When people engage with Creation Care it’s easy to jump straight to the ‘what and how’. But the ‘why’ of Creation Care is important and distinctive. Engaging with the why of Creation Care helps us in our quest to know and understand God, who creates and sustains all of Creation. Moreover, when we begin with the ‘why’, it can significantly affect the ‘what’ and ‘how’ that follows.
With this in mind, this reading list is for thoughtful practitioners: those that recognise the importance of holding and weaving together the why, the what and the how of creation care; those who believe that caring for God’s creation is not just about participating in good works, but a way that we can learn more about God and encounter God’s Spirit in unique and profound ways. In particular, it is a list for people who want to reflect theologically on the practice of Creation Care in Aotearoa – all of these resources, include theological reflection as well as practical ideas from a uniquely Aotearoa point of view.
1. The Rich Living Series
This home-grown series of booklets published by A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand was created to help groups reflect with a faith perspective on how they live and offer practical ways to live sustainably in Aotearoa. Each booklet includes information, Scripture readings, discussion questions and practical activities. Titles available are Climate Change, Water, Food, Waste and Transport. A great resource for small groups, as well an easy quick reference point for leaders preparing presentations, workshops and sermons. These booklets are available for free as PDFs or print copies can be ordered at: https://arocha.org.nz/rich-living-series/
2. Huia Come Home
A significant book for those wanting to better understand the relationship between faith and land in Aotearoa. In Huia Come Home, Jay Ruka revisits the stories embedded in the land of Aotearoa and offers a fresh perspective of how Christianity arrived and has continued to be understood and expressed. Throughout the book Ruka uses the Huia bird as a symbol of Aotearoa’s unique beauty and spirituality, and the bird’s tragic extinction in the early 1900s as a powerful metaphor for how NZ’s conflicted history has unfolded. Ruka takes an integrated approach, weaving theology with people and place, ultimately offering a hopeful vision for how people can participate in a redemptive and restorative future. This book is available to order by visiting: https://huiacomehome.co.nz/book/
3. Kōrero Mai: Earth, Our Parish
This book, produced in 2023 by Trinity Theological College, contains 11 chapters written by various theologians and practitioners from Aotearoa and the Pacific, which offer reflections and stories in response to the changes happening in the environment in Aotearoa, but also in the Pacific. It draws our attention to some of the significant challenges already being experienced by communities particularly in the Pacific islands, reminding us that while we dwell on an island with it’s own circumstances, we are surrounded by a community of island dwelling peoples who are seeking to meaningfully respond to some challenging predicaments brought about by climate change. This book is available online for free.
4. Awhi Mai Awhi Atu: Women in Creation Care
This book, edited by Silvia Purdie, tells the stories of 30 women, living in Aotearoa New Zealand from many cultures, who are leading in environmental action. As well as stories there is theological reflection, action points, poetry and prayer. Easy and accessible to read, this is a great resource for people who are keen to be involved but need some encouragement and inspiration. This book can be purchased in print or as an ebook.
5. Ngā Here: The Many Connections
Not a book, but this podcast produced by James Beck is a worthy inclusion on this list. With three seasons, and a fourth season to be released in 2025, this podcast invites people to listen in to an ongoing conversation between Waiora Te Moni, Dr Andrew Shepherd and James Beck, as they explore Ngā Here – The Many Connections that exist between creation, the Bible and living in Aotearoa. Informative, poignant, and at times provocative, this podcast will give you a lot to think about. A discussion guide is now available for groups use to facilitate discussions and kickstart conversations. This podcast and discussion guide is available by visiting: https://www.ecochurch.org.nz/nga-here-the-many-connections
All of these resources, in different ways, encourage us to make a deeper connection between theology and environmental action. I hope engaging with them will enable you to reflect more deeply and weave together more cohesively the why, what and how of Creation Care in Aotearoa.
