Planting trees as an act of faith

Phyllis Cox has long been a lover of trees, understanding their importance to the health of the planet and to people. An environmental science major in college and later an ELCA deacon, connecting faith with her love of nature comes naturally. When Cox learned about the Center for Climate Justice and Faith (CCJF) certificate, offered by Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., she knew it was perfect for her.

The certificate program began in 2020 with support from ELCA World Hunger. Since its launch, 200 students from 35 countries and 26 states have earned their certificates. The program, which now offers certificates in Spanish and English, equips students—both rostered ministers and lay leaders—to take action to address climate change in their communities. Participants hail from across the United States and around the world. Cox’s cohort included students from North America, Africa and Australia. The diversity of perspectives encourages conversations on differences, connections and collaboration.

The global aspect of the program was one of the biggest draws for Cox. She said she liked “learning what people in other parts of the world see as their big problems [related to climate change] and learning that we all can express our own problems that we are having and work on them together.” Cox heard from her classmates what they were doing in their communities, like implementing climate-resilient agricultural techniques to ensure their crops don’t fail amid a changing climate.

ELCA World Hunger also helped develop the program’s curriculum. Students attend courses focused on the intersection of faith and climate justice, participate in group discussions with an international cohort via Zoom and develop individual Sacred Action projects. For these projects, participants examine how climate change affects their communities and how they can address those challenges. Projects range from planting community gardens to improving bike infrastructure to advocating for a just climate policy.

For their Sacred Action projects, participants examine how climate change affects their communities and how they can address those challenges.

As a self-proclaimed tree hugger, planting trees to combat climate change was an obvious choice for Cox’s Sacred Action project.

“It’s because of trees that we have oxygen to breathe and that’s really important,” she said. “I think trees have always held this real bond with me, and I wish more people would understand how fundamental to everything that happens in life.”

Cox offered to plant native species of trees, such as dogwood and serviceberry, at Lutheran churches throughout the Virginia Synod, her home synod. But she knew she had to do more than show up on a Sunday morning and plant a tree: “It would be more important to get people thinking about the importance of trees.” Cox developed a litany about care for God’s creation and led it during every tree-planting.

Cox has already planted five trees and is in discussion with almost a dozen more congregations. She works with congregations to pick out a tree that’s right for their needs. One church specifically wanted a serviceberry tree because they’re one of the first to bloom in Virginia. Another didn’t have room for a large tree but happily welcomed a shrub on their property.

“[The program] definitely has deepened my faith and given me a much broader worldview of the issues that not only impact the United States, but impact other areas in the world so much more than they do in the United States,” Cox said.

 

To learn more about the ELCA and care for creation, read its social message “Earth’s Climate Crisis” and the social statement “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice.”

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