Church Scattered · Resources
Books & Resources
A curated library spanning biblical foundations, theology, missiology, ethics, film, and web resources on creation care — built for individual study and small-group formation.
Biblical Basis — good places to start
- Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's theological report, God's Earthkeepers: Biblical Action and Reflection on the Environment
- A Rocha Canada's A Brief Theology of Creation Care
- Published by WEA coalition partner, Renew our World, Making a World Of Difference (2023)
- An international theological project led by TearFund with WEA theological input, Abundant Community Theology: Working towards Environmental and Economic Sustainability (EES) (2022), with an accompanying video (April 2024)
- Bookless, Dave. Planetwise: Dare to Care for God's World. Nottingham, IVP, 2008. (Also available as e-book and in Chinese, Dutch, French, German translations.)
- Bouma-Prediger, Steven. For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.
- Gnanakan, K. God's World: A Theology of the Environment. London, SPCK, 1999. A good text by an Indian theologian and former Langham scholar.
- Marlow, Hilary. The Earth Is the Lord's: A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues. Cambridge: Grove Books, 2008.
- Moo, Douglas & Moo, Jonathan. Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018 — the new standard textbook, excellent.
- Valerio, Ruth. Saying Yes to Life. SPCK, 2020 (Archbishop of Canterbury's 2020 Lent Book, with associated video resources based on Genesis 1).
- Webb, Bryony & Sleigh, Charlotte. God's Green Book. SPCK, 2010. A series of well-crafted and challenging group Bible studies on caring for creation.
- Wilson, Jonathan. God's Good World: Reclaiming the Doctrine of Creation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
- Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope. London, SPCK / New York, HarperOne, 2008.
Biblical Theology — going deeper
- Bauckham, Richard. Living with Other Creatures: Green Exegesis and Theology. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2011.
- Bauckham, Richard. Bible and Ecology: Recovering the Community of Creation. London: DLT, 2010.
- Bookless, D. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord": The Bible and biodiversity. Cambridge Papers, Vol. 23 No. 3, Jubilee Centre, 2014. Free download.
- Bookless, D. The Earthly Jesus and the Cosmic Christ, KLICE Working Papers, Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Studies, Cambridge, 2016. Free download.
- Brueggemann, W. The Land: Place and Gift, Promise and Challenge in Biblical Faith. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2002.
- Conradie, Ernst M., ed. Creation and Salvation, Volumes 1 & 2. Studies in Religion and the Environment. Zurich: Lit Verlag GMBH, 2012.
- Davis, Ellen F. Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible. Cambridge: CUP, 2009.
- Isaac, Munther. From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth. Carlisle: Langham, 2015. A powerful biblical exegesis on land from a Palestinian Christian.
- Khua Hnin Thang, R. The Theology of the Land in Amos 7–9. Carlisle: Langham Partnership, 2014. Biblical theology from Myanmar.
- Middleton, J. Richard. The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2005.
- Middleton, J. Richard. A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2014.
- Moltmann, Jürgen. God in Creation: A New Theology of Creation and the Spirit of God. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993.
- Swoboda, A. J. Tongues and Trees: Toward a Pentecostal Ecological Theology. Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement 40. Blandford Forum, UK: Deo, 2014.
- White, Robert S., and Moo, Jonathan. Hope in an Age of Despair: The Gospel and the Future of Life on Earth. Nottingham: IVP, 2013.
- Wirzba, Norman. Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011.
- Wright, N. T. New Heavens, New Earth: The Biblical Picture of Christian Hope. Cambridge: Grove Publishing, 1999.
Missiology
- White, R. S. and C. Bell, eds. Creation Care and the Gospel: Reconsidering the Mission of the Church. Hendrickson, Peabody, MA, 2016 — the official Lausanne creation care book, with case studies from around the world.
- Bliss, Lowell. Environmental Missions: Planting Churches and Trees. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library Publishers, 2013.
- Bookless, David. "Christian Mission and Environmental Issues: An Evangelical Reflection." Mission Studies 25, 2008.
- Daneel, Inus. "Earthkeeping in Missiological Perspective: An African Challenge." Mission Studies 13, 1996.
- DeWitt, C. B., and Bookless, David. "To Strive to Safeguard the Integrity of Creation and Sustain and Renew the Life of the Earth." In Mission in the Twenty-First Century, ed. A. Walls and C. Ross. London: DLT, 2008.
- Gould, David, ed. Missional Creation Care. Vol. 9.1, Mission Round Table. Singapore: OMF International Ltd., 2014.
- Kaoma, J., ed. Creation Care in Christian Mission. Edinburgh Centenary Series. Regnum Books, Oxford, 2016 — an African editor with contributions from across the world.
- Simiyu, Stella, and Peter Harris. Caring for Creation: Part of Our Gospel Calling? Grove Ethics. Cambridge: Grove Books, 2008.
Practice & Ethics
- Fountain, Dan. Let's Restore Our Land: Church and Community Leaders Working Together to Restore the Land. ECHO Inc., 2016. Written from an African context.
