Green Witness: Ecology Ethics and the Kingdom of God

Green Witness is a work in theological ethics addressed primarily to theologians and seminarians but also to clergy and church study groups. Yordy approaches the topic of Christian environmental work not from the perspective of a global crisis that must be solved but from the perspective of Gods promise of the Kingdom. She argues that Christians can and should work for the wholeness of the biophysical environment whether or not their efforts bear immediate visible fruit because God always welcomes and makes good use of faithful discipleship. This is good news to religious environmentalists who have grown weary of struggling to make a difference amid ever-louder announcements of environmental destruction. The eschaton is clearly a realm of interspecies peace abundance and diversity and part of the churchs mission is to demonstrate these aspects of Gods plan for the world although only God can and will consummate the Kingdom. Often confronted by the so-called environmental crisis many are led to despair that nothing can be done. Drawing on profound theological insights Laura Yordy helps us see that something can be done because Christs redemption is sure and good. Hopefully this book will find its way into many congregational discussions of how we can better live as witnesses to Gods glorious creation. --Stanley Hauerwas Duke Divinity School Yordy encourages us to think the meaning of creation in terms of the in-breaking Kingdom of God. With this eschatological reading of our environmental troubles she invites us to a more exacting and merciful discipleship that is patterned on the Trinitarian God who brings all creation into being and sustains it until its final redemption in Christ. Yordys views will challenge established patterns of thinking and inspire churches to be more faithful witnesses to the healing presence of God in our world. --Norman Wirzba author of The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age Laura Ruth Yordy is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Bridgewater College in Virginia.