Ash Wednesday witness events for peace, climate change

Campaigners outside the MoD

Two separate services in London on Ash Wednesday afternoon caused Christians to reflect on how they see 'security'.

At the first, more than 100 peace campaigners held their 30th annual prayer vigil outside the Ministry of Defence in London's Whitehall. Undeterred by light rainfall, they spelt out the word 'Repent' in ashes outside the main entrance, deploring the British Government's nuclear weapons policy and praying for a change of heart. Some of the group wrote the words, 'Repent', 'Choose life' and 'No Trident' in ash on the building itself. A cross was held high in the centre of the gathering, covered with purple ribbons in memory of places and people in need of peace.

Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi, the UK branch of the International Catholic Movement for Peace, has attended every Ash Wednesday witness since 1982. "For many people the issue of nuclear weapons is not in their minds because it is rarely in the news, yet it is very much at the core of our government's security policy" she said, "and in our small way we remind the government that this is not acceptable to us".

Various religious orders, Christian CND, YCW, the National Justice and Peace Network, the London Catholic Worker, the Movement for the Abolition of War and Pax Christi in several regions were represented this year. Well known peace campaigners such as Bruce Kent and Valerie Flessati were present. All called for Britain to turn away from dependence on nuclear weapons.

Pax Christi literature pointed out that the Ministry of Defence is spending £2bn on new nuclear weapons plants before a formal decision has been taken over whether to replace Trident warheads. The Royal Navy boasts over 40 years of uninterrupted nuclear deterrence, as at least one of the four Vanguard-class submarines is on patrol at any time.

Justice and Peace Scotland sent a message typical of many received, saying that, "as part of the human family we reject nuclear weapons as having any place in conflict resolution, not least for their indiscriminate destructiveness, but also for the necessary suspension of morality by those who operate them and the universal anxiety caused by their existence".

Later in the afternoon, a service was held at St Mary-Le-Bow in London's Cheapside to launch Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration, subtitled 'Climate Change and the Purposes of God: a call to the Church'. Leaders representing the UK's mainstream churches have signed the Declaration, calling for repentance over the prevailing 'shrug-culture' towards climate change. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh; Rt Hon Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London; Most Rev Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales; and leaders of the Methodist, Baptist and URC churches are among those who have signed. Operation Noah is a London-based ecumenical Christian charity providing leadership, focus and inspiration in response to the growing threat of catastrophic climate change.

Anglican Bishop David Atkinson, who leads Operation Noah's theological think tank, said: "Traditionally, Christians commit themselves to repentance and renewed faith in Jesus Christ on Ash Wednesday. We must live out that faith in relation to our damaging consumer economy, over-dependence on fossil fuels and the devastation we, as a species, are inflicting on God's world. We believe that responsible care for God's creation is foundational to the Gospel and central to the church's mission."

The Declaration, also signed by Most Rev Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, is framed around seven biblical themes: 'Find Joy in Creation', 'Listen', 'Repent!', 'Take Responsibility', 'Seek Justice'. 'Love our Neighbours' and 'Act with Hope'. It argues that, to be a Christian is to accept the call to radical discipleship and to work through the implications for church life of a low carbon lifestyle.

Both services were addressing the issue of security. One condemned misplaced trust in nuclear weapons and the second highlighted the need to see climate change as a security threat and to engage with it far more seriously than the churches are doing at present. There is particular concern for the developing world which is likely to be hardest hit: extremes of climate tend to be more intense at low latitudes and poorer countries are less able to cope with disasters. "To live simply and sustainably contributes significantly to human flourishing" said Bishop Atkinson at St Mary-Le-Bow.

For more information see: www.paxchristi.org.uk and www.operationnoah.org.