Chester academic helps shape landmark Church of England teaching on climate and environmental crises

Dr Ben Fulford, Associate Professor of Christian Theology at the University of Chester, chaired a working group of the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission which produced Hope for All Creation, a major new teaching document approved by the House of Bishops in May. 

Dr Fulford was among those who presented the document to the Church of England's General Synod in July.

Hope for All Creation offers a Christian understanding of the climate and environmental crises, informed by current scientific knowledge and rooted in biblical accounts of God's sustaining, reconciling and redeeming all creation. It presents care for the environment as an integral part of Christian faith and an expression of hope, encouraging collaboration with wider society in addressing global challenges. 

In the foreword, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York describe the document as "a guide to faithful living in our time, as a resource for Christian ministry, and as a contribution from the Church of England to discerning how we exercise wise, responsible stewardship of the planet we share." 

The publication also provides theological underpinning for the Church of England's Net Zero Carbon initiative and broader Environmental Programme, while offering context for the new Feast of Creation in Christ, which will be celebrated annually in Church of England churches on the first Sunday of September. 

The document is expected to support churches, faith leaders and communities across England as they engage with the practical, theological and ethical dimensions of responding to climate change and environmental degradation. 

The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, welcomed the publication. He said: "I think Hope for All Creation will really help us as a Church and be both an ecumenical gift and a gift to other faith communities, to reflect on how we care for this single island planet home. The top environmental problems are selfishness, apathy and greed, and to deal with those issues we need a spiritual and cultural transformation." 

Dr Ben Fulford said: "Amid record-breaking heatwaves and devastating wildfires in the UK, the impact of the climate and environmental crises has rarely been so obvious and palpable in this country. Religious communities, like the Church of England, have a key part to play in addressing these crises and mitigating their impacts. 

"It has been a great privilege to chair the working group which produced Hope for All Creation and to be involved in writing it. I'm really excited about how it can help inform and shape reflection and action in response to these crises, in and beyond the Church and I look forward to seeing how people use it in different contexts, communities and initiatives." 

Dr Paul Taylor, Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Chester, said: "This important national contribution demonstrates the significant impact that University of Chester academics can have beyond higher education. Ben's leadership in shaping Hope for All Creation reflects both his scholarly expertise and his commitment to addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. We are delighted to see his work helping to inform discussion and action on environmental stewardship across the Church and wider communities." 

To see Dr Ben Fulford's introduction to document at the the Church of England’s General Synod visit https://www.youtube.com/live/aysixRQnU9E?si=UDJTI-cMocw4nhJS&t=1547 

Caption: Ben Fulford speaking at the Church of England's General Synod 12.7.26 (Credit = Church of England  Sam Atkins).