She writes, “Randy convinced me that we need to set aside, where we can, the terms “kingdom” and “stewardship.” Randy likes to speak of God’s telos for this world as “the community of creation.” This expresses the web of interrelationships among God, humans, and the more-than-human creation in a way that “kingdom” doesn’t quite cover. Christ has come to bring about harmony across all relationships, throughout creation, as Colossians 1 declares. The vision is similar to what the Cherokee call “Eloheh” (AY-la-hay), which Randy translates as “the harmony way.”
Instead of referring to humans as “stewards,” Randy uses the word “co-sustainers.” I like this much better, too, because “steward” implies both the absence of the Owner and a hierarchical and objectifying approach to the more-than-human creation. The term “co-sustainers,” on the other hand, reminds us that humans do not do all the work in keeping life going on this planet—far from it! Plants and animals and waters and winds do their work, too. We are called to co-sustain with the other creatures and with God, a very present Master.”
All of that seems more holistic and better describes our reality and all of its challenges, especially those related to creation care and the climate crisis.