For decades, churches around the world have used the Five Marks of Mission as a framework for understanding and outworking their part in God’s work. These marks — focused on proclaiming the gospel, nurturing disciples, responding to human need, transforming unjust systems, and caring for creation — are widely accepted across a diverse range of denominations
But what if we flipped them? What if, instead of treating care for creation as the last mark of mission, we made it the first? What if we took the first biblical command (Gen 1:28) seriously rather than neglecting it? What if environmental stewardship wasn’t just an add-on to our faith but the starting point for how we live out the gospel?
A Brief History of the Marks of Mission
The Marks of Mission originated from the Anglican Consultative Council in the 1980s as a way of articulating the Church’s purpose and mission. They have been adopted by other denominations since. Initially, there were four marks:
- To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers.
- To respond to human need by loving service.
- To transform unjust structures of society to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.
It wasn’t until 1990 that the fifth mark was added: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. The inclusion of this mark reflected growing global concern about the environment and a recognition that creation care is deeply biblical.
But even today, care for creation often feels like an add-on – something we do if we have time or resources after addressing “the real mission” of the church. What if we’ve misunderstood how foundational creation care is to the other marks of mission?
Flipping the Marks of Mission
I am involved in leading a church called The River Ōpāwaho and for a few years now, our church has been actively involved in leading a local conservation project. When we engaged with Mark #5 – care for creation, we found that the other marks of mission didn’t disappear – they flourished. What we have noticed is that actively caring for creation can lay the seedbed for the other mark of mission. Let me explain…
Mark #4 – To transform unjust structures of society to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, caring for the land invites us into questions about its history – who owns and manages it, and why? This leads us into the story of Māori land dispossession and the promises made in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This has led myself and members from our community to get involved in advocacy, and action, including building a relationship with the local hapū, running shared services in the church at their marae and being involved in native restoration projects on their land. It turns out that creation care naturally raises questions of justice, and in addressing them, we begin to transform unjust structures of society.
Mark #3 – To respond to human need by loving service.
At The River Ōpāwaho, we partner with our community to regenerate a local reserve. Through this work, we’ve built relationships with people we might never have met otherwise. These connections have allowed us to offer practical support to these people during times of sickness, financial stress, or food insecurity. Our shared work of environmental restoration built the foundation for us to build relationships and respond to the real needs of our neighbours.
Mark #2 – To teach, baptise and nurture new believers.
When you’re labouring side by side with others, conversations about faith arise naturally. We talk about why we care for creation as an expression of our faith, and in doing so, we discuss the bible, theology, missiology, eschatology and a bunch of other “ologys”. Practical creation care creates a beautiful platform for the type of relationships and conversations that form us into followers of Jesus. It’s not through lectures, but through shared action. Discipleship happens when we live out our faith together.
Mark #1 – To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.
I’ve lost count of the number of people from the community who have stopped to thank us for our work or to ask who we are. When we explain that we’re part of a church, their curiosity grows, and conversations about faith, life, and Jesus follow. Evangelism becomes effortless when we embody the good news for the world by caring for the whenua.
Now, you might be thinking “Didn’t Jesus tell us to preach the gospel and make disciples! Isn’t that the most important thing!” And I agree. I am deeply passionate about preaching the gospel and making disciples – this is the calling I have dedicated my life to. So, I am not suggesting that caring for creation should take precedence over evangelism or Christian formation. Rather, I am inviting us to consider a fresh perspective on the interconnectedness of all the Marks of Mission. When we faithfully engage with one mark, we should naturally see it bearing fruit in the others.
I believe that when we take seriously the biblical call to be wise stewards of God’s good creation, we will see the other marks of mission come alive. Creation care isn’t just a side project for the Church; it’s a practical way to embody the love, hope, justice and renewal that Jesus invites everyone to experience.
