Accepting the truth

What do we know about climate change?

Welcome to the second of six of our small-group sessions exploring why and how the church should respond to the climate emergency. As you’ll remember the title for this series of studies comes from a short video clip produced by Hannah Malcolm for the Nazarene Theological College. We’ll watch this again to focus our thoughts.

Hannah has recently editted a book “Words for a Dying World, Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church” which is a very valuable, if challenging, read. The original video is available of the NTC YouTube channel.

Hannah talks about creation in the terms of divine ownership and divine gift – we (ie humanity) are a gift to the other creatures and the land we inhabit and vice versa. Spend a few minutes reflecting on the following two questions, and, if you’re comfortable doing so, share some of your responses with each other:

Question 1a: In what ways might you be a gift to creation?

Question 1b: In what ways do you regard, and respond to, creation as a gift (rather than a resource, or an innate right, for example)?

Facing the Truth

The next video is an extract from a talk called Heading for Extinction produced by Extinction Rebellion. In it they use the latest climate science to explain that challenges that confront us. You may find some of these challenges quite shocking.. Make a note of anything that you find particularly striking as there will be an opportunity to discuss it afterwards.

Question 2: Which of the facts and statistics most surprised or concerned you

If you are using this material in the group maybe you could go around the group in turn.

Now watch these two clips from a conversation between Ruth Valerio (Global Advocacy and Influencing Director for TearFund, who has a particular interest in environmental issues) and Christian Figueres (Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Christian observe that people of faith have a much greater connection with and care for the planet than others.

Question 3a: How does this agree with your experience

Question 3b: How do we see this practically

This might be simple things such as a commitment to recycling and energy efficiency as individuals and churches to trying to use only ethical suppliers, or more systemic approaches around not investing in companies which do not take their environmental responsibilities seriously, for example.  If you would like to take up Christian’s suggestion to calculate your own carbon footprint there are a range of websites to help with this, including WWF - WWF Footprint Calculator

Speaking to Wealth and Power

There is a strong Biblical tradition of prophets speaking truth to power

Question 4a: Do you think that the church (locally, nationally and/or ecumenically) has this prophetic role in relation to climate change?

Question 4b: If not, where does this responsibility lie?

Jesus was also critical of those who pursued wealth at the expense of everything else. Here is an example:

Luke 12:15-21

And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’

Question 5: In what ways do you see greed contributing to climate change at a personal, community and societal level?

This is the end of the second session. If you are working through this as a group you might like to spend a few moments praying together in light of what you have learnt and shared.

You might also like to make use of this prayer:

May God who established the dance of creation; who transforms chaos to order, lead us and empower us to transform our lives, the witness of the Church,  and the governments of nations so that all might preserve and reflect the glory of God revealed in creation; and may the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.

From Creation Care Prayers from the Church of England (alt.)