Living Our Principles: The Natural World

Summary

This video script from the 'Living Our Principles' series explores the United Methodist Church's social principles concerning the natural world. It discusses the church's call for prayerful dialogue on faith and practice, addressing contemporary issues like climate justice, environmental stewardship, and food justice. The script highlights the need to balance economic growth with ecological responsibility and urges the church and its members to actively engage in creating a sustainable world.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The script discusses the United Methodist Church's social principles and their application to contemporary issues, emphasizing the need for a dialogue of faith and practice grounded in biblical and theological foundations.
• 🌱 The natural world is presented as a critical aspect of the church's social principles, highlighting the responsibility of humans to protect and conserve it, not just for its utility but as a part of God's creation.
• 🌾 The case of Kenya is used to illustrate the conflict between economic activities, such as tobacco farming, and the need for environmental stewardship, showing the negative impacts on health, deforestation, and soil erosion.
• 🚜 The story of a pastor in Kenya who transitioned from working for a tobacco company to promoting sustainable agriculture, such as chili farming, demonstrates a practical approach to addressing environmental and socio-economic issues.
• 🌎 The script calls for global climate stewardship, acknowledging the disproportionate effects of climate change on those least responsible for emissions and the need for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
• 🌍 It emphasizes the importance of food justice, drawing on biblical references to highlight the moral obligation to share resources with the poor and needy, and the need for policies that increase access to quality food.
• 🌳 The United Methodist Church's social principles are described as covering a broad range of topics, including water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, animal life, and space, with a focus on ecological equity and sustainability.
• 🌡 The script touches on the political nature of environmental discussions but stresses that the social principles are rooted in theological considerations and the church's responsibility to engage with contemporary issues.
• 👥 It encourages the church and its members to prioritize changes in lifestyles and practices to support a more ecologically sustainable world, leading to a higher quality of life for all of God's creation.
• 📚 The video series is presented as a call to action for Methodists to study and engage in dialogue about the natural world and social principles, promoting a prayerful and thoughtful approach to faith and practice.
• 🌱 The script concludes by quoting John Wesley, emphasizing that Christianity is a social religion and that faith should be lived out in the public sphere, with a focus on societal engagement and moral responsibility.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the five-part series 'Living Our Principles'?

The series aims to explore how the teachings of the United Methodist Church's faith can be utilized to engage with the contemporary world, focusing on a range of social topics with a strong biblical and theological foundation.

What are the social principles of the United Methodist Church?

The social principles of the United Methodist Church are a set of guidelines that address human issues in the contemporary world, calling members to engage in prayerful, studied dialogue of faith and practice.

Why are stewards of the earth important according to the script?

Stewards of the earth are important because they actively seek solutions for a more ecologically equitable and sustainable world, challenging authority and advocating for the environment and its resources.

What is the conflict between tobacco farming and environmental conservation in Kenya as described in the script?

The conflict arises because while the Kenyan government has made smoking illegal, it still supports tobacco companies, leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and health problems due to the process of curing tobacco, which exposes farmers to harmful smoke.

Why did Kennedy Muita, a pastor in the United Methodist Church, decide to work against tobacco farming?

Kennedy Muita realized the negative impacts of tobacco farming on health, environment, and the livelihood of farmers, and decided to promote alternative crops like chili to improve the situation.

What alternative crop did Kennedy Muita introduce to the farmers in his community?

Kennedy Muita introduced chili as an alternative crop to tobacco farming, which proved to be more profitable and less harmful to the environment and health of the farmers.

What are some of the challenges faced by farmers who switch from tobacco to alternative crops?

Challenges include lack of knowledge about new crops, initial resistance to change, lack of incentives like fertilizers and tools, and the need for support from organizations to invest in these areas.

What does the script suggest about the role of the church and its members in environmental issues?

The script suggests that the church and its members have a responsibility to prioritize changes in economic, political, social, and technological lifestyles to support a more ecologically sustainable world.

How does the script relate biblical teachings to the concept of food justice?

