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Christian Stempert, East Liberty, Eco-Justice, Environment, General Assembly 2012, Institute on Religion and Democracy, IRD Blog, PCUSA, Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterians for Earth Care, Randy Bush
by Christian M. Stempert
Presbyterians for Earth Care logo (Photo credit: PEC Blog)
Rev. Randy Bush must be some sort of rock star in the PCUSA. On Sunday, Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson served as the liturgist at East Liberty Presbyterian, where Bush denounced the Great Commission in his sermon to a standing-room-only crowd.
Later in the week, Bush was the featured speaker at the Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) luncheon held at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. PEC describes itself as an “eco-justice network.” It is the most prominent environmental advocacy caucus in the PCUSA. Founded in 1995, it recently obtained office space with the Presbyterian Hunger Program at the denomination’s headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.
Following the opening liturgy, Diane Waddell, Moderator of the PEC Steering Committee, invited Leslie Wood of the PCUSA’s Office of Public Witness up to say a few words. “This has been a difficult year for environmental issues,” she said. “The EPA has been under attack by members of the Republican Congress, and still we’ve been addressing some of the most exciting environmental legislation in years.” According to Wood, it was through the work of the PEC and other “creation-loving” supporters that almost 300 of the comments submitted by the National Council of Churches is support of EPA carbon-emission regulations were from Presbyterians. It has in large part because of their “faithful witness” on environmental issues “that so much progress is being made.”
One of the most active Presbyterian congregations with regard to the environment is Randy Bush’s home church, East Liberty Presbyterian Church (ELPC) in Pittsburgh. ELPC is currently involved in the largest rainwater reclamation project in western Pennsylvania, a venture costing almost $10 million, 90 percent of which is funded by grants of taxpayer dollars from the federal and state governments. Bush spoke of his congregation’s desire to set an example of good Christian stewardship to their surrounding community.
At the beginning of his message, Bush invited the audience to join him in an examination of the creation stories in Genesis. He focused mainly on the account in Genesis 2, which tells of the creation of Adam and Eve, and according to him is the older of the two creation accounts. This is the more “personal” of the two stories; the Genesis 1 version is more “philosophical” and filled with “poetic license.”
The Genesis 2 account, explained Bush, shows us man’s purpose. Contrary to the teaching that Presbyterians have held to for hundreds of years, he said that the primary reason humans exist is “to partner with God in taking care of the Garden.” We live on a planet that we did not create, he explained. “Plants, animals, minerals, people, all things need all things…To be a Child of God, we must understand and accept this first rule of creation.”
The second rule of creation, according to Bush, is that “to live righteously and justly, you must work to promote the well-being of all.” He quickly added, “All means all, not just human things.” This role that human beings have possesses a sort of God-like quality; it is not an idea of subservience, but rather of equality. But humans have taken this too far, according to Bush. “We have become uncreators.”
But there is still hope, and Bush tried to offer some solutions. “Every topic can be shifted and framed and recast according to the needs and biases of the speaker,” he said. Because of this, we have to “be willing to talk about policy and practices even more than morality.” The main question we should be asking when it comes to decision-making is: “Is it fair to all concerned? We should step back from trying to prove our position with data and arguments,” and start with the issue of fairness.
A second idea that Bush brought up was what he perceives as a misunderstanding that that many Christians have come to over the issue of stewardship. “Everyone talks about stewardship in terms of money,” he lamented. “We should work to do in this generation what is sustainable for seven generations,” he said. “That is good stewardship.”
Thank you for the thoughts and concern, Codi. I hope you will look at what I wrote and understand that I’m not criticizing criticism.
I’m saying if the author is concerned about the topic, Christian can talk about the topic. If Christian has a specific concern about Mr Bush, Christian can speak with Mr Bush, exactly as I am doing with the author here.
The Bible clearly teaches against gossip, which is what is happening here, and against slander, which might be happening here. I’m pointing out the error of doing so, as this blog’s writers engage in this over and over.
I find it ironic to engage in an obvious and clear sin (gossip – one of those list of things that suggests a departure from the very Kingdom of God) over some possible error of another. It is very much like Jesus pointing out the whole speck in the eye thing.
It is not my intent to cause division, it is my intent to raise a reminder: While gossip is not as “juicy” a sin as some other behaviors people think are sins, it is clearly wrong, biblically and rationally. I hope you can see that pointing that out is not being divisive.
Interestingly, if politely pointing out an error is divisive, then you have just engaged in being divisive, have you not?
Dan,
Given that I have both read your own personal blog and reviewed your multiple posts across various articles, I must regrettably conclude that your intent is to cause division between brothers and sisters of Christ.
Ironically, you openly criticize the author for their criticism of another. Your actions discredit the very rebuke you are attempting to make.
Please remember to work out your OWN salvation in fear and trembling, Paul’s true reminder to us all. Otherwise, someday may be one day too late.
So, Bush preached that we should live in a sustainable manner and that living lives of justice includes living in an environmentally sound way, is that your summation? And, if so, are you suggesting there is a problem with this idea? Because it sounds an awful lot like, well, just being conservative and responsible to me.
As with the last time you appeared to gossip about Mr Bush, I would just ask: have you talked this over with him? Have you raised whatever concerns you have with him? Because this sounds an awful lot like gossip and heresay and as if you’re vaguely condemning him for… something, although you haven’t come out and said what it is.
Your mission statement says you’re wanting to “reaffirm the church’s biblical and historical teachings, strengthen and reform its role in public life, protect religious freedom, and renew democracy at home and abroad.” but it seems like you’re spending an awful lot of time sniping and gossiping. I hope I’m mistaken, please feel free to explain how it’s not.
As I mentioned before, if you’re concerned about a teaching, you can talk about your concerns without mentioning names and running the risk of gossip and slander which, as you know, are condemned in the Bible, historically and biblically.
Reblogged this on Christian, Libertarian.