World Council of Churches
“The dignity of nature as Creation needs to be bound up with a responsibility for the preservation of life.”
Assisi Declaration 1986
“Christians repudiate all ill-consider exploitation of nature which threatens to destroy it and, in turn, to make man the victim of degradation.”
Christians might put their faith into action in a variety of ways. They could:
- Vote for candidates who show concern for environmental issues
- Pray about environmental problems
- Try to live a simple life-style. E.g. recycling, using bottle banks, making garden compost, etc
- Use less fuel, buy energy efficient appliances, insulate homes properly, install solar panels
- Organise car sharing, or walk or cycle to work
- Take part in protests, marches and demonstrations, write to MPs
- Join a “green” organisation, e.g. Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Christian Ecology Link
Organisations which Christians might support
Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Worldwide Fund for Nature. All of them are involved in campaigns and protests. None of them is Christian, but Christians might support them, or one of their campaigns, because:
- It is a way of putting their beliefs about stewardship and concern for others into practice.
- These are non-violent organisations, but which will take part in non-violent protest.
However, it is can be difficult for Christians to live a green lifestyle because Western society is a consumer society – everyone is encouraged to buy more and more, and to waste more and more of the world’s resources. Christians are only human, and can find it hard to go against the rest of society.
Many Christians do not think that the environment is anything to do with Christianity!
Some Christians simply do not see any link between Christianity and environment. The Bible does not mention the ozone layer / greenhouse effect. Others say that Christianity should be saving people’s souls, not the planet. They are frightened that caring for the environment has New Age links.
Christian Action for the Environment
Christian action for the environment has, in fact, been very little, compared with other big issues. There have been many reports, leaflets, statements and conferences, but little practical action, partly because Churches are involved with so many social issues that they cannot dedicate much time or resources to the environment. However, there have been some practical Christian responses to the environment.
Nottingham Churches Environment Network – NCEN
Founded in 1993, NCEN
- Produced a video “How Green is Your Church?”
- Produced a newsletter called “Greenleaf” –circulation of 6,000 in Nottingham,
- Set up talks, conferences and meetings
- Set up door-to-door recycling schemes, recycling centres on church grounds
- Advised churches in practical ways on how to become more green e.g. applied for funding for green projects on behalf of churches, gave practical advice, helped churches set up solar panels and wind turbines, low-energy light bulbs, etc..
Christian Ecology Link – CEL
Largest national organisation for Christians concerned about the environment. For 20 years, it has:
- Set up national conferences – often attended by MPs and members of the cabinet.
- Published a journal called “Green Christians”.
- Carried out ecological audits for churches.
- Set up practical environmental projects.
- Campaigned on major issues.
- Organised events such as “Car Free Sunday”.
However, only 500 people are members of Christian Ecology Link – out of millions of Christians in the UK!
