becreaturekind – Creature Kind

An Advent Reflection: Instruments of Peace for All Creatures

December 1, 2019

by Tim Mascara On December 4, 1959, Soviet artist Evgeny Vuchetich presented a bronze statue to the United Nations, titled Let Us Beat Our Swords into Plowshares. The sculpture is an image of a man beating a sword into a plowshare, meant to symbolize humankind’s desire to end war—the desire to take the

A space for love and hope: The year ahead for CreatureKind

January 9, 2017

What I need in times like this are spaces for love and hope: areas of activity where I know that devoting my time, energy, and resources will make a positive difference to others, whether they are nearby or far away.

Awaiting the Miracles of Christ: A Reflection for Animal Advocates During Advent

December 21, 2016

Many of us who lament the suffering of God’s creatures are also constantly awaiting a miracle. But we are all too aware that it likely won’t happen overnight. So what to do in the midst of uncertainty?

Unexpected Gifts

December 10, 2016

And it all started with a choice. A choice to listen and to suspend judgement. A choice to follow the line of questioning, wherever that would lead me. A choice to abandon my blissful ignorance in pursuit of a more authentic and gospel-rooted life.

Planting Seeds

December 6, 2016

No one even seems to notice that we eat less meat because it’s become a healthy habit, for our bodies and our spirits.

A Prayer for Hard Days

December 5, 2016

On hard days, in hard seasons, I turn and return to this prayer. I turn to it especially when I start to get wrapped up in the anxiety that comes with being called to do a big thing.

Turkey Talk: Christians and the Thanksgiving Meal

November 11, 2016

Like most people, I thought that animals killed for food needed to be healthy and well-cared-for. I thought that meat came from farmers who had a few animals, cared well for them, and knew them by name.

Favorite Recipes for a Vegan Thanksgiving

November 10, 2016

Here’s what’ll be on our table this year. Try one, a few, or all! And be sure to leave us your favorite vegan recipe in the comments.

Highlights from Our First Ten Months

November 3, 2016

We’re excited to share with you the progress we’ve made over the last ten months!

Incarnating a CreatureKind Church at Duke Divinity’s Summer Reconciliation Institute

November 3, 2016

We at CreatureKind are thrilled to partner with our friends at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Faith Outreach Program to present “Incarnating a CreatureKind Church” at this year’s Summer Institute for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School.

A Big Step for CreatureKind (and animals at Winchester)

November 3, 2016

We have recruited the University of Winchester as the first CreatureKind institution. That means that the University is committed to an annual cycle of setting targets to reduce its consumption of animal products and moving to sourcing them from higher welfare sources, and to engage the University community in the changes it is making.

CreatureKind Partners with University of Winchester in Groundbreaking New Program

November 3, 2016

How do you stop factory farming? Reduce the demand. Today, the University of Winchester became the first institution internationally to sign the CreatureKind Commitment, meaning that they have pledged to: 1) reduce their purchase of animal products; 2) source meat, dairy, and eggs from higher welfare farms for its catering operations on campus; and 3) educate the campus community about why they decided to make these important changes.

The Good News for All Creation, A St. Francis Day Sermon

October 19, 2016

A relationship between the non-human animals and the divine can be found throughout the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, and Jesus is often with the animals — from his birth among the creatures of the barn to his time with the wild beasts in the desert.

Friendship

October 6, 2016

I was honored to take part in two events recently that gave me such hope for the future of the church’s response and relationship to animals.

The Doxology and Creation

August 18, 2016

My snide remarks or jokes about possible ethical issues had effectively deflected the potential blows of conviction to keep me safe in the comforts of my personal, gluttonous kingdom.

CreatureKind Corner: Can You Be CreatureKind and Eat Creatures?

August 11, 2016

Q: Can people be creaturekind if they are not vegan? Can people consume animals and animal products and still be creaturekind?

The Creatures of CreatureKind at Work

August 2, 2016

CreatureKind is a unique venture—working to raise awareness of farmed animal protection from within the church.

A Plea to Stay Rooted

July 20, 2016

I was talking with a friend once who attended a church that didn’t ordain women for the ministry. Knowing that my friend was socially progressive, I asked him if it bothered him. He looked at me incredulously and said, “Bother me?! Of course it bothers me! I hate it! But I can’t change anything if I’m not there.”

CreatureKind Corner: Compelling Verses in Scripture

July 5, 2016

Q: What is hands down the most compelling and powerful verse in the Bible that promises God’s love towards all his creatures? How do you suggest I apply that in my conversations to those who A. might not believe in God but love animals and/or B. might not love animals but believe in God?

VIDEO: What Does CreatureKind Do?

June 29, 2016

Want to join us? Sign the CreatureKind Commitment today!

Green thumbs and Black youth: The social complexity of urban gardening

June 20, 2016

“Garden club? I’m not trying to join the garden club! What are you trying to do, make me a slave or something?” How do you respond to a question like this?

CreatureKind Corner: Why do Animals Suffer? One Response and Three Recipes

June 11, 2016

Why do animals suffer? It’s a big question—an ancient, continuing, and persisting question. We have no divine FAQ page about God’s intentions. We have no single, simple, satisfying answer. As humans, we are bound to the limits of our creaturely capacities to interpret scripture, but we can do so in conversation with the church’s rich heritage of teachers, preachers, ministers, and heroes of the faith.

Picnic Basket Rice Salad

June 11, 2016

By Margaret B. Adam Three parts: 1) Rice 2) Vegetables and Beans 3) Dressing and Seasoning 1) Put rice and water on to cook (enough for 4-6 servings, give or take) 2) Gather and prepare some of the following: ½ onion, diced small 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed 1-2

Recipe for a Psalm of Lament

June 11, 2016

Pray all parts together, feeling the tension between the parts and offering all of your feelings to God.

How Do We Name Our Fellow Creatures?

June 5, 2016

The movement of the heart is the Spirit’s transformative action within a believer which brings to birth a new person in Christ …

CreatureKind Corner: What Does Jesus Say?

May 27, 2016

Introducing the CreatureKind Corner, a series where we’ll answer questions submitted by readers about Christian theology and animal protection.

Why Give to CreatureKind?

May 24, 2016

We think we’re doing something special at CreatureKind. We are advocates for animals from within the church! Our founder is David Clough, Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of Chester. Our co-director, Sarah Withrow King, is the Deputy Director of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Eastern University. Our volunteers are deeply faithful Christians who have dedicated their lives to service.

A Spirit-filled Church for All Creation

May 17, 2016

This Pentecost, let’s open ourselves to the disruption of the Spirit that expands our Gospel mission. Let’s take even more seriously what it might mean to proclaim the gospel to all creation. Where might that lead us?

Are Farmers to Blame for Factory Farming?

May 3, 2016

The problem with these systems is not malicious farmers, but production and retail systems that produce animal products for sale at a price that is wholly incompatible with a good life for the animals unfortunate enough to be caught up in them.

Learning Hub

Filter & Sort

Author: becreaturekind

VIEW

Who We Are

Resources

Programs

Connect