A Climate Justice Niagara webinar invited Anglicans to see creation care not as an abstract ideal, but as a shared calling rooted in baptism and lived out in many different ways.
Just two days after speaking to our diocese about the call to care for creation, Michael Van Dusen, a deacon in the Diocese of Toronto, was arrested again for peaceful protest. It’s not the kind of follow-up most webinar speakers have.
But then again, this was not a typical Earth Day conversation.
On April 22, Climate Justice Niagara hosted an Earth Day webinar that brought together Anglicans from across the region for a conversation grounded not only in climate concern but in faith. The evening began with a Liturgy of the Word focused on creation, led by members of the CJN steering committee, grounding the gathering in scripture, prayer, and a shared commitment to “hope and act with creation.”
At the heart of the evening was Van Dusen’s presentation on eco-spirituality and climate justice. Drawing a distinction between science, economics, and faith, he noted that while data and financial arguments have not always led to meaningful political change, faith has the power to move people toward action. Climate change, he reminded participants, is not only an environmental issue, but it is also a moral one.
Central to that moral call is baptism.
The promises we make, “to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being,” extend beyond human relationships to include all of creation. Caring for the Earth is not an optional expression of faith. It is part of our covenant.
And yet, the scale of the crisis can feel overwhelming.
Van Dusen named that reality directly, encouraging participants not to retreat, but to recognize that “there’s a role for everyone.”
“There’s a role for everyone.”
Not everyone is called to protest. Not everyone is called to risk arrest. But everyone is called to respond in some way with their time, their voice, their choices, or their prayers.
Van Dusen spoke not only of urgency but of hope. Drawing on examples such as the regeneration of Tommy Thompson Park and the preservation of Ontario’s Greenbelt, Michael pointed to what he called “hope in action,” evidence that change is possible when people act together with purpose and persistence.
Following Van Dusen, Sue Carson, past chair of Climate Justice Niagara, grounded that message in lived, local experience. Drawing on years of participation in climate rallies across Hamilton and beyond, she reminded participants that engagement does not have to look the same for everyone.
Not everyone has to go to jail.
Some hold signs. Some show up faithfully at rallies. Some write letters, speak with neighbours, or support others who are able to take on more visible roles. All of it matters. All of it contributes.
Together, their voices made space for a broader understanding of faithful action, one that honours both courage and capacity.
Participants then moved into small group discussions, reflecting on their own values, their comfort levels, and the wisdom they hope to pass on to future generations. Some spoke of advocacy and public witness. Others named quieter, local actions. All were affirmed as meaningful.
The evening also included a moment of celebration for Don Brown, who recently marked his 100th birthday and continues to advocate for climate action through Elders for Climate Sanity. His witness, spanning decades, also resulted in an arrest in Dundas for the same effort as Van Dusen. This offered a powerful reminder that this work is both urgent and enduring.
The webinar concluded with prayers of gratitude and blessing, sending participants back into their communities not with all the answers, but with a renewed sense of purpose.
Earth Day may be marked once a year, but the promise we live out is daily.
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