APPLICATION FOR DIRECTOR

THE EVANGELICAL ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK

A Projected Agenda

Applying for the directorship has set my mind to pondering an agenda for the EEN. There is of course both an awkwardness and a presumptuousness about making recommendations for an organization when I am completely outside its day-to-day process. Nevertheless, I feel most importantly about this portion of my application, which I hope will be given serious deliberation as a stand-alone document. Here then is what I see from my current perspective. Use or discard as God leads.

The Grassroots

A trait of many powerful social movements is a strong grassroots constituency. This certainly has held true in the evangelical fold. Currently the EEN is endeavoring to build a grassroots constituency through several ways, including publishing the magazine, establishing small local affliate groups, the EENet, and a public policy team. Nevertheless, all this represents but a miniscule percentage of evangelical believers, certainly not yet the stuff of a major movement.

Since the early 1980's I have been supportive of ESA. My belief system and ESA's thrust are compatable. I am pleased that ESA has had an extraordinary influence on the church and to some degree secular society far beyond what the numbers of finances and membership would suggest. I would venture to say, however, that membership in ESA is somewhat akin to that of my membership with The National Geographic Society—receiving an inspiring, illuminating magazine, the good feeling of knowing I am part of a good cause, and a few available perks. But I am along for the ride with The National Geographic Society, and so it is with ESA. I am a member of ESA by endorsing its mission. But neither I nor the rest of the constituency have any significant power and responsibility in the organization such that we feel we have a personal stake in its work.

This is not a criticism but an observation. I recognize that that ESA (and EEN, too) was formed to get out an important message. A few visionary people were willing to roll up their sleeves and step forth boldly and sacrificially as witnesses to the whole gospel. I feel that the process of birthing ESA and EEN was correct, but question whether continuing that process will best perpetuate these organizations.

For example, evangelical movements are "notorious" for having their vitality tied to a charismatic leader. Billy Graham, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, "Coach" McCartney, Pat Robertson, are a few examples of leaders whose ministries are closely tied to their fame. Can Franklin (or someone else) succeed Billy? Will Focus on the Family survive James Dobson. The answers will in large part depend upon how many grassroots people have a stake in the ministry. I see looming a parallel with ESA.

The best way to get grassroots involvement is to invite folk to take responsibility for meaningful tasks that have some integral connection to the ministry, and then to provide support, feedback, appreciation. This of course takes considerable core staff time, but will work if people are delegated power and held accountable. For example, Youth with a Mission is a large, fruitful, international ministry that is quite decentralized. Dozens of YWAM bases are scatttered througout the globe, each one adhering to the YWAM mission statement, each one drawing upon the resources of the organization, yet each base given much latitude on how to conduct its own ministry. Many of those in leadership would be considered by outsiders as quite inexperienced and under-educated, yet overall they do an exceptional work. And YWAM can clearly go on without Loren Cunningham.

In the next section, " An Emphasis On Network" I will try to suggest a way to empower people to the growth of a vigorous grassroots movement.

An Emphasis On Network

An organization or a network? The most critical issue facing the EEN is to determine the organization's "organization." Currently 19 evangelical partners comprise the EEN. That is a network.. However, the EEN also sponsors small groups as well as a public policy team. These are functions of a stand-alone organization. I believe that the EEN will encounter identity difficulties by trying to be both a network and an organization, the result being weak to mediocre performance in one or the other, or more likely, both. I clearly advocate an emphasis on network.

Of all the four partners of the NRPE, the EEN faces the most difficult challenge. First, evangelicals are not a clearly-delineated religious sub-group. Second, ESA does not represent evangelicals with the same degree of recognized authority that the NCC or US Catholic Conference have with their constituency. The NAE has held a polite arm's distance from the EEN. Third, evangelicals hold to a wide array of divergent beliefs about creation care which run the range of the paramount public policy issues.

The EEN should concentrate on serving its partners well, that is, to helping each partner integrate creation care into its ministry in a way that fulfills its own sense of mission. Some partners, at least initially, will see creation care as more peripheral to their core mission than will other partners. The centerpiece of partner commonality will be adherence to An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation.

