The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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A hot topic for the church – and for all I have just returned from the Salisbury Diocese annual clergy day. We spent the day reflecting on a hot topic for the church, and no, it wasn’t women bishops or gay bishops. This is a hot topic for everyone: climate change. We were reminded of the many theological and moral reasons for us to respond to the challenges that climate change brings. Here are just a couple of them. In the past, some have claimed the right to exploit the earth, quoting the words of God in one of the creation stories: “Be fruitful and increase, fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion … over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1.28). A more accurate translation is that we are to be responsible for the earth and be stewards of it. Our task is to take care of it and hand it on to future generations in good condition. Are we really doing that? Another principle is care for our fellow human beings in the present: “Love does no harm to its neighbours” (Romans 13.10). But being energy-inefficient and fuelling climate change does harm our neighbours, especially those in the poorest communities of our world – bringing floods, drought, poor harvests, malnutrition, increased disease, increased poverty and even death. As we recognise the harmful effects of our lifestyle on the lives of others then we have a duty to change. Making small simple changes to the everyday things we do will help those most affected and often it helps us to save money or live a healthier life. Many of us have already begun to do this but I suspect there is still more that you and I can do to help take the heat out of global warming.
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