By Rev. Richenda Fairhurst
Creation justice is emerging as a great spiritual nudge at General Conference. Creation care legislation is bubbling with support through legislative committees, and they are now headed to the plenary floor.
As the delegates turn to the Spirit-led work of final legislative discernment, many creation justice advocates are celebrating and praying for the continued success of these petitions. Check back to the blog, where we will be sharing a lot more about these petitions and their authors, starting with the Church Land Use petition (#20779) submitted by Kim Richmond.
Kim Richmond is a member of the Western North Carolina Conference. She is a UM Earthkeeper, founder and coordinator of her local church Creation Care Ministry and current coordinator for the WNCC Creation Care Ministry Team. She is also active in the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement.
Richmond was overjoyed when she heard on Saturday that the Church Land Use petition gained the support it needed to be heard in plenary—it passed from the Church and Society 1 committee with 33 votes in favor and only one vote against.
The petition is straightforward: a single paragraph that reads, “as United Methodists and persons of faith who wish to promote and sustain life and follow God’s intended order for Creation, be it resolved that all local churches and other holders of church lands, such as camp and retreat centers, as well as offices of general boards and agencies, conference offices and district locations, implement actions in their settings that bring their land back in harmony with God’s intentions and systems.”
Richmond praises the support and effort of the team at the UM Creation Justice Movement for help with editing and suggestions for taking action. The core of the petition, though, arose following prayer. Says Richmond, “I want to be sure to give the glory to God for this resolution. I prayed and the words just flowed.”
While some have worked to bring creation justice into the United Methodist denomination for decades, Richmond is a more recent advocate. She took UM Earthkeepers training in 2017 and became more active in her local church. Says Richmond, “My journey to writing the Church Land Use resolution included lots of reading and researching and learning about things I had never really considered, that were right there before me all the time.”
One inspiration was the work of ecologist Doug Tallamy. Richmond explains, “Doug Tallamy and other ecologists like him explain the interconnections of nature and practical ways we can engage in its renewal and regeneration.” She recommends his book Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. She says, “I love the concept of his Homegrown National Park that promotes every lawn being transitioned to include native plantings.”
When asked how this resolution may be applied by local churches and the denomination as a whole, Richmond speaks of hope. “I hope this resolution will inspire all those holding lands associated with The UMC to look at their lands as places of life…. I hope they will look for ways to transition lawns of turfgrass and non-native ornamentals or invasives into healthy ecosystems that promote and sustain the life of God’s creatures, insects, earthworms, fungi, plants, humans, and all other forms of life that will thrive together with a little work and intentionality from us.”
The next steps—with prayer that this resolution passes the final votes—will be to share the resolution and inspiration widely. Says Richmond, “I am feeling this remarkable connection with others around the US and around the world through our shared concern for God’s creation and our recognition that we can all actively participate in the renewal and regeneration of Creation, by planting one native tree or bush at a time.”
Photo from General Conference captioned “Delegates and observers at General Conference at work in a legislative committee.” Courtesy of Paul Jeffrey/UM News.
