"Evocations of Grace" gathers ten major writings by pioneering ecological theologian Joseph Sittler. Foundational to the field, these essays argue powerfully for the vital connection between Christian theology, ethics and the natural world. They provide the necessary perspective for thinking seriously about the earth and believers' responsibility to it.

Joseph A. Sittler (1904-1987) was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, distinguished for his pioneering work in ecology and for his preeminence as a preacher. He gave both the Beecher Lectures at Yale and the Noble Lectures at Harvard. As the "preacher's theologian," Sittler approached the interpretation of Scripture with a clear understanding of current critical scholarship, but also in the freedom of the gospel at the center of Scripture and with the humility of a theologian of the cross. In following the trajectory of the text into the preaching situation he gave a lively, timeless, and eloquent expression to the fact that the interpretation of texts is in the service of proclamation. This collection of readings from Sittler's rich legacy contains a great many presentations and sermons that have never before appeared in print. Theologically serious preaching, close attention to language, engagement with the best of sacred and secular culture, and a deep respect for the text, all characteristics of Sittler's work, are the sort of features that continue to edify. They remain as benchmarks for good preaching even as styles and contexts evolve.

Christian Fruit--Jewish Root is an in-depth, scholarly examination of the Hebraic foundations of the major tenets and practices of Christianity. This volume confirms the truth that the inherent Jewishness of the Christian faith is simply an undeniable historical and theological fact. By evaluating Christian doctrine and polity through the Jewish mindset of Jesus and the apostles, this book uncovers a veritable treasure of Hebraic truth. For every authentic Christian fruit, there is a Jewish toot! This truth id demonstrated across a wide spectrum of theological truth, including: Scripture, Messiah, Salvation, Faith, Baptism, Gospel, Grace, and Descipleship. Christianity owes a profound debt of gratitude to the Jewish people and to biblical and Second Temple Judaism for the foundations of the truths and practices that it hold dear. As you read this challenging, informative, and inspirational book, you will be amazed at just how Jewish Christianity, the "other Jewish religion," actually is.

Green Witness is a work in theological ethics, addressed primarily to theologians and seminarians, but also to clergy and church study groups. Yordy approaches the topic of Christian environmental work not from the perspective of a global crisis that must be solved, but from the perspective of God's promise of the Kingdom. She argues that Christians can and should work for the wholeness of the biophysical environment whether or not their efforts bear immediate visible fruit, because God always welcomes and makes good use of faithful discipleship. This is good news to religious environmentalists who have grown weary of struggling to "make a difference" amid ever-louder announcements of environmental destruction. The eschaton is clearly a realm of interspecies peace, abundance, and diversity, and part of the church's mission is to demonstrate these aspects of God's plan for the world, although only God can and will consummate the Kingdom.

Looks at how ecotheology has created a new vision of the natural world and the place of humans within it.

The biblical and Christian traditions have long been seen to have legitimated and encouraged humanity's aggressive domination of nature. Biblical visions of the future, with destruction for the earth and rescue for the elect, have also discouraged any concern for the earth's future or the welfare of future generations. But we now live in a time when environmental issues are at the centre of political and ethical debate. What is needed is a new reading of the biblical tradition that can meet the challenges of the ecological issues that face humanity at the beginning of the third millennium. 'The Bible and the Environment' examines a range of biblical texts - from Genesis to Revelation - evaluating competing interpretations. The Bible provides a thoroughly ambivalent legacy. Certainly, it cannot provide straightforward teaching on care for the environment but nor can it simply be seen as an anti-ecological book. Developing an 'ecological hermeneutic' as a way of mediating between contemporary concerns and the biblical text, 'The Bible and the Environment' presents a way of productively reading the Bible in the context of contemporary ecology.

Restoring the health of the land is indispensable not only because it is the ground of our sustenance and survival, but also land has in itself the inherent worth. This book challenges humanity's indulgence, and activities of development, science and technology, and insists for human responsibility and moral duties towards the land, the sustaining mother earth, which is abused, ransacked of its wealth, and ignored of its intrinsic value. The study attempts to bring together perspectives and values that are important for preserving the rights of the land, and proposes the contour of a land ethic.

"The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground . . ." (Gen 2:7). Made of dust, we humans are thoroughly physical beings. We are dusty earthlings. As such, we are also ecological beings, or rather eco-physical beings, firmly embedded in and dependent upon God's earthly ecosystems that support and provide for us and constitute our earthly home. Today we are living in ways that are damaging our home. As Christian dusty earthlings, we are called to oversee God's earthly creation and to follow Jesus Christ--God incarnated as a dusty earthling. How do we do this in the face of the array of ecological problems we face today? How can we obey the ecological principles and limits that govern all of life on God's good earth? I suggest that the virtues of humility, voluntary self-limitation, and the principles of kenosis and justice will help as we seek to follow Jesus as dusty earthlings in today's world.

We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities Today the concept of "identity" is contested against the backdrop of myriad forms of social, political, economic and ecological exclusion. How is identity expressed in a global Lutheran tradition whose members share common biblical, liturgical, confessional, theological and spiritual foundations, yet represent diverse cultures and traditions? At the end of 2019, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) hosted a global consultation on contemporary Lutheran identities, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The result is the papers presented in this publication. The authors – church leaders, young Christians, theologians, lay and ordained practitioners in local communities – explore the Spirit's work to revive and equip the faithful for vocation through the ministry of the church today and into the future of the Lutheran communion. [Wir glauben an den Heiligen Geist: Lutherische Identitäten aus weltweiter Perspektive] Vor dem Hintergrund der vielfältigen Formen von gesellschaftlicher, politischer, wirtschaftlicher und ökologischer Ausgrenzung ist das Konzept einer "Identität" in unserer aktuellen Zeit höchst umstritten. Wie wird Identität in einer globalen lutherischen Glaubenstradition zum Ausdruck gebracht, deren Anhängerinnen und Anhänger zwar gemeinsame biblische, gottesdienstliche, konfessionelle, theologische und spirituelle Grundfeste haben, aber gleichzeitig aus ganz unterschiedlichen Kulturen und Traditionen kommen? Ende 2019 hat der Lutherische Weltbund (LWB)in Addis Abeba, Äthiopien, eine globale Konsultation zu lutherischen Identitäten von heute veranstaltet. Das Ergebnis dieser Konsultation sind die Abhandlungen in dieser Publikation. Die Autorenschaft – Kirchenleitende, junge Erwachsene, Theologie-Fachleute, ordinierte und nicht-ordinierten Fachleute aus Ortsgemeinden – untersucht das Wirken des Heiligen Geistes, der die Gläubigen für ihre Berufung durch den Dienst der Kirche von heute und die Zukunft der lutherischen Kirchengemeinschaft neu belebt und zurüstet.

A first-person engagement with current ecojustice issues for persons of faith and for seekers, The Earth and the Fullness Thereof offers inspiring and practical discussions of current ecojustice issues, related spiritual challenges, and how to live ecologically—all inspired by testimony from the arts and by a cosmic vision of faith.