Global Stewardship: The Christian Mandate The statement titled "Global Stewardship: The Christian Mandate" was developed and approved by the faculty from 25 Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) institutions who participated in the 1995-96 CCCU Global Stewardship Initiative funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by the Center for Christian Studies at Gordon College. It was subsequently endorsed by the Presidents' Council of the CCCU, and sent to the presidents of the 91 member institutions of the CCCU with an encouragement to initiate further global stewardship programmingon these campuses. Project Director-Harold Heie In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1, 2 NIV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace though his blood, shed on the cross.... This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Col. 1:15-20, 23 NIV) Stewardship begins with the understanding that God in Jesus Christ has created and now sustains the world, and that the creation has been entrusted to humans, who were created in God's image. At the same time we are creatures, shaped by the same processes and embedded in the same systems of physical, chemical, and biological interconnections which sustain other creatures. Although it is appropriate to use the creation to meet our needs and to build human culture, scripture teaches that the chief purpose of creation is to glorify God. As we make use of creation and carry out our stewardly care, we must ensure that creation continues to testify to God's glory. Stewardship care is therefore a trust from God. This care includes all creation and the human cultures built from it. Stewardship especially implies promoting just relationships among humans, and between humans and the rest of creation. This concern for justice is crucial for the developing world, where poverty often leaves people without land, food or health. Stewardly care is informed by the interaction of science, ethics, and social and political institutions. Global stewardship embraces the entire planet, including land, water, air and all life - the biosphere. Because small, local or regional ecological activities, when multiplied, potentially impact the biosphere, most human activities relate to global stewardship. A Biblical ethic for stewardship includes, among others, the following conserving elements: 1. Earthkeeping - our charge is to serve and keep the creation with all its dynamic integrity and fullness. 2. Fruitfulness - while using the fruit of creation, we should never destroy creation's ability to be replenished. 3. Restoration/Sabbath - we should provide for the restoration of the ecosystems we have used or misused. 4. Justice - we must ensure that all humankind - future as well as present - enjoy the gifts of creation and are not impoverished by unjust or unwise use of those gifts. There are many ways in which good stewardship has been practiced around the world. It is also evident, however, that North Americans have not always been faithful to our stewardly calling. The creation has been degraded by our misuse of the environment and our failure to treat all people justly. It is good news for humans and all of creation that God in Christ continues to care for his creation and is reconciling all things to himself. The atoning work of Christ on the cross has opened the door to reconciliation with God, and we are privileged to be ministers of that reconciliation. Stewardly care, therefore, involves participating with Christ in sharing this good news and in bringing healing to both human and non-human creation, foreshadowing that time when the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness, and all creation is whole. Global stewardship today entails addressing the intricate relationship between environmental degradation, resource consumption, population growth and the means of production of goods and their use. Christians are glad to unite with all those who share a concern for creation in bringing stewardly care to human culture and the natural systems on which we depend. In particular, those people and institutions which are explicitly Christian have a special responsibility to promote learning, research and living - our spiritual service - that will lead to faithful stewardly care of the creation, as they honor God who has entrusted the gift or creation to humankind. Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU): As a professional association of academic institutions, the Coalition focuses on helping Christian colleges and universities advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to effectively integrate biblical faith, scholarship and service. The Coalition coordinates professional development opportunities for administrators and faculty, off-campus student programs, public advocacy for Christ-centered higher education, and cooperative efforts among member colleges and universities. http://www.cccu.org The Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities' Global Stewardship Initiative: This initiative, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, focuses an interdisciplinary emphasis that supports the generation and dissemination of high quality Christian scholarship in the three interrelated areas of global stewardship: environmental degradation, resource consumption and population growth. This initiative has distributed existing curricula, supported the development of expanded programming, and produced quality Christian scholarship related to global stewardship at Coalition institutions. CCCU entries on this page provide the dissemination of these materials. Dr. Harold Heie, Coalition Senior Fellow, Director of Center for Christian Studies, Gordon College, is the administrator and author of this grant. HHEIE@gordonc.edu Please mail any comments to Dr. Mark Lassiter
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