Together With All Creatures

Last year in a little article, “Can Lutherans Observe Earth Day?” I asked if being theologically conservative required us to be politically conservative on social issues like the environment. After all, Luther’s recovery of the Gospel led him to revalue creation as our good home. This year, I’ve inquired into what some of our  schools are doing in this area.

Concordia University-Austin recently moved to a new property on which there is a wilderness preserve. Within this context, Prof. Paul Puffe has conducted a seminar called “Christian Creation Care” year for students that combines a growing awareness of our connectedness to the wider creation with training in the “Leave No Trace” program.

Concordia University-Wisconsin, located on Lake Michigan, has established the Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship (CCES). Under the leadership of Prof. David Bessert, it will provide research and education programs related to the Great Lakes ecosystems, wetlands, and fresh water issues. This week, a student led group called Project Eden is sponsoring a number of discovery and servant events in connection with Earth Day.

In the past students at Concordia Seminary have set up a booth at the earth day celebration in Tower Grove Park and will do so again this year. In addition, we are celebrating God’s creation in chapel after which students and faculty will plant trees in an area that has seen numerous trees lost to disease.

I am greatly encouraged!