Climate change
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The climate is changing, posing a threat to people everywhere. Already drought and extreme weather are impacting the world's poorest people. The Methodist Church in Ireland recognises the seriousness of the ecological crisis affecting the earth but to stop climate change we need to act now.
Understanding the issues
Concern for the environment is integral to our understanding of faith and arising directly from our theology. It's no longer an optional activity for a busy church.
Read the Environmental Issues are central to our Theology (2003) report produced by the Southern Executive of the Council on Social Responsibility.
The Earth Charter, while not written from a specifically Christian perspective is Christian in its approach, (www.earthcharter.org) is a useful resource for study, prayerful reflection and appropriate working out within the life of the Church.
Be aware
There's no excuse for ignorance. The web is full of information on climate change and rarely a day goes by without a TV or newspaper story on climate change. For a start, try the BBC climate change website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/
"As Christians we have more than just a civic or global obligation to respond to the escalating crises of environmental destruction. We believe that the whole of creation is the object of God´s continuous, creative, loving and nurturing care. As followers of Christ, conscious of being part of that awesome and wonderful creation, we are called to treat all of creation, and all people, with the same loving, nurturing care and respect.” Environmental Issues are central to our Theology (2003) |
What you can do...
Think about your life and your beliefs . How do you look after creation and how do you love your neighbour? Is your way of life harming others and contributing to the problem. See www.stemthetide.org.uk to kick-start your response.
Take Action - Christian Aid Campaign
Find out more about climate change is affecting the world's poorest people and take action.
Are you in a congregation? Then why not become an Eco-Congregation?
Eco-Congregation Ireland
Helen Shiel is the Methodist Representative on Eco-Congregation Ireland.
Eco-congregation Ireland is an environmental programme which has been developed by CTBI and the environmental awareness charity “Going for Green” and which is available to all churches throughout Britain and Ireland.
You can contact Helen for further information about the Eco-Congregation Ireland programme by emailing her or you can visit their website.
PLEASE NOTE! Due to the illegal cyber-space hijacking of the Eco-Congregation Ireland website, it has been moved, in the interim, to www.ecocongregationireland.com
Hope for Creation: a time for worship and action
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has put together a programme of resources to encourage and assist churches to observe a Time for Creation, between 1 September and 4 October.
These are flexible and include suggestions of various ways in which churches, groups and individuals might choose to focus on a
creation theme, either on one occasion or over the 5 weeks.
Also available are a wide range of additional resources for inclusion in worship services and liturgies, group study ideas, children and all-age resources and action ideas to help churches and individuals to focus for one week or the whole month. All the materials are free and can be downloaded from from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website.