By being a network, the EEN can nurture each partner in its specific calling, gifts, and style, yet side-step some of the potential conflict that can arise when there are different viewpoints on public policy or theological issues. For example, one partner might want to take a high profile, activist stance on a particular public policy issue, while another partner is nervous that such an activist stance could unsettle some of its constituency. As a network, the EEN would challenge, equip, and nurture both partners to deal with the issue faithful to their own understandings, while engaging in cross-fertilization with each other.

To use The Endangered Species Act as an example, the EEN would come forth strongly as supporting biodiversity in species and habitat preservation. However, rather than getting involved in the nitty-gritty public policy issues, legislation strategies, and the like, the EEN would encourage CEC to do this. The ASA would be called upon to review the ecological issues, while Intervarsity and the Christian College Coalition, say, would be asked to challenge its students on the issue.

Initiatives such as public policy should emanate from the constituency groups. EEN will equip, cheerlead, publicize, and introduce the initiative to others. In this way EEN can appeal both to the pioneer "radical fringe groups" as well as to the settled, mainstream establishment organizations. EEN can avoid being tagged with a narrow label, thus freeing it to bring in new partners from the right, center, and left (so to speak). Rather than joining EEN, individuals will be encouraged to join one or more of the partner organizations.

If an important issue arises that is not being addressed within the evangelical community, EEN can invite one of the partners to take an initiative with it. In some cases, however, a new group might need to form to address an issue or meet a constituency need. In such a case, EEN might sponsor the organization of a new group with the goal that it eventually become self-constituting. The CEC is such an example.

Organizationally, I would see the partners having voting power within the EEN to set the Board of Directors and to influence broad policy. Accountability would be within a constitution that would adhere to the principles of the Evangelical Declaration On the Care Of Creation.

I would see the magazine, Creation Care, serving a network function, in which each of the partners would contriubute articles as well as news of their creation care activities. This would serve to cross-fertilize.

Ephesians 4:11 states that the risen Jesus Christ has given to the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. While this is generally exegeted to mean individuals called into these ministries, one can extrapolate a sense in which some organizations also tend toward one or another of these. I would then see the 19 EEN partners fulfilling these offices through their collective unity. Let our prophets be prophets, our teacher be teachers, our evangelists be evangelists, in grateful unity with one another.

Finally, I recognize the concern that for funding strategy the EEN needs to have direct ministries. With respect to individual donors this would probably hold true. On the other hand, to operate direct ministries well takes considerable expenditure of time and money. I would rather see the EEN do its work well, and in doing so begin to pull down sustaining institutional and foundation grants. By operating an efficient, effective, and influential network, the EEN should gain funding.

The Fields Are Green Unto Harvest: Some Notes

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news to all creation, certainly to human beings, but also to the rest of the cosmos. Creation care is neither a side issue nor a central issue, but rather, it is integrally-joined to the good news of The Kingdom. The EEN needs to wheedle its way into as many evangelical organizations as possible, as long as integrity and faithfulness is not compromised. We need to ask Billy Graham, or Chuck Colson, or James Dobson, "How can we help your ministry? This is what we do." We need to have a presence with the Sunday School curricula developers, with those who write children's books, write church dramas, publish denominational magazines.

On several occaisions I have attended concerts and festivals which feature contemporary Christian musicians. I have yet to hear a song or message that explicitly promotes creation care. However, I have often heard passionate statements extolling the beauty of creation, and have heard many songs which tell of creation praising God. Church growth specialists are essentially unanimous in affirming that music is the most important medium in attracting the attention of our modern culture. To reach out to Gen X and younger is to understand and convey their popular music.

In June I, along with 70,000 others mostly half or more my age, attended Creation 99 near Mt. Union, Pennsylvania. Since I am an adult sponsor of a teen-produced Christian music radio program, I spent considerable time in the press tent. I especially remember the answer Michael W. Smith gave when asked, "When do you feel most close to God?" Without hesitation he said, "When I am out in God's creation!" He then went on to relate a personal experience in which, apprehending a pear tree in full bloom, he stopped his car and wept for ten minutes with joy and wonderment. I thought to myself, "Here is a man able to influence millions, a gifted song writer and performer, a man who loves creation. Why not write a song that would speak of creation glorifying God?"

