Feast of Creation Care for our world in worship, prayer and action An international seminar on “The Feast of Creation and the Mystery of Creation: Ecumenism, Theology, Liturgy, and Signs of the Times in Dialogue” was held from 14-16 March 2024 at Assisi, Italy. The seminar gathered voices from the Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox and Reformed communions, along with World Council of Churches and the Laudato Si’ Research Institute. Attendance included church leaders, biblical scholars, eco-theologians, liturgists, ecumenists, youth, Indigenous people, politicians, and scientists – including a small delegation from the World Methodist Council on behalf of the Ecumenical Relationships Committee.
tion “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth …”.
The Feast of Creation arose from an ancient tradition of the Orthodox Church. Other churches took inspiration from this, and from the 1990’s developed the Season of Creation. The season starts 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Observing the ‘signs of the times’, the Season also focuses our attention to the suffering of our human and non-human neighbours that arises because of the changing environment and the impact of depleting the earth’s resources. our concern for ecology, and to heal God’s creation of our own damage, is evoked in worship and action.
At the World Methodist Council meeting in 2016, held in Houston, Texas, the resolution was made:
The Season of Creation commends itself as a pilgrimage of faith, worship and action, particularly in ecumenical witness in solidarity with our fellow world communions.
“This Council commends the celebration of a ‘Time for Creation’ from 1st September to 4th October, first observed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and now welcomed by concerned Christians across the world.” The Assisi Conference gathered to explore a proposal to “upgrade” the celebration of the Feast of Creation on 1 September from its current “World Day of Prayer” status, by jointly instituting it as an official ecumenical liturgical feast in the calendars of Western churches alongside Eastern churches. This proposal is linked with the observance in 2025 of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicaean Creed, which opens with the invoca-
World Methodist Council
The Season of Creation has particularly engaged worshiping communities to connect creation, ecology and climate matters with their worship life, preaching, theological reflection and discipleship. These have encouraged our minsters and preachers, worship leaders, and the life of the parishes to reflect and engage contemporary theology for the care and nurture of creation and the world’s resources. Further, is our acknowledging of the beauty and wonder of God’s creation.
An international workgroup from across WMC will embark on a process of conversation and discernment of Wesleyan/Methodist responses to this project and initiative. A report will be presented to the World Methodist Council meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden in August 2024. Submitted by Rev Tony Franklin-Ross, Chairperson of Ecumenical Relationships, World Methodist Council
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