“Being a Christian also means being an environmentalist,” says biologist Katharina Richter from Lincoln Road Chapel in Waterloo, ON.
It’s not an either/or situation.
If we are not taking care of God’s earth, then we are trashing it.
Learning how to respectfully and gratefully live in and with God’s world is a necessary part of the Christian faith.
Katharina is a Terrestrial and Wetland Biologist at Natural Resource Solutions Inc., an environmental consulting firm.
For 20 years, she has been living her convictions about faith and the environment through her day job as she conducts environmental impact studies and environmental assessments.
Before they move ahead with construction, building contractors need an environmental report so they know where to build and protect the environment at the same time.
This is where she comes in.
Here is a woman whose care and concern for bugs and frogs and salamanders and deer and birds originates from her Christian spirituality.
Katharina would encourage churches to embed Christian environmental stewardship into their regular rhythms, rather than simply having creation care as a fringe issue.
Recycling and composting are easy ways to start.
Native plant species in our church gardens.
Reducing plastics.
Getting rid of styrofoam.
Being wise about lighting and water use.
As our creation groans and our neighbours suffer around the world from our over-consumption and unreasonable standard of living, let us love this good earth which God created, called good, and gifted to us by caring for our planet.
This is our act of worship and a quiet declaration of our gratitude to God.
People like Katharina who are a part of our congregations can help us with this.
Story from VMC Church Leader News Jul/Aug 2023