The script cites biblical passages from Ezekiel and Leviticus that emphasize the importance of sharing resources with the poor and needy, reflecting the concept of food justice.

What is the stance of the United Methodist Church on global climate stewardship according to the script?

The United Methodist Church supports mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and calls on individuals, congregations, businesses, industries, and communities to reduce their emissions to address global climate change.

What does the script suggest about the importance of local and sustainable agriculture?

The script suggests that local and sustainable agriculture is important for food security and community well-being, and that churches should support policies and initiatives that promote such practices.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Stewardship of the Natural World

This paragraph introduces a video series on living by the social principles of the United Methodist Church, focusing on the stewardship of the natural world. It emphasizes the church's call for prayerful dialogue and study on faith and practice concerning contemporary social issues, particularly environmental conservation. The script highlights the role of faith-based communities in addressing environmental challenges and the importance of caring for nature beyond its utility to humans. It also introduces the story of stewards of the earth in Kenya, who are seeking ecologically sustainable solutions amidst the backdrop of deforestation and soil erosion caused by tobacco farming.

05:02

🚜 Transition from Tobacco to Sustainable Farming

The second paragraph delves into the socio-economic challenges faced by tobacco farmers in Kenya, as narrated by a local pastor and former tobacco company employee. It discusses the exploitation of farmers by the tobacco industry, where earnings are disproportionate to the labor and resources invested. The health hazards and environmental impacts of tobacco farming are highlighted, leading to the exploration of alternative crops like chili. The narrative follows the pastor's efforts to transition his community from tobacco to chili farming, which has shown promising economic benefits and improved living standards for the farmers.

10:04

🌳 Balancing Technological Advancement with Environmental Stewardship

This paragraph examines the conflict between technological progress and environmental care from a Christian perspective. It underscores the responsibility of Christians to be stewards of God's creation amidst the pressures of economic expansion. The script references the social principles of the United Methodist Church, which call for a high priority on changes in various lifestyles to support an ecologically sustainable world. It also touches on the topics of climate justice and food justice, drawing on biblical teachings to emphasize the importance of caring for the environment and the less fortunate.

15:06

🌍 Global Climate Stewardship and Food Justice

The final paragraph discusses the global impact of climate change and the church's stance on mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It calls for collective action from governments, individuals, and communities to address climate justice. The script also explores the concept of food justice, drawing from biblical passages to argue for the fair distribution of food resources and support for local, sustainable agriculture. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for United Methodists to engage in prayerful study and dialogue on these issues, reflecting on their role as stewards of God's creation.

Keywords

💡Social Principles

The 'Social Principles' refer to the ethical guidelines of the United Methodist Church, addressing contemporary social issues from a theological perspective. In the video, they serve as a framework for engaging with the world's problems using the teachings of the faith, emphasizing the church's role in advocating for justice and environmental stewardship.

💡Natural World

The 'Natural World' encompasses the environment, including water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, and animal life. The script discusses the importance of caring for the natural world not just for its utility to humans but as a divine creation that supports all life. It is central to the theme of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

💡Stewardship

Stewardship in this context means the responsibility and care for the environment and natural resources as entrusted by God to humanity. The script highlights the role of humans as stewards, emphasizing the need for ecological equity and sustainable practices to preserve the natural heritage for future generations.

💡Controversial Topics

The term 'Controversial Topics' is used to describe the challenging social issues that the United Methodist Church's Social Principles address. The script mentions that while these topics can be politically charged, the church's intent is to approach them with a biblical and theological foundation, focusing on dialogue and understanding rather than politicization.

💡Tobacco Farming

Tobacco Farming is highlighted in the script as an example of an industry that, while economically beneficial for some, has negative environmental and health impacts. The narrative discusses the struggle of Kenyan farmers who grow tobacco, facing health risks and economic exploitation, illustrating the complex relationship between economic activities and environmental stewardship.

💡Deforestation

Deforestation is the process of clearing forests, which is mentioned in the script as a consequence of tobacco curing. It is a critical environmental issue that contributes to climate change and loss of biodiversity, underscoring the need for sustainable agricultural practices.

