54 COLUMN | CREATION CARE
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DAVE BOOKLESS
Disability and creation
What on earth have environmental issues got to do with disability ? Actually , more than you might think ! In this article , I want to explore practical ways churches can improve access to nature and environmental campaigning , and theological issues raised by the intersection of disability theology and eco-theology . I write as a privileged ‘ able-bodied ’ white male , yet with immediate family experience of living with both physical and mental health challenges and of pastoring a church with a high percentage of disabled adults .
There is increasing public attention to ‘ intersectionality ’: how different areas of social concern ( race , gender , environment , disability ) relate to each other . As Christians , we should welcome this both because we believe in a God of justice who welcomes all the marginalised , and also because Jesus modelled a way of seeing and including people in their entirety rather than identifying them by society ’ s labels .
In late 2021 , a major academic survey on Disability and Climate Justice recognised that , ‘ For many people with disabilities , systemic exclusion across all sectors of society has led to a focus on immediate priorities , rather than those which are seen as deferrable .’ 1 In other words , when daily life is a struggle against prejudice and practicality , global issues such as climate change may appear too remote or huge to address . Often , it ’ s not a lack of interest or awareness , but the sheer effort of overcoming physical or sensory barriers .
An example or two may help . If a church , as part of its Eco Church commitment , creates a wildlife-friendly churchyard , with wildflower areas , bug hotels and interpretation boards , how accessible is it to wheelchair users and partially-sighted or blind people ? Do interpretation boards contain braille or audio cues ? Are paths cut so wheelchairs can access the beauty and peace of God ’ s creation ? Are disabled individuals included in the design and planning of such areas ?
Or , what about climate action ? As churches become more active , does publicity for events or campaigns give information on accessibility and in an accessible format ? Do calls to cut carbon and waste recognise that some may have no choice about car use , plastic straws or medical waste ?
When we researched getting an electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle , we found they simply aren ’ t yet available for private customers .
Theologically , disability and creation intersect as soon as we explore what it means to be human . God designed us as physically embodied persons , each dependent in multiple ways on the wider environment . We are not souls trapped in a physical prison but material beings whose physical and mental health are intertwined with environmental flourishing . Richard Louv and others have explored how Nature Deficit Disorder , 2 lack of access to creation , links to many behavioural and mental health issues . If our first human task was to ‘ tend the garden ’, imaging God through caring for our fellow creatures [ Genesis 1:28 , 2:15 ], then it becomes kingdom work to ensure access to green spaces and opportunities to care for creation .