Creation Care Project Spearheads Environmental and Theological Education

As we near the start of another exciting academic year at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), I am filled with renewed gratitude for our outstanding faculty members.

Our faculty are committed to investigating God's creation, making our world a better place, and equipping students to do the same. Such is the case with two professors in the School of Ministry and the biology department, who are collaborating on a new environmental stewardship project.

Here in West Palm Beach, we see God's handiwork on display every day-and we recognize that Christians have a unique responsibility as caretakers of Creation.

That's why the Creation Care Project, originally published in our 2023 Enlightening Minds research publication, is so important. It will ignite a critical dialogue on how scriptural teachings can inform practical action. It will give students the chance to apply complex scientific and theological concepts to our community's needs. Finally, we hope it will inspire other Christians to join the conversation-and be the good neighbors our world desperately needs.

PBA is leading a first-of-its-kind initiative to bridge the gap between faith communities and environmental stewardship.

Supported by a $15,000 grant from the Climate Science in Theological Education (CSTE) Initiative, the Creation Care Project is an interdisciplinary project to create awareness for and protect South Florida's precious ecosystems.

Leading this visionary project is Dr. Paul M. Gould, associate professor of philosophy of religion and director of the philosophy of religion master's program, and Dr. Thomas Chesnes, professor of biology and associate dean of sciences. Both bring a wealth of philosophical and biological expertise to foster interdepartmental collaboration and ensure students receive holistic training in their respective fields.

The Creation Care Project is a timely catalyst to ignite a dialogue on how scriptural teachings can inform practical action-especially since marginalized or underserved communities are often the first to be impacted by issues like pollution or climate-based events.

"If the [problems] don't affect you directly, it feels like a problem for someone else," says Dr. Chesnes. "If there's a drought here, we can get bottled water. In other parts of the world, people perish. So, we feel insulated from consequences."

Cultivating a Community of Stewards

Grounded in a biblical worldview where "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31), the project will harmoniously blend science, ethics, and religion through three key enrichment activities.

The first is the Creation Care Cohort, a one-year program for 10 faculty and graduate students from PBA's Graduate School of Ministry. The cohort will meet bi-weekly during the 2024-2025 academic year to discuss the theology and science of stewardship. They'll explore themes including the biblical justification for creation care, the connection between creation care and neighborly love, using science to inform creation care, and practical steps for advancing creation care in ministries.

Another activity is the Faith and Cultural Symposium in February 2025. Open to the public, the event will feature lectures by prominent evangelical speakers, provide valuable insights for change, and connect participants with faith-based organizations involved in creation care. The School of Ministry will also participate in PBA's annual Earth Week events in April 2025, engaging the broader community through an informative booth at the Earth Day fair and delivering a chapel sermon about creation care.

Finally, the cohort will travel to the Florida Keys for Experiential Studies during the spring 2025 semester. The experiential trip aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who often used nature in his parables to impart wisdom-like in Matthew 6:28-30, where he refers to the lilies of the field to teach trust in God's provision. Participants will also engage with experts working to monitor and remediate ecological challenges.

As the Creation Care curriculum is finalized, Dr. Gould and Dr. Chesnes are hopeful the project can serve as a model for other institutions and lead stewardship for South Florida's unique ecosystems. What will be critical, Dr. Gould says, is getting Christians to lift their voices and act to alleviate the solutions.

"If the Church is to be salt to a decaying culture, we need to be engaged," says Dr. Gould. "This topic has been painted with a political veneer, but the Church has to sidestep that and exert its prophetic voice."

Photo: Alexis Anaya, Joel Garton and Drew Anderson explore marine life across the street from the West Palm Beach campus.

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