Religious Statement on Wilderness and Public Lands

"The land shall not be sold in perpetuity for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants."
– Leviticus 25:23

Read and Endorse the Texas Religious Statement on Wilderness and Public Lands

As Texans of faith, we see Creation as the glorious work of God. The wild lands and ecosystems throughout our state and the United States provide congregations and communities the opportunity to experience God and to dwell in the beauty of all that God called “good.” God’s lands nourish life, provide the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems and human communities, supply blessings of sustenance like soil, water, timber and minerals, and offer natural space for prayer and spiritual renewal. Stewardship of the land and wild places God has entrusted to our care is a critical part of our call to protect Creation.

As the threats to God's gifts become more pronounced, our call to continue conservation of God’s sacred spaces becomes more immediate. The health of the land, air and water and access to those resources is connected to the health and strength of people and communities. As children have less access to the outdoors, for example, diseases such as diabetes and obesity are on the rise. Here in Texas God has blessed us with countless wild and glorious places that serve as a constant reminder of the true beauty of Creation. From the Guadalupe Mountains to Big Bend, down along the Rio Grande to the Gulf Coast, across the Hill Country and into the prairie grasslands of the north, the beauty of all that is good abounds in Texas. These places support human life and are home to a breathtaking myriad of plant and animal life—and they are deep in our hearts.

Preserving public lands helps us answer God's call to care of Creation and equality among people by providing shared resources that nurture our communities. Public lands and wilderness are central to maintaining the diverse ecosystems that God created and to providing the space for faithful reflection and rejuvenation. Overlooking the importance of these spaces and places disregards the role that land and wilderness have had in revealing the mysteries and wonders of God as well as the needs of future generations.

We believe we can and should retain Texas’ wild lands and public lands, for example, making Big Bend National Park a permanent wilderness area as a place of intimate connection with God--for this and future generations and protect these vital and irreplaceable pieces of God’s Creation.