Climate and the Church

I still plan to write about trickle in syndrome next week, but I couldn’t ignore what is happening with the global climate summit and the international environmental movement and protests. Having watched the news last night and seen Greta Thunberg’s angry but measured speech to the UN, her words “how dare you” are still ringing in my ears.

We as the church need to take notice. We should be informed about what is happening, and about how climate change has already impacted many people whose homes have been flooded and who are now refugees. We continually hear statistics about the number of species that have been lost from the planet and more recently the ongoing purposely set fires raging in the Amazon, the lungs of the planet. The protests and demonstrations that happened last Friday and which continue this Friday in 150 countries show the intense concern of youth who are leading the way.

We know that mental illness rates are skyrocketing, and it’s common to have high anxiety students in schools who can barely function. I’ve been asked where this anxiety comes from and I would hazard a guess that what this generation is being handed plays a big part - constant updates about how we are nearing the point of no return to having a habitable planet, lack of jobs, the grip of the 1% richest impoverishing so many, the constant pressure to find their value in soulless social media; I could go on and on, but perceived apathy about these issues is a big part.

The church has a responsibility to take the climate crisis seriously and to be informed about it. We need to be a voice for God’s hope and to not ride on the poor theology that somehow this is ushering in the end times and it is God’s will, or somehow God will supernaturally fix it. We need to communicate to the younger generations that we care about their future, that it is actually more important than our own comfort, and that we care about our neighbours down the street and around the world. More than that, we need to show that we take God’s command to steward the earth seriously.

What can the church tangibly do? First, thanks to those who are already actively involved in these conversations and committed to making a difference for the sake of Creation. Here are some suggestions for becoming involved in the fight to protect God’s world:

  1. Be informed and share information with your congregation and program participants. This can range from hard-hitting facts to stories of hope of what people are doing to make a difference. Too often we hear only the negative and terrifying and not always about the companies who have pledged to change their practices or the countries adopting strict standards or inventions by young people to clean our oceans or produce solar energy.

  2. As leaders, take stock of your congregation’s footprint. What things could the church do to lessen its impact on the environment? Think about everything that happens in a typical week or season, from what kinds of paper products you use to ensuring lights are turned off to the kinds of toilets you have (even putting an empty jug in each tank can off-set water use) to sealing windows and doors to keep heat in to cleaning products used and more. Many of these choices might even lessen your budget.

  3. Collect suggestions from the congregations about greening your church. Could solar panels be an option, planting a garden or trees, composting, not having a full printed bulletin, or having a dishwashing team instead of using disposable cups? See what ideas your people generate and then strategize about how to make them happen through the leadership.

  4. Track, and if possible, join the protests that are happening. Show your community that your church cares about what is going on. Post your support on social media and even consider holding an event to raise awareness or organizing a march. Pray for Greta Thunberg and all climate change activists, particularly young people, that they do not lose hope.

  5. Consider fundraising to support an environmental charity as a mission project, such as Greenpeace, Ecojustice or Kairos, or choose a denominational mission organization that has an environmental element to a need. Keep updating the congregation on progress made towards a goal set for your project and celebrate the difference you are making.

These are some beginning places for engaging in conversation about this extremely important topic. It may be tempting to avoid it, especially if it seems unpopular, but this ultimately helps no one and there are people who care deeply that you may not even be aware of in your midst. There is no better time than now to address this and to help young people to feel less alone and frightened about their future.

May we all realize what is at stake and take this seriously. May our young people come to trust that with God all things are possible and we are never outside of God’s care. May we, through our concern, show them what it is to give and love sacrificially for the sake of others.