Eco-Church_mc

The global Church cares for creation

Christians around the world are embracing the call to care for God’s world, and creation care programmes are taking root in their churches. While A Rocha UK’s iconic Eco Church network turns ten this year, new programmes are emerging throughout the A Rocha Worldwide Family, each with a unique flavour based on the country, cultureand needs of the local church.  

At the end of 2025, A Rocha Lebanon partnered with the Middle East Council of Churches to launch Eco Church Middle East, a programme that spans from Morocco to Iran. Eco Church will reach more than 20 Christian traditions in the region – including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant groups – with materials available in at least five languages.  

Similar in scope, the new Eco Church Australia covers a vast area of the country, which includes a wide range of climates and ecosystems from desert to tropical rainforest. This means that the most sustainable approaches and priorities will differ between churches, but planting indigenous plant species for native bees, birds and other wildlife will be a priority everywhere.  

Eco Church / ‘Eco Igrejas’ has also sprouted in Portugal, leading to an unprecedented cooperation between the Roman Catholic majority, Evangelical and Historic Protestant churches. Representatives from these groups are all coming together on the Eco Church team. The project also makes a deliberate and unique effort to use language that is shared and accessible across these different Christian traditions. 

In the United States, Christians are not necessarily known for caring for creation. A Rocha USA is challenging this through Churches of Restoration. Rev. Sarah Robinson, pastor at Audubon Park Covenant, explains her approach: ‘Beyond just simply loving what God loves, we were created out of the earth and dependent on it.’ See how church members are responding in the video below.

‘Eco Eglise’ invites Christians in Switzerland to evaluate the ‘frenetic pace’ of modern lifestyles and embrace the long, slow work of creation care. Through gardens, seasonal celebrations, reducing waste and sourcing food locally, among many other actions, Swiss Eco Churches present an alternative and intentional way of living with God’s creation.  

In New Zealand, the Eco Church Network is called ‘whānau’, a Māori word for an extended family group. It’s an invitation for churches and creation to journey together as kin. This ecumenical, nationwide movement seeks to care for God’s earth, with a special emphasis on art and storytelling alongside practical action. Similarly, A Rocha Ghana’s Eco Church programme emphasizes ‘being a friend to the environment’, equipping churches to demonstrate their care for God’s creation within their worship, their church compound and the community around them. 

Since A Rocha UK and their partners launched Eco Church in 2016, over 9,000 churches have joined – around 23% of churches across England and Wales! Over 4,500 churches have achieved Eco Church awards, with initiatives like buzzing biodiversity gardens, outdoor services in nature, sharing low-mile food items, and making historic buildings climate-smart.  

Micah-Global_mc

Micah Global conference

At the end of September last year, over 230 people gathered in Cape Town for the Micah Consultation. Each day began with vibrant ululations of worship in Zulu and Xhosa – an amazing expression of faith that set the tone for the days ahead. It was a privilege to witness how faith brings together people from diverse cultures and organizations: those providing relief, running toward crisis, caring for vulnerable communities, and protecting creation. The four days were deeply rooted in shared knowledge, reflection, and prayer for every person present. 

For the first time, the Micah Consultation included a Creation Care track, led by A Rocha’s Dave Bookless and Kuki Rokhum, alongside Laura Yoder from Wheaton College. 

With the magnificent Table Mountain as our backdrop, the creation care team set out to experience God’s beauty firsthand, sitting on the rocks at Kalk Bay as waves crashed against the shore, and enjoying a surprise visit from a friendly seal at the harbour. We also heard powerful local stories of resilience, including efforts to protect green spaces such as Princess Vlei Park, where communities stood firm against plans to convert the land into shopping malls or residential developments. 

Throughout the consultation, conversations revealed the deep pain many carry from the work they do. Dave offered a reflective presentation on lament that brought a fresh and transformative perspective to many.  

‘Tears are the seeds on which hope can grow,’ he said. It was a powerful reminder of what can emerge from brokenness, drawing us back to hope and faith. 

The women of Micah also spent a full day at Intaka Island, engaging with one another. They spoke honestly about the gender-specific challenges they face and explored ways to navigate and mitigate them. Women in leadership encouraged those just beginning their journeys not to give up, even when the path feels lonely. 

Renowned Filipina writer Melba Maggay left us inspired with these words: ‘Do not think of your empty spaces as a place of deprivation, but as a place of consecration.’ 

ICUN-Panel_mc

IUCN World Conservation Congress: panel discussion

In October 2025 the IUCN World Conservation Congress brought together governments, NGOs, Indigenous people groups and volunteer scientists who are working urgently to protect nature and conserve life on Earth.  The Congress is responsible for shaping the global conservation agenda and as the only global Christian Conservation organization, we brought a distinctive perspective. 

We held an event last November to hear reflections and observations from A Rocha delegates Avinash Krishnan, Judith Ochieng and Ed Walker about the purpose and impact of the congress, which you can watch below.