{"id":10182,"date":"2023-04-04T10:01:30","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T14:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ecopreacher\/?p=10182"},"modified":"2023-11-08T18:21:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T22:21:49","slug":"ecological-stations-of-the-cross-3-environmental-racism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ecopreacher\/2023\/04\/ecological-stations-of-the-cross-3-environmental-racism\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecological Stations of the Cross: #3 \u2013 Environmental racism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In this third installment of the Ecological Stations of the Cross, Simon of Cyrene carries Jesus\u2019s cross. Today, communities of color bear of the brunt of environmental racism and eco-crucifixion.<\/p>\n

\"Climate
Climate justice protest. Justicia Climatica. Photo by freepik: https:\/\/www.freepik.com\/free-photo\/people-protesting-with-placards-medium-shot_14370989.htm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[This resource is part of the <\/em>EcoPreacher 1-2-3 series<\/em><\/a> that helps preachers and congregations address environmental issues in their sermons and ministry.\u00a0 The Ecological Stations of the Cross is made possible through support from the Interfaith Center of Sustainable Development<\/a> with editing assistance from Rabbi Yonatan Neril.\u00a0 You can access all the reflections as a full booklet <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n

What do I mean by \u201ceco-crucifixion\u201d?<\/h2>\n

I coined this word in my book, Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit<\/em><\/a> (Chalice Press, 2015) to describe the torture, suffering, and death of the natural world and human communities due to environmental violence.<\/p>\n

I draw support for this idea of eco-crucifixion from the work of ecotheologian Mark Wallace. In his book, Finding God in the Singing River: Christianity, Spirit, Nature<\/em><\/a> (Philadelphia: Fortress, 2005), Wallace makes the case that the \u201ccruciform Spirit\u201d embodied in and through Earth suffers just as Jesus did on the cross, this time under the continual siege of \u201cecological sin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wallace warns of a \u201cpermanent trauma to the divine life itself\u201d through the crucifixion-like ecocide that humans continually inflict upon Earth and its inhabitants (129). He equates God\u2019s suffering through Jesus on the cross with God\u2019s suffering through the embodied Spirit in Earth.\u00a0 Understanding this will spur \u201ca conversion of the heart to a vision of a green earth, where all persons live in harmony with their natural environments . . . [and] work toward a seamless social-environmental ethic of justice and love toward all of God\u2019s creatures\u201d (136).<\/p>\n

Scripture: Matthew 27:32<\/h2>\n

As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.<\/em><\/p>\n

Reflection<\/h2>\n

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of the Romans compelling a man from the northern African city of Cyrene to carry Jesus\u2019s cross for him on the way to Golgotha. It is likely that Simon of Cyrene had no choice in the matter.\u00a0 The Roman forces conscripted him to shoulder the burden of a condemned man.<\/p>\n

Environmental racism<\/a> is the systemic oppression of people of color through policies and practices that put the burden of waste and pollution in close proximity to communities of color. Polluting industries have a history of siting things like plastics plants, fossil-fuel refineries, trash incinerators, and methane gas pipelines in places where people of color live. This exposes them to numerous harmful pollutants that afflict them with health problems and decreased lifespans.\u00a0 White and higher-wealth communities do not face these same problems.\u00a0 Our racist systems have conscripted black, brown, Indigenous, and impoverished neighborhoods to shoulder the burden of our fossil-fueled society.<\/p>\n

Prayer for justice<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jesus our brother, bless <\/em>those who are organizing to fight<\/em><\/a> toxic industries and waste that is hurting and killing people of color.\u00a0 Empower activists with education, tools, courage, and funding to protect vulnerable communities and dismantle environmental racism.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus in your mercy, hear our prayer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read also:<\/h4>\n

Ecological Stations of the Cross: #1 \u2013 Condemned to death<\/a><\/p>\n

Ecological Stations of the Cross: #2 \u2013 The Cross and Deforestation<\/a><\/p>\n

Race, Faith, and the Climate Movement: Interview with Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cGreen\u201d Black History Month: Spotlight on Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\"Leah<\/p>\n

The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade<\/strong>\u00a0is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at\u00a0<\/em>Lexington Theological Seminary<\/i><\/a>\u00a0in Kentucky and ordained in the ELCA. Dr. Schade does not speak for LTS or the ELCA; her opinions are her own.\u00a0 She is the author of\u00a0<\/em>Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019)<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit<\/a>\u00a0(Chalice Press, 2015). She is the co-editor of\u00a0<\/em>Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Her newest book is\u00a0<\/em>Introduction to Preaching: Scripture, Theology, and Sermon Preparation<\/a>, co-authored with Jerry L. Sumney and Emily Askew (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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