Different churches, different approaches to a "creation care" message:
At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, there was some trepidation about taking part in a simulcast next week that is billed as the largest-ever faith-based event involving Earth Day.
As pointed out in the church newsletter, The Uniview, some in the liberal-leaning congregation might not feel comfortable with Wednesday's simulcast featuring Matthew and Nancy Sleeth of Wilmore, whose message is that God created the earth and wants us to take care of it.
"The Sleeths are coming from a theological viewpoint that not all our members are going to agree with, but ... their views about caring for the earth, that's something we can share," said Kim Browning, who successfully advocated for the Unitarians' to take part.
At the conservative Centenary United Methodist Church, which also is in Lexington, there was a feeling that Christians and environmentalists don't necessarily sing from the same hymnal.
"Since the 1960s this message about being a good steward and taking care of the earth has been co-opted by a certain group on the political spectrum that typically opposes Christian values," said Julia Burnett, a member of that congregation.
Burnett, who also is on the board of Blessed Earth, the Sleeths' non-profit organization, spoke to all three services last Sunday about the the idea that Christians should live lightly on the land because it was created for them.
"People said, 'I had forgotten it was a mandate from God,'" Burnett said.
At least four Lexington churches will take part in "Hope for Creation," an event that organizers say will reach more than 700 churches across the United States, plus churches and other organizations in 26 countries.
The simulcast will take place on the night before the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
The three Lexington churches that responded to requests for interviews for this article all said that Matthew Sleeth had already spoken to their congregations, telling his story of giving up a physician's salary and lifestyle to spread a message that mixes religion with recycling and reducing consumption.
After Sleeth spoke at Crossroads Christian Church, "a group was formed that has a real passion for earth care and stewardship," said Greg Chandler, the church's creative arts lead pastor.
Crossroads had never acknowledged Earth Day before, he said.
But now there is a task force to deal with environmental issues. The church has had an energy audit. There are recycling bins.
At the Unitarian Church, recycling has been going on since 2003, Browning said. Three years ago, it was the first church to sign up for the WasteBuster program run by Bluegrass PRIDE.
Some lights bulbs have been replaced by compact fluorescents, and there are programmable thermostats. Washable plates and cloth napkins are used, and only fair-trade coffee is served.
With all that, Browning said, she thinks there is still something to gain from listening to the Sleeths' message.
"I think there's always more to learn," she said. "And the more you hear some of the messages, you become a bit more inclined to try some of them."
At Centenary, there is a creation care team. There is recycling, and a community garden on church grounds. The lights in bathrooms come on only when someone is there, and the lights in the gymnasium are on a timer.
"I don't know how you could live in America right now and not think of these things," Burnett said. "I think it's starting to become more normal, not this far-left hippy thing."
