This is the final post in a series of three on just peacemaking, spirituality, and the environment. Find the first post and the second post at these links. What does it mean to have a relationship of mutuality with the environment? American poet and environmental activist Gary Snyder tells [...]
- Just Peacemaking, Spirituality, and the Environment, Part 2 - By Peter M. Sensenig Editor’s note: This is the second post in a series of three on just peacemaking, spirituality, and the environment. Find the first post and the final post at these links. In the first post of this three-part series I argued that climate change has made the practices of just peacemaking more [...]
- Just Peacemaking, Spirituality, and the Environment, Part 1 - By Peter M. Sensenig Editor’s note: This is the first post in a series of three on just peacemaking, spirituality, and the environment. Find the second post and the final post at these links. David Augsburger writes in the forthcoming book Spirituality for Grownups, “unless we direct our lives toward meeting our physical world and [...]
- Fuller Honored With “Walkability Award” - Editor’s Note: This press release originally appeared on Fuller’s “News and Events” website (“Fuller Honored With ‘Walkability Award’”). Fuller has received a “Walkability Award” from the Pasadena Playhouse District Association for creating and maintaining a pedestrian-friendly environment at its Pasadena campus. The award was given to Fuller at the Pasadena Playhouse District Association’s 17th annual [...]