Scorching temperatures, heavy flooding, increased wildfires, and more aggressive storms and hurricanes don’t just make for exciting Weather Channel broadcasts—these climate crises have a direct impact on real human lives all around the globe. Whether through damage to homes, threatened water supply, heat-related illness, or loss of crops, people everywhere are being affected.
And when people’s lives are at stake, Christians are called to respond.
That’s the objective of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE). Their work is “to encourage people of faith to weave values and programs of care for God’s creation throughout the entire fabric of religious life and to bring the religious voice to the forefront as we join together to address environmental concerns and care for God’s Earth and God’s people.”
A Judeo-Christian Movement for Creation Care
The NRPE is actually a partnership between four bodies of religious leaders in response to the growing call for environmental stewardship that began in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Senior religious leaders responded to an open letter from 32 Nobel laureates and other eminent scientists, affirming the need for a religious initiative that was both theologically grounded and scientifically informed.
Out of that affirmation, an alliance between the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Council of Churches, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network resulted in the formation of the NRPE.
Since its inception in October 1993, the NRPE has made significant contributions to the broader narrative surrounding climate change and environmental stewardship.
They made an appeal to Congress to give serious consideration to proposed climate change legislation alongside internationally prominent scientists, issuing a multi-denominational statement, “Earth’s Climate Embraces Us All: A Plea from Religion and Science for Action on Global Climate Change.”
Faith groups in the Partnership sent resource kits to over 100,000 congregations, including every Catholic parish, virtually every synagogue, 50,000 mainline Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches, and 35,000 evangelical congregations.
To advocate for smarter decisions surrounding transportation and the fuel economy, leaders from both Christian and Jewish traditions met with officials from Ford, General Motors, and the United Auto Workers to deliver an “Open Letter to Automobile Executives.”
Living Sustainably and Discerning Our Ecological Responsibility
Youth volunteering as a part of green space creation. Image courtesy of NPRE
The NRPE is currently focused on five main issues: climate change, land, clean water, clean air, and species protection. Within those five main issues, the Partnership drills down to advocate and address more specific concerns.
Their focus as it pertains to climate change is on methane pollution, transportation, international climate, and clean energy.
With regards to land, the NRPE is dedicated to preserving more of God’s creation, which heightens our sense of awe and connection to our spirituality. To that end, their efforts are currently centered on national monuments, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Water and air are fundamental elements of our species’ survival on planet Earth, and polluted air and water contribute to human suffering, especially for the most vulnerable. The Partnership is focused on advocating for clean water equity, protecting God’s ocean, reducing or eliminating PFAS, and addressing air pollution from mercury and soot.
As the stewards of God’s creation, it is clear throughout Scripture that God expects us to take care of the species that share our common home. The NRPE specifically focuses on farm animal welfare and endangered species protection as part of their climate advocacy.
Understanding the Shared Perspectives of Our Various Faith Traditions
Members pose with posters promoting zero emissions transportation routes. Image courtesy of NPRE
Interfaith movements like the NRPE inspire hope and unity that transcends theological differences. The beauty of the body of Christ is that no one part is of greater importance—all members bring unique perspectives, emphases, and approaches to caring for creation. This diversity is something to celebrate—we can be united and distinct from each other, reflecting the unity and distinctiveness of the Trinity while we each embrace the imperative from our faith to seek justice and healing for all.
NRPE provides several resources to showcase how our different faith perspectives approach the subject of climate change on their website, while also affirming these core religious and moral convictions, which are shared by all of the religious traditions represented in the Partnership (from NRPE.org):
- The Earth ultimately belongs to God alone.
- Creation is good and is valued and cared for by God.
- Human beings are to care for the Earth, utilizing it to meet human needs without degrading it.
- Caring for people requires caring for creation.
- Caring for the poor requires caring for creation, since those living in poverty and vulnerable populations, especially children, suffer the most from environmental degradation.
- Religious communities have the responsibility of teaching and practicing the message of creation care and integrating it into the whole of religious life.
These powerful principles unite our faith traditions in the important work of caring for each other and for our planet.
How the Local Church Can Weave the Values of Creation Care into Their Communities
The mission of the NRPE is not just about political advocacy or systemic change, although this is a powerful and important aspect of these four large religious bodies speaking with one voice. It is also to encourage local communities and people of faith to embrace the values and programs that can heighten awareness, change behaviors, and enrich the spiritual life of our people.
The NRPE wants to see creation care woven into every fabric of religious life, including our liturgy, worship and prayer; our theological study for both clergy and the young; our stewardship of our homes, property, and resources; our care for our neighbors and the health of our children; and our ministry to the poor and vulnerable.
The Partnership provides resources for how your particular faith community can incorporate creation care into your practice of faith. Visit their Perspectives and Resources page for more information.
More and more people of faith are awakening to the pressing need to care for our common home. If you want to help the NRPE continue the good work of advocacy, you can support their work here.