Earthkeepers' work to serve the planet impacts justice
The Rev. Dr. Stacey Cole Wilson, the BWC’s executive minister for Beloved Community spoke at the conference Earthkeepers Celebration on Dec. 6.
Greetings Beloved Community,
It is truly a blessing to gather and to celebrate with this new class of EarthKeepers as we affirm the sacredness of all creation and our call to care for it in ways that reflect justice, compassion, and deep reverence
We are reminded in Psalm 24 that "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." These words are not just a declaration of divine ownership, but a profound invitation to recognize the interconnectedness of all life. The earth, the sky, the waters, the plants, the animals, and all of humanity belong to God.
As caretakers of this divine gift, our responsibility is to nurture, protect, and honor the natural world in ways that reflect God’s love for creation.
And, as we consider the vast beauty and complexity of the Earth, we must also confront a truth: the challenges facing our planet are deeply tied to the systems of inequality and injustice that affect the most vulnerable among us.
We have heard faith leaders, including Pope Francis, powerfully remind us, “A true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
What does this mean for us today? It means that our environmental concerns cannot be separate from the struggles of marginalized communities.
The health of the planet is inextricably linked to the health of society. When the Earth suffers — through deforestation, pollution, or climate change — it is often those who are poor and marginalized who feel the brunt of the harm.
Whether it's access to clean water, the displacement from natural disasters, or the devastating effects of pollution in under-resourced communities, we cannot ignore that social justice and ecological justice are one and the same.
In this moment of reflection, we are called to ask ourselves: How do we integrate our love for the Earth with a commitment to justice for all people?
How do we ensure that as we care for the environment, we also care for the most vulnerable members of our human family?
Everything is connected. Every action we take in favor of the Earth, every decision we make about consumption, energy, and waste, has social implications.
Similarly, every effort we make to build a more just society—whether through advocating for affordable housing, fighting for racial justice, or ensuring access to healthcare—contributes to healing the Earth as well.
Today, as Earthkeepers committed to antiracism, we are called not only to care for the planet, but to ensure that our work also upholds justice, peace, and dignity for all people.
We cannot truly heal the Earth without addressing the wounds of poverty, inequality, and injustice. It is only when we honor both the Earth and its people that we can truly live into the fullness of our calling as stewards of God’s creation.
Therefore, may we be a community that hears both the pain of the Earth and the struggles of those most vulnerable, responding with compassion and courage to heal the wounds in our world. May God guide our hearts and actions as we continue this sacred work together. Amen.