The EEN should seek to make its message felt within the music industry, among Christian artists and songwriters and producers. The mainstream of the industry has shyed away from issues they might perceive as controversial, especially those with political overtones. Some of the more avant garde artists and labels might plunge right into the heart of the issue of creation care, that is, a lament for the devastation of the Earth and a call of repentance and hope. As for the mainstream, I would suggest a compilation CD of various artists singing some of the old hymns as well as contemporary pieces in which the theme is "creation praising God." Revelation 5:13 is here a key scripture. There is already good material available. One of the most popular songs today is "Shout to the Earth" by Hillsong (an Australia label). If the EEN would produce a series of CDs in which creation praises God, utilizing contemporary styles, I believe that people would begin to see that creation should be valued because by its very being it praises God. The Best Preaching on Earth was an excellent idea, a fine book. But relatively few will read it. A compilation CD that has as a theme humanity joining creation in praising God could reach many more people, perhaps with considerably more oomph. Music is a key to reaching today's generation.

To the public's eye the word evangelical is almost synonomous with radio and television preachers. This is not entirely unwaranted, for some incredible evangelical empires have emerged through an adept use of the media. While we all might despair of some of the manipulative techniques employed by some of these ministries, we should be aware of the potential to reach people through radio and television. The EEN needs to encourage and teach grassroots people to do local radio and television, while enabling people with expertise and skill to get on national programs. I personally think books and magazines are great, but most of our target population will not be reached by such media. Radio and television have more reach.

Several years ago the idea was floated for something akin to the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." Probably a Green Cross idea. This has been pursued to some extent, especially with the Noah congregations. This can expand. I would see this as the task of a special group formed for this purpose, organizationally adjunct with the EEN. They would actively pursue reviewing the works already available, in various categories such as publishing, para-church ministries, congregations, camping programs, etc., and give them an "approval seal" if criteria were met. Emerging works could then apply. Keys to this are building credibility for the award, and publicizing the award such that it would be esteemed.

Finally, I feel that the EEN needs to build bridges within the secular environmental movement. First of all, many secular environmentalists are hungry for a true spirituality that we know only Jesus will fill. Many of these folk have been turned off from the church because of its silence on earthkeeping, but now is the time for Christians to stand up for the integrity of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Second, we need one another. We need the scientific, political, and organizational expertise of the secularists, while they need those who walk with God.

I would suggest several strategies: First, the EEN needs to actively develop dialogue relationships with the major secular environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation (and even the radicals such as EarthFirst!). I believe we would be eagerly welcomed at that level of dialogue. Next, we should seek to identify Christians and Jews within these organizations (perhaps a role for the National Religous Partnership). Those who are evangelicals we would contact with the idea of encouraging them to be effective within their secular organization as Christians. Furthermore, we would seek to profile them and their organizations within the pages of Creation Care magazine. In its role as a network, the EEN can support Christians in an array of creation care strategies and programs, while maintaining a modicum of neutrality to avoid at least some of the sharper attacks.

In Praise of God

What, finally, is the ultimate purpose of the EEN? An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation states, "Because we worship and honor the Creator, we seek to cherish and care for the creation." The focus of the EEN is to worship and honor God. This is paramount! At all levels of decision, practice, and policy, God is to be honored and worshipped with all of our being.

In final sum, the EEN is a servant of God. It exists only to serve, obey, honor, and worship God. The specific calling to do this is in advocacy for God's beloved creation. But we must resist any temptation to place the care of creation ahead of our vocation before God. To that end I would recommend encouraging and nurturing spiritual formation and practice as a ministry of the EEN, such as through the encouragement of outdoor spiritual retreats, the calling forth of Christian songwriters, musicians, poets, storytellers, artists, and naturalists, and the nurturing of congregations to develop creation awareness natural areas on their properties and the properties of their consitituents. It is in worship of God as creator, sustainer, receemer, and intimate, that we can ourselves come into our own proper order within the cosmos, and be instruments of its healing and fulfillment.