Maureen is one of the Methodist reps on the ECI committee and she provided a report on this interesting event:
I attended this meeting on behalf of Eco Congregation Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland (Environmental Action Group). Attendance included climate activists from a range of faith and community groups and we were cordially hosted by NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) and Join the Dots Together.
The aim was to discuss how the new Women, Faith and Climate Network might continue to develop. Dr Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, described the initiative as emerging from a feeling of frustration after COP 26 in Glasgow when a statement from 50 faith leaders was not followed by a step change in engagement with climate action.
Many women shared disappointment and concerns about ‘blockages’ to grassroots action in male-dominated faith organisations. They included a member of Wilton Park, an executive agency sponsored by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. Wilton Park was able to provide resources to support exploration of the issues and ultimately to support an in-person gathering of 50 women community leaders, representing, between them, up to 72 million women in faith organisations.
The Network is still in development but has support from Mary Robinson’s Project Dandelion. The aims include facilitating women to share stories of action they are taking for climate justice, supporting initiatives taken by women in greening places of worship and collaborating on key advocacy moments such as COP 30 in Brazil in 2025. Communication will be primarily online, through webinars led by women. Men are not excluded from participation but leadership by women is vital.
After Lorna Gold’s presentation, participants had the opportunity for small group discussion on whether there is space among busy women in faith communities for a network like this.
The initiative was welcomed overall and it was emphasised that it is important to link climate issues to other areas in which women are deeply involved, especially in Northern Ireland, e.g. peace and reconciliation, combatting poverty, youth work. The challenge of keeping a focus on ‘doing’ yet finding the time for ‘talking about’ was also highlighted.
Lynda Gould from NICVA reminded us of lines from WR Rogers:
It is always the women who are the Watchers
And keepers of life: they guard our exits
And our entrances. They are both tomb and womb,
End and beginning. Bitterly they bring forth
And bitterly take back the light they gave.
The last to leave and still the first to come,
They circle us like sleep or like the grave.
Earth is their element, and it lies
The seed and silence of the lighted skies,
The seasons with their fall and slow uprise,
Man with his sight and militant surmise.
It is always the women who are the Watchers
And Wakeners.
(Poems: WR Rodgers, edited by Michael Longley, Gallery Press)
More information on the Women, Faith and Climate Network here.