What has environmentalism got to do with church?

Going wild

BRF’s Messy Church ministry has just been awarded a significant grant by Scientists in Congregations to fund Messy Adventures – a project that is part of a wider initiative called Messy Church Goes Wild. As well as money, projects like this require a significant amount of time and energy to develop. So why is Lucy so passionate about connecting church – specifically Messy Church – with the natural world?

‘Messy Church Goes Wild is much needed in this season of reimagining how and where we are church,’ says Lucy. ‘It responds to various phenomena: the coronavirus pandemic, which has meant it’s been safer outside than in; the Church of England’s Everyday Faith initiative, which links our discipleship to the world outside church buildings; the ‘rewilding the church’ movement within Fresh Expressions; and the desire for ecological change among young people.’

She adds: ‘It’s long been recognised that children have an affinity for finding and recognising God through the natural world’

1 Enquiring minds are creative minds

‘It’s an expression of creativity to reimagine and adapt the Messy Church shape to an outdoor context,’ states Lucy.

Scientists who contributed to Messy Church Does Science cited the significance of their childhood experiences in the natural world in their career choice. ‘We want to encourage young people to gain confidence in thinking scientifically, and maybe prompt some to play a positive part in the planet through exploring science careers’.

2 Celebrating the environment

3 Bringing Christ into the centre

Church, including Messy Church, is about knowing and following Jesus, though. So how does Christian belief play a role in all this?

‘As Christians,’ explains Lucy, ‘we believe that this fullness of life is found ultimately in Jesus Christ; the church has an important part to play in hosting spaces where the connectivity between God’s heart for the world and human beings’ longing for fulfilment can be experienced.

‘Messy Churches meeting in the name of Jesus Christ in the cathedral of the natural world, relating the mysteries of science to the mysteries of faith and finding a language to articulate both – this is an expression of Messy Church Christ-centredness.’

4 A new concept of hospitality

Messy Church Goes Wild – this movement taking shape within Messy Church – ‘is about transforming our behaviour as human beings to make more room for other species on the planet,’ says Lucy.

‘In other words, it’s about expanding our concept of hospitality. As Sir David Attenborough says, “It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”’

5 Bringing the generations together

‘Young people can and do lead the way for whole households to change their behaviour to a more sustainable lifestyle,’ Lucy reminds us.

‘Messy Church wants to allow these younger voices’ concerns to be heard, leading and influencing adults. That’s why the Messy Adventures will be devised by teams that include teenagers and older children, for an all-age audience.’

Bringing down barriers

For Lucy, exploring the natural world as part of Messy Church is a chance to correct the idea that faith and science are in opposition.

‘Messy Church has an opportunity to reach a large number of families, especially those with children, who have little or no other direct relationship with the church,’ she suggests.

‘Their experience through Messy Church shapes their view of what the whole church stands for. So a positive dialogue between scientists and faith in a Messy Church context is a witness to the willingness of Christians more generally to engage in science and embrace its approaches and attitudes.’

Impactful and ambitious

I commend Messy Adventures as a creative and impactful response to the grave crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It will take children and adults outside for hands-on activities, exploration of the natural world and joyful worship which celebrates God the Creator. Not only will it give congregations increased competence in scientific thinking and confidence in taking all ages outside to worship and explore, it will open up our awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things and inspire growth of awe, wonder and joy at God’s creation.”

Graham Usher, bishop of Norwich and lead bishop for the environment for the Church of England

Ambitious in its scope, Messy Adventures will address far-ranging questions of environmental sciences, habitat, biodiversity, sustainable living, properties, materials, processes, life cycles, biology, botany, zoology, geology, anatomy, physiology with elements of physics, chemistry and engineering. This project brings together a number of people working in collaboration with Lucy. Taking the lead on the science side are Dr Dave Gregory, creator of Messy Church Does Science, and BRF authors Martin and Margot Hodson, with support also from Cate Williams, the Gloucester Diocese Environmental Engagement Officer. Also involved are the Messy Church Writers support team and several Messy Churches who will be piloting the material.

Lucy asks that we pray for the writers, scientific consultants and pilot teams as they pioneer with us.