WCC NEWS: An environmental agenda for the churches

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World Council of Churches - News

AN ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA FOR THE CHURCHES

For immediate release: 21 May 2011


Exploring how churches can positively respond to the challenge of climate
change and environmental destruction was the aim of one of the workshops
of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) Friday in
Kingston, Jamaica.

The content of the workshop called “Empowering Churches from North and
South to advocate for Climate and Environmental Protection” reflected
the theme “Peace with the Earth”, which was the overall focus of the
IEPC on Friday.

The IEPC, which is being held 17-25 May by the World Council of Churches
(WCC), the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) and the Jamaican Council
of Churches, has brought together some 1,000 peace activists and faith
leaders from more than 100 countries in order to explore the role of the
church in peacemaking.

The Empowering Churches workshop was one of more than 40 different
workshops focusing on peace with creation. The organizers opened the
Friday workshop with a short video showing how the initiatives taken by
member churches of a missionary society in Germany, the United Evangelical
Mission (UEM), impacted a small village in West Papua, Indonesia.

At the time of the initiative most of the inhabitants of the village did
not have access to electricity. Through a shipment of solar-powered lamps
developed locally in Germany to West Papua, electricity became accessible
and the lives of many in the village and later the broader province were
changed radically.

Rev. Dr Jochen Motte, the executive secretary for justice, peace and
integrity of creation at UEM said that one of the aims of the missionary
society is to empower churches in North and South to advocate for climate
and environmental protection through concrete actions.


Solar-powered development

Providing a simple lamp in the middle of the house radically changed the
habits of local people in West Papua, giving them more time to seize the
day and develop other activities or spend more time interacting among
family and friends.

The solar-powered lamps in Indonesia became one among a growing list of
examples on how concrete efforts can make a difference, both within a
community and for the sake of the environment.

Speaking on behalf of one of the member churches of the UEM, the
Evangelical Church of Westphalia, the Rev. Dr Elga Zachau shared a
powerful example of steps being taken locally in Germany.

Not only did project in Westphalia create awareness about the need to care
for creation but also set new standards for the daily life of the
churches, she said.

Zachau said there is now an environment-friendly label given to churches
and organizations that reach a certain level of concrete commitment and
action with the environment.


Green Cock label for eco-congregations

Named after the animal that traditionally sits as a weather vane on every
German church spire, the “Green Cock” has become the symbol of an
inspiring management programme. Each church adapts the programme to its
specific needs and goals for energy saving and the reduction of their
ecological footprint.

The Green Cock label has already been applied to more than 25 percent of
the churches in Westphalia, including several Protestant churches and
Roman Catholic dioceses. The label is accredited as a formal certificate
of the European Union eco-management and audit scheme.

Motte said that the UEM is deeply inspired by the wider perspectives on
climate change advanced by the ecumenical movement, such as the call from
the World Convention on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in 1990.

“Being part of the WCC working group on climate change, we believe that
this issue should be a main focus of the ecumenical movement now, just
like the issue of violence was a priority over the last decade,” he
said.

In 2008, the UEM, which is associated with the WCC, promoted an exhibition
on climate justice that has been shown on more than 70 congregations,
churches, and institutions.

For the UEM and churches in Westphalia, taking concrete actions toward
environmental sustainability is also taking a step in peace with the
earth.

For live video streaming of the plenaries visit the IEPC website:
www.overcomingviolence.org (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=c786b8952eddcfedd41d )

More information on the WCC and climate change (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=0813491abcdd8dd767ae )

IEPC photo galleries (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=a8635e332c4d294468bf )

IEPC videos (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=1228dddb9a8c62518399
)

High resolution photos of the event may be requested free of charge via
photos.oikoumene.org (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=5ba82d8e5086ce11eeac )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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