Acts of Faith: Tree Planting in Uncertain Times

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now." – Chinese Proverb

Caring for a climate-changed world requires that we strike a delicate balance. On one hand, we are called to name and address the injustices against God’s people and planet that we see happening in the present moment. At the same time we are asked to paint a picture of the just, whole, and loving world that we believe God desires and work toward making that world more of a reality everyday.

There are times when it feels like the first task is taking up the majority of our focus. In times when environmental protections are being stripped, major cities are being occupied by violent forces, and extreme winter storms are paralyzing much of the country, it’s easy to get caught up in what feels urgent and immediate. And yet while we need to tend to the necessities of the moment, it’s imperative that we  keep an eye toward the world that we are trying to build. As our new vision statement says, we imagine “a world where all of God’s Creation thrives”. Over the years, there has been one member of Creation that has stood as a barometer for the whole community’s thriving: trees. 

The only part of the created order that is mentioned more in scripture than trees is humans. ​

The only part of the created order that is mentioned more in scripture than trees is humans. The story of our faith is in some ways the story of humans and trees co-existing from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the New Jerusalem in Revelation. Trees provide food, shelter, beauty and inspiration. Yet they also fall victim to being used as instruments of war and violence in human hands.

From Noah’s ark to the cross of Christ, trees have been witnesses to the narratives of fall and redemption on which our faith is built. Closer to home, trees have been an almost universally recognized symbol of conservation and ecological stewardship yet as we’re reminded in the pages of James Cone’s classic work The Cross and the Lynching Tree, they have also been reminders of some of the more tragic parts of this country’s history. It often goes unrecognized that access to tree covered areas has been denied to certain communities of people in this country based on race and income, with damaging consequences to both physical and emotional health. 

The term “tree equity” is used in spaces that are aware of this harmful legacy and that are actively working to reverse it. Access to trees, healthy native trees that support the local ecosystem, is a justice issue. Over the next year, Creation Justice Ministries will be working with partners to facilitate tree planting events across the country in areas where tree canopy is low or nonexistent. We’ll be sharing more about those events in the coming months so stay tuned. 

In the meantime, we want to invite you to download our 2026 annual resource, The Canopy of Creation: Trees, Faith, and the Work of Justice. 
The resource includes: 

• an introductory framing of trees as a social justice issue
• A theological framing of how trees show up in the biblical narrative
• Stories of congregations and denominations doing important canopy work in their communities
• Worship resources including sermon starters, prayers, and music suggestions 
• A resource to engage children around trees

We also have a robust and growing online supplemental resource that includes a comprehensive guide to tree planting. 

DOWNLOAD NOW

In past years, we created an “Earth Day resource”, using the day as an occasion to bring specific issues into focus. And while we still hope that you’ll highlight the importance of Creation Justice on Earth day, we also hope that you won’t stop there. We want this to be an evergreen resource (see what I did there?) that can be used year round and in future years.

There is a lot in this world that is uncertain right now. One thing we can say for certain is that if we want to live in a world where everyone has access to all of the benefits that trees provide then we have to begin that work right now, even as we balance the competing needs of the day. Planting trees with an uncertain future is an act of faith. Planting trees in a time of despair is an act of hope. Planting trees that all can enjoy is an act of love. We hope you’ll join us both in resisting the injustices of the present and planting the just world we dream to build. ​

​Derrick Weston
Director of Theological Education & Formation
Creation Justice Ministries