In Focus

“Towards A Holistic Anglican Mission on Climate Change”

A conference held at Bloombury Baptist Church, London 8th May 2008

This conference brought together Diocesan World Development Advisers and Diocesan Environment Officers, as well as some Social Responsibility Officers and representatives from agencies which worked on world development and environment issues.  It was introduced and chaired by Stephen Lyon of the Church of England’s Partnership in World Mission office.

In a keynote address, the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt. Rev’d James Jones, began by saying that in environmental matters ‘we are all hypocrites’, in that it is virtually impossible to argue for a lighter environmental impact and at the same time to be totally free from blame oneself.  In the Diocese of Liverpool, he had found a deep concern about the future of the earth, especially among young people.  He argued that while the New Testament contained few texts which referred directly to the environment, Jesus made an important connection between humanity and the earth by referring to himself as “Son of Man”, in that the Hebrew for “Man” is linked with the word for “earth”.  There are at least seven occasions on which Jesus refers to the earth in the same context as calling himself “Son of Man” (ie “Son of one hewn from the earth”). 

Bishop James compared the earth to a cruise liner, on which 20% of the world’s population lived in luxury on the upper decks, and 80% lived in poverty below – and nobody knew what the eventual destination of the liner would be.  According to some experts, he said, the world can sustain 1 tonne of CO2 emissions per person per year.  Emissions in the USA, however, were currently running at 10 tonnes per person per year, and in the UK 5 tonnes per year.  Measures to help poor countries by means of aid, debt relief and fairer trade rules were being offset by the effects of climate change – it was like giving to the poor with one hand and punching them with another.

He had met some who concluded that since the Bible said that God would at some point bring life on earth to an end, it was right for humanity to exploit the world’s resources as fully as possible, and thought need not be given to the future.  However, the dominant Biblical view was one of a world which was to be renewed and transformed, not over-exploited.  He gave a reminder that Jesus told his people to pray that God’s will be done “on earth as it is in heaven” – or, more traditionally, “in earth …” – ie “in the ecology of the earth”.

Bishop James commended the work being done in various churches to tackle environmental issues, mentioning the Diocese of Liverpool’s “Operation Eden”, whose work is now continued in the North West of England through “Faiths4Change” .

In May 2007, Bishop James gave a sermon on climate change which spelt out these issues in more detail.  

David Shreeve, Environment Adviser to the Archbishops’ Council, said that the General Synod debate on the environment in 2005 had led to the “Shrinking the Footprint”  campaign.  This has resulted in the collection of energy data for several thousand churches.  The Carbon Trust was carrying out an energy audit on certain cathedrals and churches.  The Energy Saving Trust was performing an energy audit on clergy housing.  He had personally supported many dioceses in setting up policies on the environment.  Bishops had spoken on the Climate Change Bill in the House of Lords.  Interfaith work on climate change was now taking place in some areas.  The Church of England lectionary was now going to provide for a special time of celebration for God’s creation, during September.

Sheilagh Baird Smith, from the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, described her diocese’s new policy on the environment, highlighting the need for each church to appoint a ‘champion for the environment’, and to aim to do at least one thing to benefit the environment each year.

Sue Young, from St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich, described that diocese’s study guide leaflets arising from its link with Kagera, in Tanzania, including one on Climate Change.

The Rt. Rev’d George Browning, retired bishop of Canberra, Australia, addressed the conference in his capacity as chairman of the Environment Network of the Anglican Communion.  He gave a reminder that the Bible began and ended with God’s Creation, and that while the Bible contains much apocalyptic material, nowhere does it tell us to behave apocalyptically.  The world was becoming increasingly indebted to future generations, and urgent action was essential.

Dr Charles Reed, of the International and Development Affairs Division of the Archbishops’ Council, outlined the plans for a General Synod debate on the environment in July.  He introduced a discussion on a series of draft recommendations which were designed to generate greater action by the Church of England on environment issues.

During the final part of the conference, participants discussed possible forms of action on the environment within their dioceses.  The main recommendations made were:

• To encourage eco-congregations and eco-schools;
• To encourage overseas bishops visiting for the pre-Lambeth hospitality programme to describe the effects of climate change in their countries;
• To promote the sharing of stories and images of church environmental initiatives across a wider area;
• There should be better co-ordination between diocesan environment officers, world development advisers, social responsibility officers etc – both within dioceses and between the national networks;
• Creative ways should be found of dealing with diocesan structures which were not supportive of environmental initiatives;
• The national network of diocesan environment officers should be strengthened at the centre;
• Diocesan environment officers should be at the core of the diocese, not at the edge;
• Local church action on the environment should be seen as a mission opportunity, and a way of drawing more people into church activities;
• Dioceses should set up day conferences on climate change which brought together all who were concerned for world mission and development, as well as for the environment;
• “Creationtide” (in September) should actively be promoted by churches, and environmental issues be given greater prominence in worship;
• Bishops should lobby for insulation grants for parsonages;
• Dioceses should develop their own carbon offset schemes, with half of the proceeds being used on local environment schemes, and half in link dioceses overseas;
• Dioceses should build better partnerships on environment issues with local authorities, and build networks with Transition Towns, business and universities; 
• More should be made of the fifth of the Anglican  Five Marks of Mission, ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’;
• The effects of climate change on world poverty and development should be used as means of engaging people about the seriousness of the task which the world now faced.

Supporting Material

Bloomsbury Newsletter June 2008

Recommended books:

Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living:  Bob White and Nick Spencer, SPCK 2007
Planet Wise:  Dave Bookless, IVP 2008

Cherishing the Earth, Martin and Margot Hodson, Monarch 2008

Links to organisations promoting a Christian response to environmental issues:

Operation Noah
Eco-congregation
John Ray Initiative – an Educational charity bringing together scientific and Christian understandings of the environment
Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
Arocha – a Christian nature conservation organisation
Jubilee Debt Campaign
Christian Aid

Conference report by Christopher Harrison, World Development Adviser, Diocese of Derby