The World Council of Churches Working Group on Climate Change decided at its meeting in Fiji in May to encourage churches to celebrate Creation Time, which this year runs from 1st September to 10th October.
The following report was written by Dr. Guillermo Kerber-Mas, Programme Executive, Climate Change, WCC:
Rev Tofiga Falani reminded us the Tuvaluan people, as other peoples from Oceania, have a strong relationship with the ocean (Moana) and the land (Fonua). Fonua expresses motherhood, womb, placenta, land in general1. In the experience of the Pacific peoples, in most of the cases small islands in the midst of a huge ocean, ocean and land are intertwined and intimately related to life and death, food, community and identity. When climate change, through floods and droughts, rise of sea level, king tides and the salinisation of fresh water threatens the very existence of these peoples, their resilience of this people is defied. What are the challenges they face? How do churches at the national, regional and global level react?
Invited and hosted by the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), 27 people from Africa, Asia, North and South America, Europe and the Pacific came together at the meeting of the WCC’s Working Group (WG) on Climate Change in Fiji on May 25-30, 2010. Despite of the environmental implications of travelling to the Pacific, the meeting made sense to learn from within, to express solidarity with the Pacific peoples and churches and to advance in the WCC’s work on climate change.
The meeting had three main objectives:
1. Immersion in and solidarity with the Pacific peoples and churches, i.e., to learn what is going on in the Pacific in relationship to Climate Change, what the churches and PCC in particular are doing and to accompany and express solidarity on behalf of the wide ecumenical movement;
2. A new ecumenical vision on climate change, i.e., to advance in a comprehensive approach to climate change issues taking into account new challenges and
3. An advocacy strategy at the global level, i.e., to review, under the present circumstances what should be the priorities of the advocacy work on climate change of the WCC and the ecumenical movement at the UN and other global fora.
After a round of introductions of the participants, welcoming words from the PCC General Secretary, explanation of the purpose, objectives and methodology of the meeting around a kava bowl, the group focused on the three goals.
1. In relationship to the Pacific, when planned, the programme of the meeting included, an exposure and solidarity visit to Tuvalu. This visit didn’t take place because of unexpected flight tickets problems when the group arrived in Fiji, which was deeply regretted by the group. An alternative programme was organized, thanks to a participant, Dr. Jacqueline Ryle, an anthropologist with a long field experience in Fiji, who managed to organize visits in Fiji to areas affected by climate change, namely the Nabila village, close to Nadi, and Treasure Island. Because of the erosion, the shorelines have been receding in the last decade, uprooted trees lay down on the coastline, and dwellers are worried by this climate change associated phenomenon.
Two Tuvaluan church leaders, Revs Tofiga Falani and Soama Tafia, President and Executive for Church and Society, respectively, of the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT), Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu, shared with the group their concerns in their country, as the impact of climate change is already being felt, king tides and droughts have affected plantations and access of fresh water and the church is promoting an awareness programme. The church is working on adaptation as resettlement should be seen as a last resort. They shared the statement of EKT on Climate Change.
Fe’iloakitau (Fei) Kaho Tevi and Peter Emberson, General Secretary and Ecumenical Animator on Climate Change of PCC, presented “Climate change and its consequences for Oceania” and “Climate Justice from a Pacific perspective”, showing the impact of climate change in Fiji (mentioning as examples the Nabila village and the Treasure Island that the group had visited) and other Pacific Islands, coastal erosion, the rise of sea level high tides and the responses so far: construction of artificial shoreline structures, shoreline (mangroves) vegetation and the need to face the challenge of resettlement of populations. PCC’s response tries to shift from uprootedness to accompaniment, recognizing mutual vulnerability, stressing accountability to each other and calling for ecumenical solidarity.
On Sunday 27th May, the group joined the worship of the neighbouring Methodist church in Sanasana village, where the group introduced themselves, expressed greetings to worshipers and shared gifts with church leaders.
2. On “A new ecumenical vision on climate change”, a discussion took place on papers prepared by Christiaan Hogenhuis (Oikos/ICCOKerkinActie, the Netherlands) , Ilkka Sippilainen (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland), Joy Kennedy (United Church of Canada) and Freddy De Alwis (Christian Conference of Asia) were presented (The latter couldn’t come to the meeting because of the turmoil in Bangkok).
The group discussed these papers in plenary and in sub groups which focused on:
A new paradigm
Biblical, theological and spiritual insights
Role of the churches
The centrality of Climate Justice, the relationship with the economic model, poverty, prosperity, wealth and greed, the contribution of “pantheism”, eco-feminism and indigenous perspectives as well as the need to reaffirm the “Spiritual values for Earth community” (David Hallman) together with various challenges the churches are facing were highlighted as components of this vision. The group considered there is a need to bring various inputs together and recommended to have a consultant to do this work in the coming months. A report should be available for the next meeting of the WG, to be held in Kingston, Jamaica, May 14-17, 2011, before the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation. At the same time, the group recommended to have a Conference on Climate Justice, to deepen its contents from an ethical and theological perspective and contribute to the political negotiations.
