Wild Lectionary is for those who want to preach on climate justice themes. In scripture, landforms, skies, waterways, and creatures are transformed. In the world around us they are transformed as well by the advancing global climate crisis. Repeatedly we are called to attend to the wisdom of the more-than-human world. Each week a different contributor offers commentary on the lectionary readings, suggestions for preaching, and links to additional material. We hope you will use and share these resources.
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We are hoping to keep this resource going year-round. If you are interested in collaborating, e-mail Laurel.
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For preachers who want to engage with scripture and with climate crisis here are some tools for approaching biblical texts.
Know and be rooted in your watershed. It has long been understood as good homiletic and exegetical practice to name your social location -the webs of relationship, power and identity which influence your approach to and understanding of scripture. It is perhaps equally important to be aware of your ecosystem location, how your experience of and connection to drought, harvest, storm, herding, and fishing are at play as you encounter these themes in scripture. What are the creature kin, the predators, the waterways, landforms and plants of your place and your heritage that help you to understand (or cause you to misunderstand) the Galilean fishing economy, the Cedars of Lebanon, the lion of Judah, the true vine, the Good Shepherd and the lamb of God?
Focus on Climate Justice. Credited to various activists from the global south, climate justice is a term that asserts that the impacts of global climate change and the work of responding to it are not borne equally. Racialized, impoverished, Indigenous, coastal and island peoples experience the greatest impacts while bearing the least responsibility and are at the forefront of movements for land defense, mutual aid, and corporate and governmental accountability (Gabbatis and Tandon, 2022). Bringing a climate justice approach to scripture means focusing not simply on “creation” or “the environment” but addressing the interrelationships between human and ecological exploitation, extraction, displacement, and inequity.
Apply Eco-Justice Principles. Norman Habel and the Earth Bible Project have identified six principles in scripture.
The Principle of Intrinsic Worth: The universe, Earth, and all its components have intrinsic worth/value
The Principle of Interconnectedness: Earth is a community of inter-connected living things that are mutually dependent on each other for life and survival.
The Principle of Voice: Earth is a living entity capable of raising its voice in celebration and against injustice.
The Principle of Purpose: The universe, Earth and all its components are a part of a dynamic cosmic design within which each piece has a place in the overall of that design.
The Principle of Mutual Custodianship: Earth is a balanced and diverse domain where responsible custodians can function as partners with, rather than rulers over, Earth to sustain its balance and a diverse Earth community.
The Principle of Resistance: Earth and its components not only suffer from human injustices but actively resist them in the struggle for justice.
Use an Eco-Feminist Lens. The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade “the eco-preacher” has developed four additional principles.
Focus on Earth-orientation rather than focusing strictly on humans, and particularly male humans. Read Scripture through a “green lens” to ascertain how texts may be oppressive or liberating to women, children, those most vulnerable, and the Earth community.
Proclaim the good news for both the human and other-than-human community of Earth. Analyze the impact and power that certain texts will have when preached in a community of faith within its ecological context.
Practice a hermeneutic of remembrance. Recover biblical traditions so that we can view the biblical story from an ecofeminist perspective, moving away from the inherent human-centeredness and male-centeredness of texts that assume subordination of Earth and women.
Engage creative actualization. Tell stories from Earth’s and women’s perspectives. Reformulate narratives lifting up the discipleship of equals among human communities and with our Earth kin.
Consider the Ecological Triangle of God, Non-Human Creation, and Humanity. Hilary Marlow proposes this alternative method of ecological engagement which allows the texts to speak for themselves. She asks:
What understanding does the text present of non-human creation (local or cosmic)?
What are the assumptions of the author about God’s relationship to the created world?
What effects do human actions have upon non-human creation and vice versa?
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It costs approximately $275 CAD for the work of research, writing, editing, coordinating and hosting one week of resources on Wild Lectionary. If you have appreciated this faithful climate justice resource please consider sponsoring a page or asking your congregation to do so. It is a gift that benefits so many.
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B: Climate Anxiety and Workers’ Bodies
The ecological themes are all over this week, but they converge in the experiences of three of the “leading men” of the Bible: David, Paul and Jesus. An ecological approach helps follow along with them as they point their contemporaries and us toward the Creator. These are people who, rather than be above it all, had harrowing life experiences and came through them - with Divine help. This will hopefully help congregations with ecological angst and/or people who suffer in their bodily experience that is often unacknowledged.
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B: Kings and Trees, Seeds and Weeds
This week the lectionary focus is kings and kingdoms mediated through the language of plants. The semi-continuous track speaks explicitly of kings with the anointing of the shepherd-king David while the thematic track gives us cedars and palm trees. In addition to wisdom about human leadership and politics derived from the plant (ahem) kingdom, there are warnings about wealth extracted from the more than human world.
Third Sunday After Pentecost: Repentance as Holy Disruption
Metanoia translated in most English translations as ‘Repent’ should be understood as a “change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook.” (Repentance and Confession) Each of the readings assigned for the Sunday between 5 and 11 June in their way, disrupt a dominant perspective and in this disruption, sparks a metanoia that can make possible new ways of thinking and doing.
2nd Sunday after Pentecost: Say Yes to Life.
The lectionary for Sunday, June 2, takes us back to the rough-edged narrative of Mark’s gospel, following the Johannine readings of Lent and Easter, and the post-Easter triad of Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity. For some, this Sunday (or the Thursday before) is observed as Corpus Christi, a feast dating back to the 13th Century to honour the real presence of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, often an occasion for organizing outdoor processions and performances of mystery and miracle plays.
Trinity Sunday Year B: Wild Mystery, Sacred Humility
On this Trinity Sunday, we celebrate and honor the truly wild mystery at the heart of the Christian tradition: that our “one God” is really also three. It feels fitting, then, that these Trinity Sunday readings are filled with multiple meanings, mysteries, and seeming-contradictions. Secret conversations are had under the cover of darkness (John) and cryptic messages are carried by winged creatures (Isaiah). The magnificence of God is felt through the waters and fires and forests (Psalms) and yet distinctions are made between flesh and spirit, heaven and earth (Romans and John). What shall we make of it all? This week, we are invited to explore the strange spaces beyond and between the binaries. To situate ourselves as small parts within a greater whole. To face our lack of understanding with humility and awe. And to step out into the darkness so that we might better hear the secrets of the night.
We are grateful to the sponsors who make Wild Lectionary possible:
This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.