💡Child Labour

The script touches on 'Child Labour' as a social issue associated with tobacco farming, where children are involved in labor-intensive work, leading to high rates of school dropouts. This highlights the human cost of certain agricultural practices and the church's concern for the welfare of vulnerable populations.

💡Climate Justice

Climate Justice is the concept of fair treatment and sustainability in addressing climate change, ensuring that the burdens and benefits of climate actions are distributed equitably. The script connects this concept to biblical teachings and the church's advocacy for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment.

💡Food Justice

Food Justice refers to the equitable access to healthy and affordable food for all. The script discusses the disparities in food availability and affordability, emphasizing the church's support for policies and practices that ensure food security and the fair treatment of farm workers.

💡Sustainable World

A 'Sustainable World' is a key concept in the script, representing the goal of ecological balance and long-term environmental health. It is tied to the church's call for changes in lifestyles and practices to support ecological equity, reflecting the theme of responsible stewardship and care for God's creation.

💡Ecological Equitable

Ecological Equitableness is the idea of fairness in the use and distribution of natural resources and environmental benefits. The script uses this term to describe the desired state of the world where ecological practices are just and sustainable, aligning with the principles of environmental stewardship.

💡Faith in Action

Faith in Action is the embodiment of religious beliefs through practical deeds in society. The script encourages United Methodists to live out their faith by engaging in dialogue, study, and practices that reflect the church's social principles, particularly in relation to the care of the natural world.

Highlights

The United Methodist Church's social principles guide members on engaging with contemporary social issues through a theological lens.

The church's social principles aim to foster prayerful dialogue on faith and practice, rather than politicizing controversial topics.

Faith communities are often the first to respond to societal suffering, advocating for those affected by contemporary issues.

The natural world's resources are essential for human survival, and it's humanity's responsibility to protect and conserve them.

The Republic of Kenya's diverse geography includes coastlines, savannas, forests, mountains, and deserts, affecting its agricultural practices.

Tobacco farming in Kenya contributes to deforestation, soil erosion, and health issues among farmers due to exposure to tobacco smoke.

Tobacco farmers in Kenya face economic exploitation, with low earnings not matching the resources invested.

Alternative crops like chili can provide a more sustainable and profitable option for farmers compared to tobacco.

Transitioning from tobacco to chili farming has led to improved living standards and educational opportunities for some farmers.

The church encourages partnerships to support farmers with incentives like fertilizers and tools to promote sustainable agriculture.

The social principles emphasize the importance of caring for creation as a biblical responsibility, not just for its usefulness to humans.

The church calls for a balance between economic expansion and environmental stewardship to ensure a sustainable future.

Climate justice is rooted in biblical teachings, urging action against humanity's disregard for God's creation.

The church supports mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and encourages individuals and communities to reduce their carbon footprint.

Food justice, based on biblical principles, calls for sharing resources with the poor and needy, ensuring access to basic necessities.

The social principles advocate for policies that increase access to quality food, especially for those with fewer resources.

The church challenges its members to live out their faith in the public sphere, engaging in prayerful study and dialogue on social issues.

The examination of the natural world is intended to inspire a deeper understanding of faith in action and its implications for society.

Transcripts

welcome to the first in our five-part

series living our principles this week

study is on the natural world the social

principles of the United Methodist

Church are part of the longstanding

tradition of our denomination the social

principles speak to human issues in the

contemporary world in other words how do

we as the people called Methodists

utilize the teachings of our faith to

engage with the world around us the

social principles cover a broad range of

contemporary social topics some of them

quite honestly can be controversial in

the politically charged and polarized

society in which we live it is not our

intent to politicize any of these topics

but rather to look at them with a strong

biblical and Theological foundation the

social principles of the United

Methodist Church are a call to all

members of the United Methodist Church

to a prayerful studied dialogue of faith

and practice we hope you enjoy this

examination of the natural world

throughout the world people of faith are

the first responders to the suffering of

their neighbors faithfully advocating

alongside people who bear the ills of

our times it begins at the grassroots

level in the village city or the small

town a community rises to unite faith

with deed and the world changes and we

bear witness to a force of light that

renews our hope

[Music]

