theology – Creature Kind

Calling all Flesh on Earth

December 17, 2021

This homily was written and delivered by Aline Silva for the CreatureKind Advent Service in December 2021. Hello everybody, it’s good to be with you today. My name is Aline. I am a QBIPOC who is a lightskin femme. I am wearing my short, wavy, black hair down, purple lipstick, and

On the Need for Eco-Salvation

May 12, 2021

By CreatureKind Fellow, Shea Watts The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,the world, and those who live in it; – Psalm 24:1 … you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. – Psalm 36:6 In the last days it will be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit

Not “Either/Or,” but “And”

April 9, 2021

by CreatureKind Fellow, Estela Torres I was raised in a conservative Catholic environment in Monterrey, Mexico. I felt a deep love for animals from a very young age and was very sensitive to their suffering. Perhaps it was my mother’s stories about her childhood dog, Bobby, that made an impression on

Seeking Hope in the Garden of Gethsemane

April 2, 2021

by Alyssa Moore John 18:1-3. Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers

Homily for a CreatureKind Advent Service

December 18, 2020

This homily was written and delivered by Ashley M. Lewis for the CreatureKind Advent Service in December 2020. Scriptures from the Fourth Week of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (NRSV) 7:1 Now when the king (David) was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his

Vegan – and Christian, Too

November 4, 2020

by Nathan Porter “You’re vegan? But I thought you were a Christian!” Comments like this one are familiar to followers of Jesus who have given up the use of animal products. I have been vegetarian for almost half a decade, and recently went vegan. Although I have received criticism from both

What Does Christianity Have to Do With Animals (Book Excerpt)

February 12, 2020

From Genesis to Revelation, and from the early church to the present day, there are vivid examples of God’s—and the church’s—love of, care for, and delight in animal creatures. By Sarah Withrow King From Genesis to Revelation, and from the early church to the present day, there are vivid examples of

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

Lecture Explores Theological Relationship Between Human and Non-Human Animals

March 13, 2019

Calvin College recently hosted its 11th Animals and the Kingdom of God lecture series. The ongoing event includes lectures, panel discussions, and a potluck dinner shared by both speakers and attendees. Christopher Carter, PhD, presented this year’s keynote: “Being Human Takes Practice: Toward a Liberative Theological Anthropology.” In his talk, Carter

Should Christians Be Vegan?

January 28, 2019

by David Clough Why might Christians consider going vegan? There are four reasons that overlap with the reasons anyone else might give: concern for the environment, concern for animals, concern for human welfare, and the desire to adopt a more healthy diet. In addition, Christians might be inspired by long religious

Instruments of Peace for All Creatures

December 3, 2018

by Tim Mascara Pixabay.com 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

Rev. Don Ng: “Vegetarianism by Faith”

November 5, 2018

Growing up in a Chinese-American home, there was always some kind of meat dish. Even if there wasn’t enough money to buy a prime cut of beef, there was always lop-cheung, sausages that came tied in bunches with the string used to dry them in the butcher shop. After a pot

Who is my Neighbour? A St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day Meditation

October 17, 2018

by Michael Gilmour Photo: Michael Gilmour The punchline of Luke’s Good Samaritan story comes at the beginning rather than the end, and it is not Jesus who delivers it but instead a nameless onlooker. He cites Torah: love God and love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; cf. Lev 19:18; Deut

Good Love

August 20, 2018

Sermon delivered by Michael Anthony Howard at Brookside Community Church, April 22, 2018. Reprinted here with permission. The Resurrection illustrates what good love looks like. When love is good, it has the power to transform us and offer new life to the world! The Raging Rambo Whether it was natural born

Undoing Domination, a Sermon

July 23, 2018

Sermon written and delivered by Michael Anthony Howard at Stanley Congregational Church, Chatham, NJ on July 15, 2018. Reprinted with permission. Listen to the sermon audio, download sermon notes, and access the sermon worksheet here. IMAGE CREDIT: Die gelbe Kuh (The Yellow Cow), by Franz Marc (1911) [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Franz_Marc-The_Yellow_Cow-1911.jpg] The Logic of

Finding Our Place in the World, a Sermon

May 9, 2018

Sermon delivered at Drew Theological School Chapel by David Clough, April 2018 “May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.” What emotions do you bring to worship this evening? Delight at glimpses of beauty and of love? Sadness at tragic loss? Anger at injustice? Resentment and

New Animal Welfare Standards for Organic Meat and Dairy Products Are Withdrawn. Now What?

April 5, 2018

by Lois Godfrey Wye On January 19, 2017, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule imposing new requirements on suppliers of organic meats and dairy products. The new rule set certain standards for animal care, to “create[] greater consistency in organic livestock and poultry practice standards” and “to

Objections to a Christian Food Ethic Treating the Consumption of Animals

March 6, 2018

The following is an excerpt of a paper (“Consuming Animal Creatures: The Christian Ethics of Eating Animals”) written and given by David Clough at the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics annual meeting and published in the journal Studies in Christian Ethics. Read the full article. by David Clough David

Ferdinand and the Practice of Nonviolence

January 18, 2018

by Elrena Evans I first learned about nonviolence from a bull. My childhood copy of Ferdinand was beautiful—the red cover, the flowers, even the lettering. I remember very clearly the way the light and dark shading of the font played together in perfect harmony in the title on the cover. What

Living with God’s Other Creatures

January 10, 2018

Adapted from a sermon delivered by David Clough at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon on January 7, 2018. Scripture Romans 8:18-24: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creations waits in eager expectation

Love This, a poem by Gretchen Primack

January 1, 2018

Dairy cows who have had their babies removed from them so that we can drink their milk, watch the new mother bond with her calf. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur | We Animals Love This If you permitthis evil, what is the goodof the good of your life?—Stanley Kunitz The body floods with

Guest Post: Is the Gospel “Good News” for Animals Too?

November 1, 2017

As both a Christian and a vegan, something that I think about often is the way in which my faith is compatible with my vegan values. I stopped eating meat at around the same time that I started seminary school, and at the time I did not consider the two things

The Reconciliation of Creation: Especially Cows

July 24, 2017

by Margaret B. Adam This article was originally delivered as a sermon at Hertford College Evensong. The readings: Isaiah 11:1-9 Psalm 148 Colossians 1:15-20 In today’s psalm, all of creation is exhorted to praise God. The psalmist calls all people to praise the Lord. He also calls on angels, stars, skies,

Vegetarian Hospitality: How One Latino Pastor Navigates Dinner

July 11, 2017

by Rev. Carlos L. Malave In My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Aunt Voula (upon learning Ian is a vegetarian) says, “What do you mean, you don’t eat no meat?” (the entire room stops, in shock) … “That’s okay; I make lamb.” Vegetarians, like me, are used to all kind of surprising responses

Incarnating a CreatureKind Church at the Summer Institute for Reconciliation

June 12, 2017

by Sarah Withrow King “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created…and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things…” Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of teaming up with

The Miraculous Catch: It’s Not About Fishing

June 5, 2017

There are some passages in the Bible that, I have to admit, I just wish weren’t there.

The Prophet is an Ass

January 24, 2017

Some find it odd to discover the Bible has anything to say about animal compassion. With all that talk about blood sacrifice, what could it possibly contribute to that conversation? Quite a lot, I suggest.

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.

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.

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.

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