Creaturekind

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS TO RECOGNIZE FAITH- BASED REASONS FOR CARING ABOUT THE WELLBEING OF FELLOW ANIMAL CREATURES USED FOR FOOD, AND TO TAKE PRACTICAL ACTION IN RESPONSE.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH THROUGH OUR TRAINING/EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH PROGRAM, CREATUREKIND HELPS CHRISTIANS UNDERSTAND FAITH-BASED REASONS FOR CARING ABOUT THE WELLBEING OF FARMED ANIMALS, AND EQUIPS THEM TO TAKE PRACTICAL ACTION IN RESPONSE, WITH GOALS THAT INCLUDE CHANGING INDIVIDUAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FOOD PRACTICES, REDUCING OR ELIMINATING CONSUMPTION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS, AND MAKING FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE AN ECCLESIAL PRIORITY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CHRISTIANITY. -SINCE JANUARY 2021, CREATUREKIND HAS HOSTED TWO INTERFAITH PANELS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE JEWISH INITIATIVE FOR ANIMALS AND THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ANIMAL MINISTRY ON ANIMALS, RELIGION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ADOPTING EARTH-FRIENDLY PRACTICES IN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD ATTENDED THESE EVENTS TO TAKE THE MESSAGES, FRAMEWORKS, AND PRACTICAL TIPS FOR INTEGRATING MORE HUMAN, ANIMAL, AND EARTH-FRIENDLY PRACTICES BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. -AS PART OF OUR VISION FOR CREATUREKIND EVENTS, WE HAVE PLANNED (ALONG WITH ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND FELLOWS) AND WRITTEN LITURGY FOR SERVICES DURING EACH SEASON OF THE CHURCH CALENDARS. THE SERVICES HAVE VARIED TO INCLUDE LIVE ART OF A CREATUREKIND WORLD WHILE BIBLE PASSAGES ARE READ TO CELEBRATE EASTERTIDE; MEDITATIVE SERVICES WITH LIVE MUSIC, PRAYERS AND READINGS; MORE TRADITIONAL FORMATS FOR LENT AND ADVENT TO INCLUDE CALL TO WORSHIP, PRAYER, LIVE MUSIC, AND SERMONS; AND A BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS THAT EXPANDS BEYOND THE USUAL BLESSING OF CAT AND DOGS TO HONOR ALL THE LAND, SEA, AND SKY ANIMALS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE FARMED. THE SERVICES NOT ONLY PROVIDE SPIRITUAL CARE FOR CHRISTIAN ANIMAL ADVOCATES WHO ARE SEEKING FELLOWSHIP OUTSIDE THEIR OWN CHURCHES WHO MAY BE UNAWARE OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THEY PROVIDE RESOURCES AND EXAMPLES FOR HOW CHURCH LEADERS CAN SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE INTO WORSHIP. ANOTHER PRIORITY FOR CREATUREKIND FOR ALL OF OUR ONLINE SERVICES IS TO MAKE EACH EVENT AS INCLUSIVE AS WE CAN, WITH AN ASL INTERPRETER, A POLICY TO GIVE VISUAL CUES ON SCREEN, AND ENSURING THAT LIVE CAPTIONING IS AVAILABLE.

DEFAULTVEG CREATUREKIND'S DEFAULTVEG PROGRAM PROVIDES A SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, AND INCLUSIVE WAY TO HELP CHRISTIANS AND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT, CARE FOR THE WELFARE OF FARMED ANIMALS, SUPPORT SMALL FARMERS, AND DEMONSTRATE OUR STEWARDSHIP OF CREATION IN THE MEALS WE SHARE. -EVERY YEAR WE HOST A WEBINAR EXPLAINING THE TENETS OF OUR MAIN FOOD POLICY CAMPAIGN TO INCORPORATE PLANT-BASED FOODS WITHIN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES, DEFAULTVEG. IN 2021, THE DEFAULTVEG WEBINAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BETTER FOOD FOUNDATION, WAS ATTENDED BY CREATUREKIND MEMBERS IN NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AND EUROPE. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE CHRISTIANS ABOUT MAKING PLANT-BASED THE DEFAULT IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THROUGH REGULAR SOCIAL MEDIA RECIPE CONTENT, BLOGS FOR SEASONAL EATING, AS WELL AS CONTENT THAT EXPLORES THE DEEPER STRATEGY OF THE CAMPAIGN WORK AND CONNECTS PLANT-BASED EATING AND ANIMAL LIBERATION WITH MORE ESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN JUSTICE FRAMEWORKS (I.E. DEFAULTVEG: DE-CENTERING WHITENESS AND WORKING FOR THE LIBERATION OF ALL).

CREATUREKIND FELLOWS THE CREATUREKIND FELLOWS PROGRAM HELPS CHRISTIAN STUDENTS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, DEEPEN THEIR THEOLOGY OF ANIMALS, AND CONNECT THEM WITH LIKE-MINDED YOUNG LEADERS AND MENTORS. EACH FELLOW COMPLETES A PROJECT THAT FURTHERS THE MISSION OF CREATUREKIND IN THEIR OWN CONTEXT: A LOCAL FAITH COMMUNITY OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. -OUR FELLOWS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF AND COMMITMENT TO FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE THROUGH AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS, AND ENGAGE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF EFFORTS FOR CHANGE. HERE IN THE US, ONE OF OUR FELLOWS WAS ABLE TO HOLD A TALK AND VEGAN DINNER AT A RURAL EVANGELICAL MEGA-CHURCH IN MICHIGAN, A CONGREGATION THAT HAD NEVER HAD A PLANT-BASED MEAL BEFORE. ANOTHER FELLOW BEGAN GRASSROOTS WORK IN THE UNITED METHODIST DENOMINATION TO ADVOCATE FOR PLANT-BASED MEALS AT OFFICIAL GATHERINGS. OUTSIDE OF THE US, THE FELLOWSHIP IS PARTNERING WITH YOUNG LEADERS TO INFLUENCE CHRISTIAN FAITH COMMUNITIES. IN ZIMBABWE WE'VE PARTNERED WITH TWO FELLOWS TO SUPPORT THE BURGEONING MOVEMENT OF CHRISTIAN VEGANISM IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST TRADITION. IN BRAZIL, THE WORLD'S LARGEST EXPORTER OF BEEF AND A COUNTRY WHERE THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THE WORK OF LIBERATION OF ANIMALS, HUMANS, AND THE LAND IS PARTICULARLY CLEAR, BUT WHERE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN HUGELY RESISTANT TO ANIMAL RIGHTS MESSAGES, THE FELLOWSHIP IS PARTNERING WITH YOUNG LEADERS TO INFLUENCE CHRISTIAN FAITH COMMUNITIES.

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