water air soil minerals energy resources

plants and animal life the natural world

is all around us as humans we rely on

nature and in turn it is up to us to

protect and conserve its resources and

we should care for it not only because

it is useful to us but because nature

supports the whole of creation from the

Congo to Appalachia from Mindanao

Philippines to Nairobi Kenya stewards of

the earth are challenging Authority what

they've done to the mountains they make

me want to cry and they which issue

colonists live there like we were

criminals these stewards of the earth

are actively seeking solutions for a

more ecologically equitable and

sustainable world these are the stories

of stewards of the earth

[Music]

[Music]

the Republic of Kenya in East Africa is

rich with geographic diversity it has a

long coastline along the Indian Ocean

but inland the landscape changes to

savanna grasslands and bushes forests

and mountains cover the West while

desert blankets the north a vast

majority of Kenyans as with most parts

of Africa depend on the agricultural

sectors to provide food shelter and

education for their families tobacco

growing was introduced into Kenya more

than thirty-five years ago today an

estimated 20,000 small-scale farmers

grow the plant over 37,000 acres of land

the Kenyan government as with most other

developing countries depend on the large

income tax generated by tobacco

companies in our country we have the law

with is no smoking kennedy muita a

pastor in the United Methodist Church

lives in a village in southern Kenya and

many of his parishioners are farmers

smoking is illegal by the same time the

same government supports the companies

which are growing the tobacco so it

ability becomes difficult to officially

ban the growing of tobacco is no law

which governs the growing of tobacco for

example the normal trees reverse and all

our he was an hour drive is a problem

health problem for our people the

process of curing or drying tobacco

leads to deforestation and soil erosion

curing barns are designed in such a way

the farmers are exposed to tobacco smoke

triggering tobacco-related diseases in

1997 we too studied agriculture and

began to work for British American

Tobacco one of the world's largest

tobacco companies and the only place

where he could practice agriculture then

I was employed there for one and a half

years after working the economy the

economic part of it I realized it was an

exploitation to our people according to

the social needs Network an

environmental and socio-economic

development NGO in Kenya earnings from

tobacco are not commensurate with the

effort and resources invested by farmers

tobacco farmers are unable to feed

educate or clothe their children

adequately for example at that time we

were buying tobacco from farmers at 50

shillings connections and the same

company will be served at one o'clock

I'm at 480 shillings in Belgium when new

cost estimates all the loans and all the

labor and everything the family meant

with only 8 students from piquillo the

eight shillings cannot pay the school

fee cannot buy food cannot do anything

to the farmer tobacco farming is highly

labor-intensive it can involve an entire

family in tobacco growing areas there

was a high rate of child labour and

school dropouts tobacco farming also

leaves little room for the family to

grow other food crops the effect can be

perpetual famine and malnutrition

especially amongst children he said then

on that time I was appointed a pasta in

charge of Mohito chance not the area

where now the tobacco at the head of the

tobacco center then I thought what to do

to our people because if actually I tell

my people to stop growing tobacco they

would ask me definitely what we do when

we get the livelihood where would we get

the sugar from and all those things then

I had a second thought of what to do I

tried to consult with various firms then

I consulted with the Miss food company

in Eldoret

they deal with Chile the Chile growing

so did the so-called and chilli sauce

we had a workshop in my village then we

called the farmers around they came we

discussed with them we discussed the

piloting program or now we can start the

growing of chili but didn't pick up well

only twenty five months respond it was -

because it was a new attack a new

invention new technology they knew chile

as a crop only meant for birds and it's

the poultry when they say and they have

never seen chile being sold anywhere the

25 mass vue de chile after one year the

company came and were the chili the

number kept on increasing now to the

fourth year we have about 400 farmers

who have adopted the technology of chile

we found out the farmer will be getting

about 68 slings by the end of the day as

a prophet from the shilling the other

forty two shillings will cut off' or

other the the other services in the farm

I have six farmers who are ready during

the last season they were able to sell

over 100,000 connections and at least

have built good houses they have bought

some oxen for ploughing and I have only

four students who's free have just been

paid all through by the Chile which is

