Discerning the best avenue a congregation may take while living out their creation care witness is one that takes vision and refinement.\u00a0 Certain congregations have a thirst for justice ministries and through advocacy, letter writing, and other campaigns their ecclesial energies may be steered into generating tangible change in our beautiful yet broken world.\u00a0 Other congregations prefer to steer benevolence funds to certain non-profit organizations and the prayerful conversations and willing support that comes from these grants provides necessary funding for the routine work of issue awareness, education and care.\u00a0 Still other congregations prefer to make the work they do within their walls demonstrate their witness and so those that choose to lower their own carbon footprint, or perhaps create butterfly gardens, are able to do their part while feeling divinely connected to the whole effort.<\/p>\n
But how to best know which creation care route is the most appropriate for a given congregation? Perhaps using Martyn Percy\u2019s wine (dare I say, communion) related \u201cterroir\u2019 method is best applied here.\u00a0 The term terroir \u201crefers to the combination of factors that might make one wine slightly different from another, even when they are geographically proximate in origin.\u201d[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Different temperatures, soil acidity levels, rainfall, and the overall skill of the folks working the vineyard all combine to make wines taste different. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cAnd this analogy has something to teach theologians as they reflect on the composition of local ecclesial identity.\u00a0 On one level, one might say church is church, just as wine is wine . . . yet to the reined palate the manifold differences are detectable and telling.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n In keeping with the terroir imagery, allow me to make a few suggestions on how best to steer your Creation Care energy.<\/p>\n Does your congregation have large swaths of rarely used land?\u00a0 If so, a community garden could be in your future.\u00a0 Remember, the members of your congregation do not need to be the ones who actually maintain your garden, though this is a phenomenal community building activity. And fruits or vegetables do not need to be the crop either, as native plants and wildflower gardens provide safe haven for pollinators and migrating birds.<\/p>\n Does your congregation have young families?\u00a0 Perhaps participating in a food sharing co-op is in your future.\u00a0 Imagine the possibilities as your family of faith doesn\u2019t just pray together . . . but actually eats together.\u00a0 There are many models to choose from, some that even encourage the opportunity of building a relationship with your local farmer.\u00a0 As Western Society removes us further and further from our local food sources, it is a formative experience to remember our connection to the soil.<\/p>\n Does your congregation maintain a building that is only used once or twice a week?\u00a0 If so, then perhaps finding another space user is in your future.\u00a0 Not only is it practical to share space with other organizations or another community, but you may be able to share additional resources as well.\u00a0 And if finding another space user is not a possibility, performing an eco-audit on your building would be prudent, as this would guide you in both keeping costs down, and best maintaining your facility.<\/p>\n As Percy writes, \u201cthe \u201cecclesial terroir,\u201d . . . is something that scholars need to be able to read sensitively and deeply if they are to understand the dynamics of congregational life.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0 So too must congregational leaders read the \u201ccreation care terroir\u201d of their faith community.\u00a0 The possibilities are only limited by our imagination, but it helps to provide an appropriate framework.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Martyn Percy, \u201cResponse to Part II \u201cSavoring the Social-Sacred\u201d: Reading the \u201cReal Church,\u201d\u201d in Reasonable Radical?<\/em> Reading the Writings of Martyn Percy<\/em>, ed. By Ian S. Markham and Joshua Daniel (Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2018), 128.<\/p>\n