By Albarka Wakili
At Drew Theological School, Creation Justice is a core value—an intentional, lived practice that shapes student engagement, faith formation, and community outreach. Through the leadership of the international, multi-racial, and gender-inclusive student group TERRA (Transforming Environmental and Religious Resources into Action) and the Drew Theo Community Garden, we aim to nurture a deeper understanding of God’s creation and emphasize our shared responsibility to care for it. This semester has been especially meaningful, filled with tangible actions, collaboration, and vision for the future.
The Drew Community Garden: Cultivating Faith and Sustainability
The Drew Community Garden continues to thrive through the collective work of theological and undergraduate students and a network of volunteers. After a busy summer, the garden stewards have established two weekly communal work times to prepare for the new season. Amid this seasonal transition, vibrant marigolds and fiery habaneros continue to flourish standing as symbols of resilience and beauty. In the coming weeks, we plan to sow more varieties of plants, rooting us in hope and anticipation of a new growing cycle. Already, some of our beets have begun to sprout, offering a glimpse of what is to come.
These gatherings serve both the practical needs of the garden and foster fellowship among stewards and volunteers, building a community grounded in stewardship and care. These work sessions reflect the heart of Creation Justice—laboring together to care not only for the soil but also for the relationships that sustain us. The work of the garden draws intentional connections between faith, food, and creation, reminding us that tending the earth is also a spiritual act.
TERRA: Transforming Faith into Action
TERRA continues to be an active and dynamic force on campus, inspiring students to put their faith into concrete environmental actions. This semester, the focus has been on building community, fostering collaborations, supporting initiatives, and planning future events that deepen environmental awareness at Drew and beyond—particularly through our partnership with GreenFaith, DEAL (Drew Environmental Action League), and the greater university’s sustainability committee.
GreenFaith is an interfaith environmental organization dedicated to mobilizing religious and spiritual communities toward bold environmental action. We had Green Faith’s Co-Director of the Fellowship Program, Oluwatosin Kolawole preach in our TERRA-led chapel service, where we also did a seed blessing. TERRA recently participated in DEAL’s EcoFest, where members set up a table to engage attendees and welcome new signups. We are grateful to both graduate and undergraduate students who showed leadership and represented TERRA at the event. Activities like these embody our belief that justice work is relational and communal, rooted in partnerships and mutual learning.
Mentorship and the Integration of New Members
In our latest executive meeting, we discussed ways to ensure the meaningful integration of new members through mentorship and interest-driven events. We are committed to fostering a collaborative atmosphere that empowers individuals to lead while ensuring that every voice is valued. We explored the possibility of organizing gatherings beyond executive meetings to sustain community momentum and offer ongoing support for environmental initiatives.
One of our most exciting prospective projects this semester is a new food waste tracking initiative, led by GreenFaith Rising Leader Fellows Takundanashe Chinogwenya (Zimbabwe) and Albarka Wakili (Nigeria). The initiative involves weighing and recording food waste on campus to visualize its impact on carbon emissions. This project aims to encourage mindful consumption and aligns with the broader goals of Creation Justice, prompting reflection on how our everyday choices affect the earth and its ecosystems.
Looking Toward the Future: Plans and Vision
As we look ahead, several initiatives are already underway. In mid-November, TERRA will host an Eco-Walk on campus, inviting participants to engage with the natural environment through prayerful reflection. We are also planning a 4-week study on environmental themes to be shared with the broader community during an upcoming chapel service. This study will take on a creative, zine-style format, featuring contributions from current and former students, weaving together theological reflection and practical wisdom for Creation Justice.
In collaboration with the Center for Civic Engagement, TERRA is preparing for the World Wide Climate and Justice Education Week 2025, an initiative by Bard College’s Solve Climate by 2030 project, which aims to create Climate and Justice dialogues in communities across the globe. It will take place during the week of April 7–13, 2025. As part of our annual participation, we have a Climate Teach-In scheduled for the Spring semester where we engage in conversation about the connections between climate change, environmental, and social justice at Drew and beyond. We seek to drive university-wide engagement and involve as many voices as possible to plan shared action. This event will feature speakers from Drew’s faculty and offer hands-on activities focused on environmental justice, creation care, and justice.
We also hope to co-sponsor the much-anticipated Fern Fest with DEAL, celebrating the beauty of creation while inspiring deeper engagement with environmental justice.
Rooted in Hope and Growing in Faith
As TERRA and the Drew Community Garden continue to grow in vision and impact, we are reminded that Creation Justice is an ongoing journey. It requires imagination, dedication, and trust in God who makes all things new. Whether we are planting garlic bulbs, building relationships, or tracking food waste, our community is committed to living out this call. We believe that caring for creation is surely a spiritual practice—a way of participating in the divine work of renewal and restoration.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share our journey with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement and invite others to join us. Together, may we continue to sow seeds of justice, hope, and renewal in the world, bearing witness to God’s abundant creation.
Albarka Wakili is Co-Chair, TERRA, Garden Steward and 2025 GreenFaith Rising Leader Fellow at Drew Theological School.
- TERRA Leadership with faculty, staff, and guest preacher during TERRA Chapel Service October 3, 2024.
- Salia Kamara (Sierra Leone), Andzani Mthenjane (South Africa), Arnold Kamden (Cameroon) representing TERRA during DEAL’s Ecofest October 23, 2024
- Garden Stewards enjoying lunch during October’s workday on October 19, 2024.
- & 5. Summer harvest from Drew Theo Community Garden; August, 2024.
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On behalf of the TERRA team:
Co-chairs: Takundanashe Chinogwenya and Albarka Wakili
Executive Members: Rae Guthrie and Lerato Pitso