Ecumenical Prayer Service Hears of 'Deep Relationship' between Economic and Environmental Crises

Christians who took part in a recent ecumenical prayer service heard about the "deep relationship" between the environmental crisis and the current economic crisis.

Pictured after the Ecumenical Prayer Service for climate justice are (from left): Dr Dermot Lane, President of the Mater Dei Institute of Education and PP of Church of the Ascension of the Lord, Balally, Alan Shiel, Methodist Rep, Frank Hughes, organist, Helen Doyle, Wesley College choirmisstress, Robert Cochran, Methodist rep, Rev Anne-Marie O'Farrell, harpist, Gavin Harte, environmentalist, Gillian Armstrong, Religious Society of Friends rep, Helen Shiel, Methodist rep on Eco-Congregation Ireland, Owen Lemass of Holy Cross, Dundrum, Sr Catherine Brennan, chairperson of Eco-Congregation Ireland, Rev Lorraine Kennedy-Ritchie, Presbyterian rep, and Pamela Sheil of Whitechurch parish

Dr Dermot Lane, President of the Mater Dei Institute of Education, was speaking at an Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) service that took place in his parish church - The Church of the Ascension of the Lord, Dublin. Robert Cochran represented the Methodist Church in Ireland at the event held on 1st December.

The service was organised to pray for the UN climate summit taking place in Durban from 29th November to 9th December. Over 100 of the worshippers signed a letter, which was then sent to Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, asking him to act in the interests of the world's poor and the earth when he represented Ireland at the summit.

Dr Lane said that we needed to realise that the current economic crisis was largely the outcome of a market-driven capitalism which had "little regard for the rhythm of nature, unaware of the limited resources of the earth, unmindful of the integrity of creation".

It could no longer be "business as usual with a little tinkering around the edges". Instead, there must be a radical restructuring of international economic systems - a restructuring that must include reference to the primary economy of the earth's eco systems and natural resources.

"The reason why structural reform of the modern economies is so necessary is because market-driven capitalism is premised on the principle of growth, of unlimited growth, and we know as environmentalists that there are limits to growth, and there are limits to growth because there are limits to the resources of the earth," he said.

"Until we recover some of the spirit of the pre-Enlightenment economy, rooted in nature and anchored in the earth, unless we can get in touch with the wisdom inherent in the rhythm of creation, it is unlikely that the current economic crisis will be resolved,"

The theme of the service - 'Discerning the Holy Spirit in the life of Creation' - was chosen "out of a deep conviction that we will never save the planet, that we will never heal our broken world, unless and until we connect with the Spirit of God given in creation and revealed in Christ. It is largely the neglect of the Spirit, the removal of the Holy Spirit from life, the evacuation of the Spirit out of creation that has taken place over the years, that has landed us in the current environmental crisis."

Lane said that, rather than an anthropocentric worldview, or even a bio-centric one, what was needed was "a theocentric universe" and "a rediscovering of the Spirit of God as the source of life, as the dynamism driving the evolution of life, and as the power holding everything together and sustaining life on earth."

The service was organised by ECI, an inter-denominational project that encourages churches to take an eco approach to worship, lifestyle, property and finance management and community outreach, Balally Environment Group and Three Rock Churches' Environment Group (TRCEG). TRCEG is an ECI initiative that sees seven churches, including Dundrum Methodist Church, working together on environmental issues in South Dublin.

"Now, more than ever, it is essential to act and pray to prevent runaway climate change," said ECI chairperson, Catherine Brennan SSL. "Our abundant and beautiful planet, God's creation, is in peril today from climate change. This wounded earth, the peoples of the developing world and future generations are most at risk.

"We need to reflect on the need to live in more sustainable ways and for a renewed theology of creation. We earnestly pray, too, for wisdom, courage and compassion for our world leaders as they meet for the crucial summit in Durban."

Environmentalist Gavin Harte gave a reflection on climate change and music was provided by harpist, Rev Anne-Marie O'Farrell, and the choir of Wesley College Dublin, RTE All Island School Choir of the Year 2011.