Christians Aware: 'Care for Creation by the World Faiths'

Christians Aware Group at Embsay Eco Church.

Christians Aware's annual Summer School took place on 21-26 July with the theme: 'Faith in Life: Care for Creation by the World Faiths'. For five days at Parcevall Hall in the glorious Yorkshire Dales participants heard from people of various faiths talk about their commitment to caring for Creation, visited inspiring projects on the theme and joined daily Bible study and worship. Singing creation-centred hymns, attempting Japanese flower-arranging and studying creation-centred Art and Faith all added to the positive experience.

Amidst all this, you could walk outside with a cup of tea and hear the singing of birds, the bleating of sheep and the buzz of insects. When looking over the green fields towards Simon's Seat on the nearby hill it could be hard to believe that life on Earth is under threat but those still engaging with current affairs during the week heard about wildfires in Canada, destructive floods in Myanmar and the Philippines, and the impact of drought on food security in Africa. Lichens, a keystone species, were still there on the walls of Percevall Hall, as in previous years, but we know that throughout the UK lichens are declining in many areas due to pollution and habitat change. We were honoured that Dr Judith Allinson, a world expert on lichens and a consultant botanist, spent much of the week with us.

Executive Secretary Barbara Butler of Leicester-based and ecumenical Christians Aware introduced the weekend: "Nothing is more important than the future of life on Earth and it is vital that people of faith work together to bring hope for its flourishing."

Hindu theologian Jayaraj Nambiar of the Bradford Hindu Council spoke of the imperative to be mindful of how the Earth is treated. He reported on India's Bishnoi community in Rajastan where lives have been sacrificed over the centuries to defending trees and wild animals in an ecologically sensitive area, and on the Chipko community of the 1970s where trees were hugged to prevent them being cut down by loggers. A Sikh speaker from Leeds spoke about EcoSikh projects in the UK, especially tree planting. A Buddhist speaker from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland emphasised that "transformation is within us" and this translates to eco-action in the community. The call of Pope Francis in his encyclical 'Laudato Si was highlighted, particularly his invitation to "ecological conversion."

From the Christian perspective a scalding talk was given by Rev'd theologian Jon Swales, Head of the Lighthouse Community in Leeds and author of Green Christian's, 'Lament and Hope: 40 Prayers for the Climate and Ecological Emergency'. "Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years: climate change," he said, and, "the shadow cast by our reliance on fossil fuels grows longer with each passing year." He talked of love of neighbour and God's creation, and "we should include a love for future generations for what we do in the next few years will determine the level of suffering which will be faced by future generations." He concluded with: "If we are to live missionally in a warming world we should be tender and compassionate to those who suffer because of climate breakdown (to the refugees, those in economic hardship, the hungry, those overwhelmed with climate grief), but the church should also be involved in justice shaped work that seeks to avert the worst of what may be."

Church people involved in radical action include Rev'd Mark Coleman, another Anglican priest, and based in Rochdale. A long-time climate campaigner and supporter of Just Stop Oil and Christian Climate Action, he has twice been jailed for taking nonviolent direct action. He spent several days with our group and told us of the imperative "of telling the truth and acting on climate right now to stand any chance of a safe and stable future." What a privilege to hear from Mark and his motivation to be a prominent Christian climate activist.

But what evidence of parish action? Participants visited St Mary's parish church at Embsay in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds, which won a rare Arocha UK Gold Eco Church award last November. In order to achieve this, the church and congregation had to address five different areas: Worship, Lifestyle, Buildings, Land and Global and Community Engagement. Three wall hangings were on display, containing over 50 individual panels showcasing the various eco actions which the church congregation have sustained in their own lifestyles and in reaching out in the parish and to the local community. The parish worked through the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for over a decade. Diana Linford, Parish Environment Officer, told us: "We see our Eco Church journey as one of small steps and we are keen to encourage other churches and individuals to start making small changes which really can make a difference." She and her inspirational team regularly share their journey with the whole congregation and include them in decision making, particularly - at the moment - around replacement of the gas boiler to reduce carbon emissions.

Another visit to a Quaker-inspired market garden 'Growing with Grace' highlighted a project providing local communities with fresh, locally grown organic foods. Weekly Organic Vegetable Boxes and Grocery Deliveries are made to Lancaster and surrounding areas of South Cumbria, Skipton, the Yorkshire Dales, Ilkley and Otley. Five large greenhouses were providing a mix of abundant vegetable crops with flowers and wildlife flourishing alongside. Our group was wilting after only an hour in the hothouses, but we were able to move to a picnic area and visit the farm shop. Well done to all those volunteers supporting this project.

Jane Skinner - an Anglican Parish Priest in Devon - led a session on 'Ikebana', the Japanese art of flower arrangement which reflects the harmony and balance between opposing elements - for example, between life and decay (perhaps a withered flower and a new bloom in the same arrangement), or between extravagance and simplicity. We were asked to select and then arrange flowers, leaves, branches, and stems to reflect the beauty of nature and evoke emotions in the viewer. Well - we did our best! The artist among us produced something very special - symbolising the beauty of all components of the natural world working in harmony.

Stephen Skinner, also a Parish Priest in Devon, led thoughtful daily bible studies and worship. Discussions ranged from 'The Cosmic Christ' to 'How can you distinguish between worshipping the creator God (Panentheism) and worshipping in some sense creation itself (Pantheism)? And this was first thing every morning! Ali Bullivent, a musician and singer, brought welcome musical accompaniment to liturgy, drawing on resources from the Iona Community's Wild Goose Resource Group and other relevant sources. In an evening worship we prayed:

'Peace to the land and all the grows in it

Peace to the sea and all that swims in it

Peace to the air and all that flies through it

Peace with our God who calls us to serve.'

Christians Aware - an international and ecumenical network - plays an important role in developing multi-cultural understanding and action towards human development and care for creation. Its educational focus is timely for active Christians, wanting to learn about social and environmental concerns and action. I found it a very affirming and encouraging week.

See: www.christiansaware.co.uk

Rev'd Jon Swales talk at: www.cruciformjustice.com/post/creation-theology-climate-apocalypse