Green Bible highlights God's vision for creation

Bible Society has welcomed the publication of the first Green Bible, a Bible designed to encourage Christians to see God's vision for creation and their calling to care for the earth.

The Green Bible, produced by Harper Collins publishers, is due for release on 7 October and highlights in green, soy-based ink, more than 1,000 references, verses and passages related to the earth. It features essays from a number of leading theologians, including Bible Society President Bishop Tom Wright.

Its release comes less than a year after Bible Society launched its own Poverty and Justice Bible, the first ever to highlight more than 2,000 sections that relate to God's attitudes towards poverty and injustice - two of the biggest issues of our day.

The Poverty and Justice Bible was welcomed by leading Christian thinkers including Rob Bell, Mike Pilavachi and Bible Society President Bishop Tom Wright. It was even carried through the streets of London by hundreds of bishops this summer, as part of the Lambeth Conference. More than 600 bishops took part in the Walk of Witness in July, a march calling on global leaders to honour their promises to reduce poverty.

More than 12,000 copies of the Poverty and Justice Bible have been sold since its release in March this year. A copy has even been handed to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

James Catford, Bible Society's Chief Executive, said, "This new Green Bible is good news for those of us who love the Bible and who work to show that it connects with the biggest issues facing our world.

"It highlights unmistakeably that, when it comes to caring for the environment, God got their first. Sustainable lifestyles and caring for the ecosystem are not just topics that politicians are talking about now. These are issues that God has put on our hearts."

He added, "The release of The Green Bible builds on what we are trying to do with The Poverty and Justice Bible. It's about building the confidence of people who may ask how to apply Scripture to daily life. And it's about showing those outside the Church that the Bible is not a dusty old rulebook - but something that connects very profoundly with issues that resonate today."

To find out more about The Poverty and Justice Bible, visit www.povertyandjusticebible.org.uk