Introducing Evangelical Ecotheology - by Daniel L Brunner & Jennifer L Butler & A J Swoboda (Paperback)

About the Book

This evangelical introduction provides a biblical, theological, ecological, and historical rationale for creation care, calling Christians to meet ecological challenges with courage and hope.

Book Synopsis

Today's church finds itself in a new world, one in which climate change and ecological degradation are front-page news. In the eyes of many, the evangelical community has been slow to take up a call to creation care. How do Christians address this issue in a faithful way?

This evangelically centered but ecumenically informed introduction to ecological theology (ecotheology) explores the global dimensions of creation care, calling Christians to meet contemporary ecological challenges with courage and hope. The book provides a biblical, theological, ecological, and historical rationale for earthcare as well as specific practices to engage both individuals and churches. Drawing from a variety of Christian traditions, the book promotes a spirit of hospitality, civility, honesty, and partnership. It includes a foreword by Bill McKibben and an afterword by Matthew Sleeth.

From the Back Cover

An Evangelical Introduction to Creation Care

"Introducing Evangelical Ecotheology is a wonderful new addition to the field. Combining scientific data, personal stories, and careful theological analysis, the authors draw readers into the goodness and pain of God's world and invite them to develop a wholesome response as an act of Christian discipleship. Christians and congregations will learn much and benefit greatly from this book."
--Norman Wirzba, Duke Divinity School

"An excellent addition to the literature on Christians and creation care. This book provides a biblically rooted and historically informed discussion of important theological and ethical issues, from a distinctly evangelical point of view, with an illuminating discussion of embodied down-to-earth living. It is thorough, well-organized, and well-written. Moreover, it exhibits wide reading and is chock-full of wisdom. I pray many will read this book and be inspired to bear witness to God's good future of shalom."
--Steven Bouma-Prediger, Hope College; author of For the Beauty of the Earth

"Sometimes you have no idea how much you needed something until it appears. Here is a desperately needed resource for the church where debates about what it means to theologize and ecologize--with the customary cries to apologize, economize, harmonize, decentralize, localize--sound more like sacks of cats than choral evensong."
--Leonard Sweet, bestselling author, professor (Drew University), and chief contributor to Sermons.com

"Vital and timely. Meets a clear need. Deepens the church's witness on behalf of creation. One could use all of these phrases to describe this important book. But even more important are the clarity, conviction, and passionate engagement with the Bible, the church, and their relationship with the earth that Brunner, Butler, and Swoboda bring to this emerging priority for Christians. This volume will equip and empower pastors and lay leaders alike to develop a faithful ecotheology and to put belief into action."
--Rev. Fletcher Harper, executive director, GreenFaith

About the Author

Daniel L. Brunner (DPhil, University of Oxford) is professor of Christian history and formation at Portland Seminary in Portland, Oregon where he founded and directs the Christian earthkeeping program. Jennifer L. Butler (MDiv, Portland Seminary) is associate minister at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Corvallis, Oregon, and an adjunct instructor in Christian earthkeeping at Portland Seminary. A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) is an adjunct professor of biblical studies, theology, and church history at Portland Seminary.