Our Earth is dying. Scientists have been telling us it is dying for years but in the last six months we have had the reports from the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) and International Science-based Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ISPBES). The IPCC report tells us that even if every country met it’s Paris Agreement commitment (and no country including Australia is on target) then we are heading for a 3-4 degree warmer world with extreme natural disasters, mass migration and mass starvation. The ISPBES report tells us that one million species are threatened with extinction within a few decades. These are not just academic issues they will affect us and everything we love in our lifetimes.
So what is the role of the church in a dying world?
Firstly to tell the truth. Tell the truth that humans have caused the climate emergency and the sixth
extinction but by acting we can buy time and maybe even save some species and people even
though terrible losses are already locked in. And we need the whole church to do this the leaders and all the members of the congregations. Loudly and visibly. At an international and national level we need church leaders from all denominations loudly and publicly saying this. We need to hear
about it in church instead of the current silence. At a local level this might look like having banners on the church, running film and information nights and having church banners at protests.
extinction but by acting we can buy time and maybe even save some species and people even
though terrible losses are already locked in. And we need the whole church to do this the leaders and all the members of the congregations. Loudly and visibly. At an international and national level we need church leaders from all denominations loudly and publicly saying this. We need to hear
about it in church instead of the current silence. At a local level this might look like having banners on the church, running film and information nights and having church banners at protests.
Both churches and the individuals who make up their congregations need to be role models in
showing what both individual and collective action on climate change looks like. Church
institutions and individuals need to work urgently to bring their carbon footprints to as close to zero as possible (and yes this is going to be hard and yes there will be sacrifices but older generations have done this before in WW2 and the Great Depression and have skills and knowledge to share and help). Churches need to be role models in showing what collective action on climate change looks like. They need to be there lobbying politicians, protesting on the streets, boycotting companies who won’t do the right thing. They need to use their collective power to bulk buy solar panels, electric cars and bikes and whatever is needed to help everyone transition to a low carbon future. On a local church level this might look like having workshops on gardening, zero waste, repairing things, group letter writing days and having a large visible presence at political events.
showing what both individual and collective action on climate change looks like. Church
institutions and individuals need to work urgently to bring their carbon footprints to as close to zero as possible (and yes this is going to be hard and yes there will be sacrifices but older generations have done this before in WW2 and the Great Depression and have skills and knowledge to share and help). Churches need to be role models in showing what collective action on climate change looks like. They need to be there lobbying politicians, protesting on the streets, boycotting companies who won’t do the right thing. They need to use their collective power to bulk buy solar panels, electric cars and bikes and whatever is needed to help everyone transition to a low carbon future. On a local church level this might look like having workshops on gardening, zero waste, repairing things, group letter writing days and having a large visible presence at political events.
Churches and their congregations need to build community. Strong communities not only have
more resilience in natural disasters and protect the vulnerable better but we need community to
cope with the
overwhelming grief of losing what we love and give us the courage to carry on regardless. So whatever
opportunities we have to build community we need to take them and they need to be inclusive
communities (not just people like us). On a local level this means create opportunities for elderly people,
people with young children, people new to the area to get together and form connections. Think broadly,
this is not just about bible studies, think book clubs, playgroups, community meals, community film nights,
activities, learning skills together.
more resilience in natural disasters and protect the vulnerable better but we need community to
cope with the
overwhelming grief of losing what we love and give us the courage to carry on regardless. So whatever
opportunities we have to build community we need to take them and they need to be inclusive
communities (not just people like us). On a local level this means create opportunities for elderly people,
people with young children, people new to the area to get together and form connections. Think broadly,
this is not just about bible studies, think book clubs, playgroups, community meals, community film nights,
activities, learning skills together.
Natural disasters are going to become more frequent and more severe. How can churches play a part in
this? It’s not just about donations because we are going to hit compassion fatigue (probably already have
judging by falling foreign aid and donations to overseas natural disasters). How can the church use its
buildings (usually on high ground with commercial kitchens and toilets) and people ( natural disaster
training and various skills) to connect in with the SES natural disaster plan? At a local level it may mean
integrating the local church into the local natural disaster plan, training members as volunteers and
running natural disaster preparation workshops.
this? It’s not just about donations because we are going to hit compassion fatigue (probably already have
judging by falling foreign aid and donations to overseas natural disasters). How can the church use its
buildings (usually on high ground with commercial kitchens and toilets) and people ( natural disaster
training and various skills) to connect in with the SES natural disaster plan? At a local level it may mean
integrating the local church into the local natural disaster plan, training members as volunteers and
running natural disaster preparation workshops.
Food security is already a problem even in first world countries like Australia. Thousands of Australians
already use food services to survive. As food shortages get worse, higher prices and eventual actual
shortages will hurt the vulnerable first and then all of us. There are many churches already running food
kitchens and community gardens but this is only the start of what is needed. Let’s plant food forests
(particularly nut trees, avocados and olives because of the concentrate nutrition and time needed to fruit),
run workshops on gardening, cooking, using local produce, foraged foods and reducing food waste.
Let’s share the bounty of backyard fruit trees and gardens like Ballarat’s Food is Free Laneway where
people can both drop off and collect homegrown food. Let’s support local farmers by buying local,
seasonal food (even if it costs more) so that they can build businesses that ultimately will protect us all.
already use food services to survive. As food shortages get worse, higher prices and eventual actual
shortages will hurt the vulnerable first and then all of us. There are many churches already running food
kitchens and community gardens but this is only the start of what is needed. Let’s plant food forests
(particularly nut trees, avocados and olives because of the concentrate nutrition and time needed to fruit),
run workshops on gardening, cooking, using local produce, foraged foods and reducing food waste.
Let’s share the bounty of backyard fruit trees and gardens like Ballarat’s Food is Free Laneway where
people can both drop off and collect homegrown food. Let’s support local farmers by buying local,
seasonal food (even if it costs more) so that they can build businesses that ultimately will protect us all.
Acknowledging that the Earth is dying hurts. It hurts a lot. Even common little joys have a bitter tinge
because you know they are not guaranteed in the future. We are leaving our children and grandchildren
a damaged Earth. The psychological effects of climate grief may cause people to deny it is happening,
to become apathetic (because we are doomed anyway) or to despair. The church needs to step up to
helping people cope with climate grief. To help people live with the sense of guilt, to help them mourn
what is lost and will be lost together, and to help them continue fighting to buy time and save what can
be saved. The church has thousands of years of experience in this. In giving absolution, in providing
meaningful rituals, in directing action and connecting community and nourishing the faith to keep on
telling the truth and acting in the face of overwhelming disaster.
because you know they are not guaranteed in the future. We are leaving our children and grandchildren
a damaged Earth. The psychological effects of climate grief may cause people to deny it is happening,
to become apathetic (because we are doomed anyway) or to despair. The church needs to step up to
helping people cope with climate grief. To help people live with the sense of guilt, to help them mourn
what is lost and will be lost together, and to help them continue fighting to buy time and save what can
be saved. The church has thousands of years of experience in this. In giving absolution, in providing
meaningful rituals, in directing action and connecting community and nourishing the faith to keep on
telling the truth and acting in the face of overwhelming disaster.
The church has a role to play in a dying Earth. It is needed. But it needs to step up to the challenge. If it
can’t then maybe it has no role at all in today’s society.
can’t then maybe it has no role at all in today’s society.
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