Starting this January, the Center will be publishing organization highlights. These monthly articles will focus the spotlight on organizations which are doing innovative work in climate solutions, faith engagement, and sustainability. From our strategic partners in the Mennonite world, to interfaith organizations working for climate advocacy, we hope to use these articles to showcase organizations working alongside us for a better world.
Our first organization highlight of the year is Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN), who have been actively working to create a faith-based network for creation care in the Mennonite church since 2006.
The network exists out of a desire to follow God’s original call in the Genesis creation story: to repair the broken relationship not only between God and humans, but between humans and earth. They believe that God’s salvation project extends to all creation through the story of Christ, not just humankind.
David Hockman-Wert, member of their Creation Care Council describes the mission of MCCN as “bringing people and earth and God back into harmony“. They strive to do this through many avenues, including their Greener Congregation Score Sheet, which allows congregations to evaluate their attention to creation care and to create a plan for the future. The Score Sheet covers everything from the physical building that the congregation meets in, to the proper recognition of creation care in worship.
As well as the Greener Congregation resource for churches, MCCN creates resources for individuals who are interested in integrating creation care into their lives as Anabaptists. Their Every Creature Singing curriculum endeavors to answer common questions Mennonites might have when trying to connect their faith with a desire to care for creation. Questions like: “how does our faith heritage speak to issues like climate change and environmental justice?” or “what spiritual practices might help us care for the earth?” are answered in a 12-session guided curriculum.
MCCN’s resources are available to anyone who wishes to engage in creation care within their faith tradition, and are easily accessible on their website.
As well as MCCN’s powerful witness for creation care in the church, they endeavor to support other organizations who are sharing in their work. Their website serves as a database for Mennonite agencies, churches and schools that are engaging in climate action, and they have served as a Strategic Partner for the Center since their attendance at the Spring 2017 Consultation.
Their passion for their work, and their inspiring mission is driven largely by a scriptural influence, which can be summarized in their driving verse, Colossians 1:19-20: “For in [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.”
Find more information on the Mennonite Creation Care Network on their website and keep updated on their work here on the Center’s website.