Creation Ministries International

Creation Ministries International (CMI) is an Australian-founded nonprofit ministry that advocates young Earth creationism and challenges mainstream scientific accounts of geological history, biological evolution, and human origins. Its public work combines religious apologetics, publishing, public speaking, educational outreach, and media production. The organization presents the biblical account of creation as historically and scientifically authoritative, and commonly argues that the Earth is only thousands of years old rather than billions of years old. CMI traces its institutional origins to the Creation Science Association, organized in Adelaide, South Australia, by Carl Wieland in 1977. In 1978, the association began publishing a magazine initially titled Ex Nihilo. The work was subsequently taken over by the Creation Science Foundation, which developed the publication into Creation Ex Nihilo and later Creation magazine. The organization also created a more technical periodical in 1984, originally called the Ex Nihilo Technical Journal and later known as the Journal of Creation. These publications became central vehicles for presenting creationist interpretations of geology, biology, astronomy, paleontology, and biblical history. During the 1990s, the Australian ministry became associated with Ken Ham, a former colleague who had moved to the United States and established an autonomous ministry there. The Australian organization and related overseas operations were for a period marketed under the Answers in Genesis name. Independent offices were subsequently established in several countries. A legal and organizational dispute between the Australian and United States operations led to a major reorganization in 2006. The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South African branches adopted the Creation Ministries International name, while the United States and United Kingdom operations developed separately under Answers in Genesis branding. CMI established offices in the United Kingdom and United States in late 2006 and continued distributing its own periodicals in those markets. The organization’s main activities are publication and distribution of Creation magazine and the Journal of Creation, public lectures, conferences, online articles, videos, and educational materials. Creation magazine is written for a broad readership and seeks to connect biblical creationist claims with accessible discussions of science and culture. The Journal of Creation is positioned as a more technical publication and addresses specialist arguments within the creationist movement. CMI also produces or commissions audiovisual projects. One notable example is The Voyage That Shook the World, a 2009 dramatized documentary produced to coincide with anniversaries associated with Charles Darwin and On the Origin of Species. The film presents young Earth creationist and intelligent-design arguments alongside interviews and footage concerning Darwin, evolution, and the Galápagos Islands. CMI operates through a network of national branches and serves audiences beyond Australia. Its publications and online materials are distributed internationally, and the organization has stated that Creation magazine reaches subscribers in more than 170 countries. The ministry’s public positioning is explicitly confessional and oppositional: it does not present itself as a neutral scientific publisher, but as an advocacy organization seeking to defend a literal or broadly literal reading of Genesis against evolutionary and old-Earth interpretations. Its work has therefore attracted sustained criticism from scientific, educational, and science-communication groups, particularly over its treatment of evidence, its presentations in schools, and the editing and framing of media productions. CMI remains active as a religious and educational advocacy organization. It is best understood as a global network of creationist ministries rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its brand identity is built around the Creation name, the website creation.com, periodicals, public apologetics, and the claim that biblical creationism should be considered a scientifically credible alternative to mainstream evolutionary theory.

Creation Ministries International developed from an Australian creationist publishing and outreach movement established in Adelaide in the late 1970s. Carl Wieland organized the Creation Science Association in 1977. The group began publishing Ex Nihilo in 1978, using a title derived from the Latin expression creatio ex nihilo, meaning creation from nothing. The Creation Science Foundation later assumed responsibility for the periodical, which passed through the names Creation Ex Nihilo and, eventually, Creation. The publication program expanded in 1984 with the launch of the Ex Nihilo Technical Journal. This periodical was subsequently renamed Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal and then TJ before adopting its current name, the Journal of Creation. The two journals served different audiences: Creation addressed a general readership with accessible articles and apologetic arguments, while the technical journal pursued more detailed claims concerning science, biblical interpretation, and creationist critiques of evolution and long-age geology. In the 1990s, Ken Ham, who had previously worked with the Australian creationist organization, established an autonomous ministry in the United States after becoming associated with the Institute for Creation Research. The Australian ministry and Ham’s American work were subsequently placed under the Answers in Genesis identity. Related offices were created in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Although they shared branding and a broad theological orientation, the national operations had distinct legal and organizational structures. The relationship deteriorated during the middle of the 2000s. Disagreements reportedly included the handling of magazine subscriptions, the distribution and branding of publications, governance, and the conduct of senior leadership. The dispute produced a formal separation in 2006. The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South African operations adopted the name Creation Ministries International. CMI later established offices in the United Kingdom and United States and resumed direct distribution of its periodicals in those countries. The reorganization made CMI a distinct international creationist network rather than an Australian branch operating under Answers in Genesis branding. The split also generated litigation. In 2007, CMI sued Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis in the Supreme Court of Queensland. The action included claims concerning alleged misleading conduct related to subscriptions, the use of the Answers in Genesis trademark in Australia, publication distribution, and alleged misuse of a directorial position. The reported amount sought in relation to alleged lost subscription revenue was US$252,000. Answers in Genesis and Ham rejected the accusations. In 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ordered CMI into arbitration in the United States concerning copyright and control issues involving the international affiliates. The ministries settled the dispute in April 2009. CMI has maintained a multi-channel outreach model. It publishes Creation magazine four times each year and the Journal of Creation three times each year. The organization has described Creation as having subscribers in more than 170 countries, with approximately 60,000 copies produced per issue; these figures are organizational claims rather than independently verified financial or circulation data. Its other activities include public lectures, conferences, books, online articles, videos, and presentations aimed at churches, families, students, and schools. The organization has also used film to promote its arguments. The Voyage That Shook the World, released in 2009, was a 52-minute dramatized documentary commissioned by CMI and produced by Fathom Media. It addressed Darwin, evolution, and the Galápagos while combining interviews, location footage, and dramatized scenes filmed in Tasmania. Critics argued that the film selectively framed evidence and deceptively edited some interviews. The National Center for Science Education characterized it as misleading, while some participating mainstream scientists said their views had been presented in a way that misrepresented their positions. CMI’s educational outreach has generated further criticism. In 2011, 30 British scientists accused organization representatives of falsely presenting themselves to schools as scientists. These controversies reflect a broader dispute over whether young Earth creationism should be treated as science in educational settings. CMI continues to describe its work as an integrated defense of biblical authority and creationist interpretation, while mainstream scientific and educational bodies generally classify young Earth creationism as religious advocacy rather than an evidence-based scientific account.

