From Origins to Purpose: Bridging the sacred-secular divide through the theology and practice of Creation Care

DAVE BOOKLESS
Rev. Dr. Dave Bookless
Director of Theology, A Rocha International & Lausanne Global Catalyst for Creation Care

Presentation: Click Here

Plenary title: From Origins to Purpose: Bridging the sacred-secular divide through the theology and practice of Creation Care
Christian thinking around creation post-Darwin has often been preoccupied with ‘origins’ (literal readings of Genesis vs. scientific accounts of evolution). It is, however, far more fruitful to reflect on God’s purpose in creating an astonishingly complex, biodiverse and inter-dependent creation,and in placing humanity within it to bear God’s image. This presentation seeks to recover a biblical theology of creation at the heart of theological formation. It proposes that …We can only understand our calling in ministry and mission when we understand our first great commission, to be gardeners and guardians of creation.We can only overcome the ‘sacred-secular divide’, with its deficient, sub-biblical view of creation, by understanding God’s good purposes for the whole cosmos from creation to new creation. We can only demonstrate the relevance and scope of the Gospel, in a time of existential ecological crisis, when we believe and demonstrate God’s hope for all creation in our lives and our churches. This presentation will include biblical challenges, practical examples of Christians engaging in creation care, and suggestions for a creative renewal of theological education.