- Hodson, M. and M. J. Hodson. Cherishing the Earth: How to Care for God's Creation. Oxford, Monarch, 2008. Covers Bible, science, and practical advice.
- Nkansah-Obrempong, J. Foundations for African Theological Ethics. Carlisle: Langham Partnership, 2013.
- Sorley, Craig. Farming that Brings Glory to God and Hope to the Hungry. Doorlight Publications, 2011. Written by an American who worked long-term in Kenya on "Farming God's Way."
- Valerio, Ruth. L is for Lifestyle: Christian Living that Doesn't Cost the Earth. IVP, 2008.
- Valerio, Ruth. Just Living: Faith and Community in an Age of Consumerism. Hodder, 2017.
- Wiggins, Mike. CEDRA: Climate Change and Environmental Degradation Risk and Adaptation Assessment. Tearfund UK, 2012 (2nd ed.) — available online.
Web-based resources on environmental issues
Useful online videos & presentations
- "Earthkeeping: A Climate for Change" (25 min) — Dr Katharine Hayhoe on climate change.
- "Why Should Christians Care for Creation" (15 min, with theologians and scientists).
- "God's Word to the Church" (45 min) — Dave Bookless on the biblical basis for creation care.
- "Ecological Hope in Crisis" (60 min) — Prof. Richard Bauckham.
See the extended reading list (100+ further titles)
A longer list of further reading gathered over the years, spanning theology, ethics, ecology, and the arts.
- Moo, Douglas & Moo, Jonathan. Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World (Biblical Theology for Life)
- Harris, Peter. Under the Bright Wings
- Harris, Peter. Kingfisher's Fire: A Story of Hope for God's Earth
- Bauckham, Richard. The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering the Community of Creation (Sarum Theological Lectures)
- Bauckham, Richard. Living with Other Creatures
- Bouma-Prediger, Stephen. For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (Engaging Culture)
- Bouma-Prediger, Stephen. Earthkeeping and Character: Exploring a Christian Ecological Virtue Ethic
- Berry, Wendell. The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture
- Berry, Wendell. The World-Ending Fire: The Essential Wendell Berry (essays)
- Berry, Wendell. The Gift of Good Land
- Berry, Wendell. The Art of the Commonplace
- Berry, Wendell. Another Turn of the Crank
- Kostamo, Leah. Planted
- Wirzba, Norman. From Nature to Creation
- Wirzba, Norman. Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating
- Brown, Ed. Our Father's World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation
- Middleton, J. Richard. The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1
- Wright, N.T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
- Wright, Christopher J. H. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative
- Naylor, Chris. Postcards from the Middle East: How Our Family Fell in Love with the Arab World
- Lausanne Movement. Creation Care and the Gospel: Reconsidering the Mission of the Church
- Swoboda, A.J. Tongues and Trees: Towards a Pentecostal Ecological Theology
- Malcolm, Hannah. Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church
- Hayhoe, Katharine. Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World
- Schaeffer, Francis. Pollution and the Death of Man: The Christian View of Ecology
- Woodley, Randy. Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision
- Maathai, Wangari. Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World
- Valerio, Ruth. Just Living: Faith and Community in an Age of Consumerism
- Ong, Melissa. God's Gardeners: Creation Care Stories from Singapore and Malaysia
- Living Radical Discipleship, inspired by John Stott
- Yoder, Laura & Berry, R. J., eds. John Stott on Creation Care
- Bookless, Dave. Planetwise: Dare to Care for God's World
- Bookless, Dave. God Doesn't Do Waste: Redeeming the Whole of Life
- Abbey, Edward. Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1968.
- Allen, Scott D. and Darrow L. Miller. The Forest in the Seed: A Biblical Perspective on Resources and Development. Phoenix, AZ: Disciple Nations Alliance, 2006.
- Berry, R. J. Environmental Stewardship: Critical Perspectives — Past and Present.
- Berry, R.J., ed. The Care of Creation: Focusing Concern and Action. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
- Berry, Wendell. Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1992.
- Berry, Wendell. The Way of Ignorance: And Other Essays.
- Bouma-Prediger, Steven and Peter Bakken, eds. Evocations of Grace: The Writings of Joseph Sittler on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
- Bouma-Prediger, Steven and Virginia Vroblesky. Assessing the Ark: A Christian Perspective on Non-human Creatures and the Endangered Species Act. Wynewood, PA: Crossroads, 1997.
- Bouma-Prediger, Steven and Walsh, Brian. Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement.
- Bouma-Prediger, Steven. The Greening of Theology: The Ecological Models of Rosemary Radford Reuther, Joseph Sittler, and Jürgen Moltmann. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, 1995.
- Brady, Bernard and Mark Neuzil. A Spiritual Field Guide: Meditations for the Outdoors. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2005.
- Bratton, Susan. Six Billion and More: Human Population Regulation and Christian Ethics.
- Bratton, Susan. Wilderness and Wildlife: The Original Desert Solitaire.
- Brown, Edward. Our Father's World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation. South Hadley, MA: Doorlight Publications, 2006.
- Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
- Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. Cambridge, MA: The Riverside Press, 1962.
- Crosby, Alfred W. Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900–1900. Cambridge, UK: CUP, 1986.
- Davis, Mike. Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World. London, UK: Verso, 2002.
- Delio, Ilia et al. Care of Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2008.
- DeWitt, Calvin and Ghillean Prance, eds. Missionary Earthkeeping. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1992.
- DeWitt, Calvin, ed. The Environment and the Christian: What Can We Learn from the New Testament? Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991.
- DeWitt, Calvin, ed. The Just Stewardship of Land and Creation. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformed Ecumenical Council, 1996.
- DeWitt, Calvin. Caring for Creation: Responsible Stewardship of God's Handiwork. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998.
- DeWitt, Calvin. Earthwise: A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues. Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications, 1994.
- Diamond, Jared. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York, NY: Viking, 2005.
- Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 1997.
- Evans, David J. et al., eds. Biblical Holism and Agriculture: Cultivating our Roots. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2003.
- Fagan, Brian. The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History 1300–1850. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2000.
- Fagan, Brian. The Long Summer: How Climate Changed Civilization. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2005.
- Fox, Matthew. Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality.
- Gottlieb, Roger S. A Greener Faith: Religious Environmentalism and Our Planet's Future.
- Goudzwaard, Bob et al. Hope in Troubled Times: A New Vision for Confronting Global Crises. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007.
- Goudzwaard, Bob. Beyond Poverty and Affluence: Toward an Economy of Care with a Twelve-step Program for Economic Recovery.
- Haarsma, Deborah. Origins: A Reformed Look at Creation, Design, and Evolution.
- Hall, Douglas John. Imaging God: Dominion as Stewardship. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1986.
- Hillel, Daniel. The Natural History of the Bible: An Environmental Exploration of the Hebrew Scriptures.
- Hoezee, Scott. Proclaim the Wonder: Engaging Science on Sunday. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2003.
- Hoezee, Scott. Remember Creation: God's World of Wonder and Delight. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
- Jacobs, Nancy J. Environment, Power, and Injustice: A South African History. Cambridge, UK: CUP, 2003.
- Jacobsen, Rowan. Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis.
- Koetje, David S., ed. Living the Good Life on God's Good Earth. Grand Rapids, MI: Faith Alive, 2006.
- Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac: With Essays on Conservation from Round River. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1966.
- Light, Joel. A Field Guide to Christian Environmental Education: A Complete Guide to Creation Care.
- Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
- Martin-Schramm, James B. and Stivers, Robert. Christian Environmental Ethics: A Case Method Approach.
- McKibben, Bill. Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future.
- Meyer, Art. Earthkeepers: Environmental Perspectives on Hunger, Poverty, and Injustice.
- Moltmann, Jürgen. God in Creation (The Gifford Lectures, 1984–1985).
- Nash, James A. Loving Nature: Ecological Integrity and Christian Responsibility.
- Northcott, Michael S. The Environment and Christian Ethics. Cambridge, UK: CUP, 1996.
- Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Food. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2006.
- Redekop, Calvin W. Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World.
- Robinson, Tri and Jason Chatraw. Saving God's Green Earth: Rediscovering the Church's Responsibility to Environmental Stewardship. Norcross, GA: Ampelon Publishing, 2006.
- Santmire, H. Paul. Brother Earth: Nature, God, and Ecology in Time of Crisis. New York, NY: Thomas Nelson, 1970.
- Santmire, H. Paul. Nature Reborn: The Ecological and Cosmic Promise of Christian Theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2000.
- Santmire, H. Paul. Ritualizing Nature: Renewing Christian Liturgy in a Time of Crisis.
- Santmire, H. Paul. The Travail of Nature: The Ambiguous Ecological Promise of Christian Theology. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1985.
- Schumacher, E. F. Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. New York, NY: HarperPerennial, 1989.
- Schwarz, Hans. Creation. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.
- Scott, Lindy. Christians, the Care of Creation, and Global Climate Change.
- Sittler, Joseph. Essays on Nature and Grace. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1972.
- Sittler, Joseph. The Care of the Earth. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2004.
- Sleeth, J. Matthew, MD. Serve God and Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006.
- Van Dyke, Fred et al. Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
- Van Till, Howard J. et al. Portraits of Creation: Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on the World's Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990.
- Wilkinson, Loren, ed. Earthkeeping: Christian Stewardship of Natural Resources. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980.
- Wilkinson, Loren. Earthkeeping in the Nineties: Stewardship of Creation.
- Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Until Justice and Peace Embrace. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1983.
- Wright, Christopher J. H. God's People in God's Land: Family, Land, and Property in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990.
- Wright, Richard T. Biology Through the Eyes of Faith. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2003.
Motion picture media
- When Heaven Meets Earth — DVD, skunkfilms.com (52 min)
- Between Heaven and Earth — DVD, skunkfilms.com (27 min)
- Powers of Ten — film by Charles and Ray Eames (12 min)
- The Queen of Trees — DVD (approx. 60 min)