not actually the case in tobacco because

with the tobacco you can't pay in in

school fee I know the farmers of many

challenges they lack incentive they like

fertilizer they like inputs we are

trying to get it to lobby various

organization to be in partnership with

who can come actually and invest in in

those areas so that at least we can have

the people growing the Chile

well I'm seeking partnerships to help

the farmer who can come and aid alone or

give the pharmacy a motivation some

input the quarterback has left us weed

is poverty but we had cows we no longer

have cows we have sold cows to buy food

they spent the time in the farm to grow

in tobacco we had doors we had a timber

we had wood but they are no longer there

so we are looking for partners who can

come and at least help us wake up

Familia

to a better standard

who can maybe support the FAMAS with

some incentive like the fertilizer tools

with the use of tobacco tobacco

companies give a lot of chemicals and

the cause of the poor use of chemicals

many pests at the camp assistant

partners who can also partner with us

actually to conduct workshops and

seminars to teach farmers to change from

one from this tobacco to other

productive crops which are not harmful

to our environment and if I wrote this

like the company we are partnered with

there's no conduct or actual to the

farmers they just they just came to help

us just to buy the chili from the

farmers we are not able to conduct

workshops because actually they're

expensive to know moving up and up and

down moving around moving a lot around

like it and that's why actually the

number has not been so much but you do

do a viewer would have them another

option and how we can reach min I think

you'd be better so that's why you're

good but nothing one doesn't have to

look to another continent to see the

conflict between advancing technology

and care for creation we merely have to

step outside or turn on our televisions

radios or computers to see a struggle

between advancement in whatever way you

want to define that and our duty as

Christians to care for creation in

virtually every city in town discussions

are being held on issues such as tree

ordinances public transportation

industrial regulations and flood control

we live in a society where we must

constantly balance our desire for

economic expansion and care for creation

we live in a society where we can no

longer assume that future generations

will experience the earth the same way

previous generations have the opening

section of the social principles on the

natural world reads all creation is the

Lord's and we are responsible for the

ways in which we use and abuse it water

air soil minerals energy resources

plants animal life and space are to be

valued and conserved because they are

God's creation and not solely because

they are useful to human beings

God has granted us stewardship of

creation we should meet these

stewardship duties through acts of

loving care and respect economic

political social and technological

developments have increased our human

numbers and lengthened and enriched our

lives

however these developments have led to

regional defoliation dramatic extinction

of species massive human suffering

overpopulation and misuse and

overconsumption of natural and

non-renewable resources particularly by

industrialized societies

this continued course of action

jeopardizes the natural heritage that

God has entrusted to all generations

therefore let us recognize the

responsibility of the church and its

members to place a high priority on

changes in economic political social and

technological lifestyles to support a

more ecologically equitable and

sustainable world leading to a higher

quality of life for all of God's

creation this section of the social

principles covers eight distinct areas

water air soil minerals and plants

energy resource utilization animal life

global climate stewardship space Science

and Technology food safety and food

justice we encourage you to read the

entire section but today we will

summarize just a few of the key points

one area of consideration in examining

the natural world overall is climate

justice while this topic has received a

great deal of political attention in

recent years climate justice and our

responsibility to the environment are

firmly rooted in the Bible and the

traditions of the United Methodist

Church in Genesis God looks at all of

creation and declares it to be very good

Isaiah prophesies the earth dries up and

Withers

the world languages and withers the

heavens language together with the earth

the earth lies polluted under its

inhabitants for they have transgressed

laws violated the statutes

broken the everlasting covenant in the

biblical creation story God gives

humankind dominion over all creation

humans were created by God to care for

to be stewards of God's creation

Isaiah warns his readers that failure to

accept that responsibility of

stewardship results in a wounded earth

and a wounded earth is mourned by the

heavens when humans wound God's creation

God feels the wound our United Methodist

tradition of firms that all creation is

