May 18, 2025
Restoration
In this message, Ryan reflects on his personal journey from a dominionist evangelical upbringing to a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship as a vital part of faith. Challenging the idea that humans are entitled to exploit the Earth, he reframes Genesis 1:28 through both rabbinic and justice-oriented lenses, emphasizing that we are not owners, but stewards of creation. Drawing from scripture, Wendell Berry, and lived examples of environmental harm and racism, he urges the community to recognize the Earth as a co-sufferer and co-creator in God’s redemptive story. He closes with practical ways to act locally in Oregon and a benediction that calls us to be gentle, restorative people in a groaning world.
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