• 2011

  British scientists challenge school outreach

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Thirty scientists criticized CMI representatives for allegedly misrepresenting themselves as scientists in school settings.

• 2009

  The Voyage That Shook the World released

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  CMI commissioned and released a dramatized documentary challenging evolutionary interpretations and promoting creationist arguments.

• 2009

  Legal dispute settled

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  CMI and Answers in Genesis reached a settlement after litigation and arbitration proceedings.

• 2007

  Queensland lawsuit filed

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  CMI initiated legal proceedings against Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis over organizational, subscription, trademark, and publication issues.

• 2006

  Creation Ministries International name adopted

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South African operations separated from Answers in Genesis branding and adopted the CMI name.

• 2006

  United Kingdom and United States offices established

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  CMI established offices in the United Kingdom and United States following the organizational split.

• 1984

  Technical journal launched

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began its technical periodical, later known as the Journal of Creation.

• 1978

  Ex Nihilo magazine begins publication

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization launched Ex Nihilo, the periodical that later evolved into Creation magazine.

• 1977

  Creation Science Association organized

  [1]Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Carl Wieland organized the Creation Science Association in Adelaide, South Australia, establishing the institutional lineage that later developed into CMI.

A global young Earth creationist advocacy ministry presenting biblical creationism as a religiously grounded alternative to mainstream evolutionary and old-Earth scientific interpretations.

• Magazine · 1978

  Creation magazine

  CMI's general-interest periodical presents biblical creationist arguments for a broad audience. Articles address topics such as evolution, geology, paleontology, astronomy, biology, and biblical interpretation, usually with the aim of defending a young Earth and a literal or strongly historical reading of Genesis. The magazine is published quarterly and distributed internationally.

• Technical journal · 1984

  Journal of Creation

  The Journal of Creation is CMI's more technical publication. It developed from the Ex Nihilo Technical Journal launched in 1984 and publishes detailed creationist critiques of evolutionary biology, old-Earth geology, cosmology, and related scientific interpretations. It is issued three times a year and is aimed at readers seeking more specialized arguments than those found in Creation magazine.

• Documentary film · 2009

  The Voyage That Shook the World

  This 2009, 52-minute dramatized documentary was commissioned by CMI and produced by Fathom Media. It uses interviews, wildlife and location footage, and dramatized sequences to challenge evolutionary interpretations associated with Charles Darwin and to promote young Earth creationist and intelligent-design claims. Its editing and presentation were criticized by science-education commentators and some interview participants.

• Digital media and education

  Online creationist resources

  Through its website and related digital channels, CMI distributes articles, videos, lectures, answers to questions, and educational material supporting biblical creationism. The online program extends the reach of its magazines and public speaking activities to an international audience.

• 2011

  School science-presentation controversy

  Thirty UK scientists accused CMI representatives of falsely presenting themselves as scientists in school settings, intensifying debate over the organization's educational outreach.

  Source

• 2009

  Criticism of The Voyage That Shook the World

  The documentary was criticized for presenting evolution-related issues misleadingly. Some mainstream scientists interviewed for the film said their comments had been edited deceptively or used in a misleading context.

  Source

• 2007

  Dispute and lawsuit involving Answers in Genesis

  CMI sued Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis over alleged misconduct involving magazine subscriptions, publication distribution, trademark use, and organizational governance. The defendants denied the accusations. The dispute later proceeded to arbitration in the United States and was settled in 2009.

  Source

Read more

• 2009

  Commission The Voyage That Shook the WorldProduct launch

  Background

  CMI sought to communicate its objections to evolutionary theory through a feature-length-style documentary format tied to major Darwin anniversaries.

  Action taken

  The organization commissioned Fathom Media to produce a dramatized documentary combining interviews, location footage, and scripted sequences.

  Aftermath

  The film expanded CMI's media outreach but attracted criticism from science-education organizations and some interview participants over its framing and editing.

  Source

• 2009

  Settle the Answers in Genesis disputeOther

  Background

  Litigation and arbitration addressed disagreements over copyrights, publications, subscriptions, trademarks, and international affiliates.

  Action taken

  CMI and Answers in Genesis reached a settlement in April 2009.

  Aftermath

  The principal legal conflict between the ministries ended, leaving them as separate organizations.

  Source

• 2006

  Adopt the Creation Ministries International identityStrategy

  Background

  A legal and organizational conflict divided the international operations that had been associated with Answers in Genesis.

  Action taken

  The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South African branches adopted the CMI name, while CMI established or expanded offices in the United Kingdom and United States.

  Aftermath

  The rebranding created a distinct international creationist network and led to disputes over trademarks, subscribers, publications, and affiliate control.

  Source

1. 1Creation Ministries Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Creation Ministries International official websitecreation.com