the Lord's and we are responsible for

the ways in which we use and abuse it

all of creation is to be valued simply

because it is God's not because it has

some value or use to humans we are the

stewards of and are called to care for

God's creation again many of these

issues can easily become political

discussions rather than theological

discussions that's just the nature of

the world in which we live but the

social principles are specifically

described as speaking to human issues in

our contemporary world we live in a

contemporary world where issues

surrounding the care of creation have

become a political conversation it is

our duty as the people called Methodists

to utilize scripture tradition reason

and experience to engage in a prayerful

study dialogue of faith and practice to

that end paragraph 160 point D speaks to

global climate stewardship we

acknowledge the global impact of

humanity's disregard for God's creation

the adverse impacts of global climate

change disproportionately affect

individuals and nations least

responsible for the emissions we

therefore support efforts of all

governments to require mandatory

reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

and call on individuals congregations

businesses industries and communities to

reduce their emissions the Bible also

informs our understanding of food

justice in Ezekiel we read

behold this was the guilt of your sister

Sodom she and her daughters had pride

excess of food and prosperous ease but

did not aid the poor and needy likewise

the Book of Leviticus states and when

you reap the harvest of your land you

shall not reap your field right up to

its edge nor shall you gather the

gleanings after your harvest you shall

leave them for the poor and for the

Sojourner I am the Lord your God we will

always live in a world where some people

have more than others but we should also

be living in a world where those who

have more than they need share the

bounty with those who suffer there is a

strong biblical foundation for taking

care of the poor and the needy in fact

Jesus speaks to it directly during the

Sermon on the Mount Lord when was it

that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a

stranger or naked or sick or in prison

and did not take care of you then he

will answer them truly I tell you just

as you did not do it to one of the least

of these you did not do it to me when we

withhold dignity and the basic

necessities of life from someone else

we are withholding from Jesus just as

you did not do it to one of the least of

these you did not do it to me

I am fortunate that I have access to all

the food I could ever want or need

within three miles of my house there are

five major chain grocery stores where I

can buy any food I want from anywhere

around the world there are dozens of

corner markets where I can pick up a

quick snack I can have my pick of not

one but two different farmers markets

and two different pick your own produce

establishments but if I Drive just a few

miles down the road I suddenly find

myself in a food desert there are

communities all around us where there is

no grocery store there are communities

within the bounds of our conference

where the only available grocery store

charges such exorbitant prices that some

in the town can't afford to buy their

food there and there is no public

transportation to take people to an

adequate and affordable food supply

this is denying people of access to a

basic necessity of human life for these

reasons the social principles clearly

state we support policies that increase

access to quality food particularly for

those with the fewest resources we

affirm local sustainable and small-scale

agriculture opportunities that allow

communities to feed themselves we decry

policies that make food inaccessible to

the communities where it has grown and

the farm workers involved in its growth

further we call upon our churches to do

all in their power to speak

prophetically to the matters of food

supply and to the people who grow the

food for the world and to develop

ministries that build food security and

local communities these are just a few

examples of the way in which United

Methodists have publicly declared that

they will put their faith into action if

you want more information on any of

these topics involving the natural world

I hope you will find time to look deeper

into paragraph 160 of the social

principles

John Wesley is quoted as saying

Christianity is essentially a social

religion to turn it into a solitary

religion is indeed to destroy it in

other words we are called to live our

faith in the public sphere we are called

to heed the teachings of the Bible and

the traditions of our faith and to live

boldly in society we hope this short

examination of the natural world has

sparked within you a desire to engage in

a prayerful study dialog of faith and

practice and we hope you will use these

videos with others to take a closer look

at what it means to live as persons of

faith in this world please join us next

week as the Reverend amygdala Rosales

leads us through a discussion of the

nurturing community thank you for

joining us

you