3. On “An advocacy strategy at the global level”, Nafisa Goga D’Souza (Laya, India) presented a perspective from the South, Kirsten Auken (Danchurchaid/APRODEV, Denmark) reflected on the work and lessons learned from the Ecumenical Climate Secretariat, Christian Hogenhuis (ICCO/KerkinActie) reflected on the collaboration between the WCC and the Global Campaign on Climate Action (GCCA), Will Bates (350.org, USA) shared the 350.org and 1010 initiatives and Guillermo Kerber (WCC), reported on the work of the WCC since the last meeting of the WG. Then subgroups discussed:
Advocacy on the long run
COP16/COP 17
Campaigns
Role of the churches
On the long run a mapping of strategic events was made, including COPs, UNFCCC meetings in between, UN General Assembly, G8 G20, Financing for development – ECOSOC, CSD. This subgroup suggested to have a quick response to the next IPCC Report 2013/14, to advocate towards governments in between the COPs and to enhance interfaith co-operation in advocacy as well as to focus on Greenhouse Development Rights (GDRs), get per Capita emissions back to the political discussions and explore advocacy on Human Rights and Climate.
In the COP 16/COP17 as well as in other subgroups it became clear very little can be expected from COP16 in Cancun, therefore the focus should be on COP16 and COP17 together, having a smaller delegation in Cancun, but still having a side event, a statement and an ecumenical celebration. COP16 could also be an opportunity for capacity building for some church leaders. Contact with South African churches should be done already.
The group recommended the WCC to be strongly involved in the 10:10 Campaign (http://www.350.org/1010) and link it with the Time for Creation (September 1 to October 10, this year), as a way to keep churches and congregations who were involved in the Bellringing350 campaign to have a concrete way to continue their commitment.
Churches empowerment to participate in advocacy on climate change stressed the need to enhance the ownership by the churches at leadership and parish level and made various suggestions, among them to connect climate and environment, address them in the entire church life (theological education, worship life, children’s education, women’s groups, youths) taking into account creation spirituality, assist churches in the South linking local advocacy with the global level, NCCs, REOs, Development organisations, WCC; link with NGOs and other civil society initiatives; foster interfaith cooperation; WCC to put up an interactive website for sharing experiences.
The meeting of the WG included a Living Letter to the Pacific Churches. The Living Letters members, Bishop Sofie Petersen (Lutheran Church, Greenland), Arthur Shoo (All Africa Conference of Churches, Tanzania/Kenya), Lic. Elias C. Abramides (Ecumenical Patriarchate, WCC WG on Climate Change, Argentina), Nikos Kosmidis (Church of Greece, WCC Echos Commission, Greece) met the General Secretary of the Methodist Church of Fiji, the Fijian Minister of Environment and Pacific Islands Forum Deputy General Secretary and visited the island of Viwa. After the meetings, they reported back to the WG on Sunday 27 May. A beautiful report, produced by Abramides and Kosmidis, is available at:
http://www.overcomingviolence.org/?id=7754
“Time for creation” were inspiring worships and moment of prayers held in the mornings, led by Joy Kennedy (United Church of Canada) and Rev. Henrik Grape (Church of Sweden).
Various documents from the meeting will be soon available at the WCC Climate Change webpage.
Special thanks:
To the peoples and churches in Oceania, for their witness to God the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier through their faith, hope and love expressed in their witness;
To the Pacific Conference of Churches, its General Secretary and staff, for the generous contribution towards hosting the meeting in a marvellous location;
To the Living Letters members, for their commitment, understanding and support and to Elias and Nikos for their most beautiful report;
To Jacqueline Ryle, for organizing the alternative programme of visits in Fiji;
To all participants for moderating sessions, making presentations, preparing “time for creation”, drafting reports, active participation and last but not least, excellent mood;
To WCC colleagues in Geneva and Fiji, for the hard work done, their support and the capacity to overcome a critical situation.
List of participants:
Elias Abramides (Ecumenical Patriarchate, Argentina); Kirsten Auken (DCA/APRODEV, Denmark); Will Bates (350.org, USA); Mark Beach (WCC, USA/Switzerland); Patricia Bruschweiler (WCC, Peru/Switzerland); Julie Chang (PCC, Fiji); Maria Chavez (WCC, Bolivia/Switzerland), Frank Ecke (Bread for the World, Germany/Papua New Guinea), Peter Emberson (PCC, Fiji), Tofiga Falani (EKT, Tuvalu), Lenin Folaumahina (PCC, Tonga/Fiji), Nafisa Goga D’Souza (India), Henrik Grape (Church of Sweden, Sweden), Christiaan Hogenhuis (Oikos/ICCOKerkinActie, the Netherlands), Guillermo Kerber (WCC, Uruguay/Switzerland), Nikos Kosmidis (Church of Greece, Echos Commission, Greece), Joy Kennedy (United Church of Canada, Canada), Jochen Motte (United Evangelical Mission, Germany), Sofie Petersen (Lutheran Church, Greenland), Jacqueline Ryle (National Council of Churches of Denmark, United Kingdom/Denmark), Michael Schut (Episcopal Church, USA), Arthur Shoo (All Africa Conference of Churches, Tanzania/Kenya), Ilkka Sipiläinen (Evangelical Lutheran Church, Finland), Bill Somplatsky-Jarman (Presbyterian Church, USA), Soama Tafia ((EKT, Tuvalu), Fei Tevi (PCC, Fiji); Peter Williams (WCC, Denmark/Switzerland)
Apologies:
Abraham Colque (ISEAT, Bolivia); Freddy De Alwis (CCA, Sri Lanka/Thailand), Sepiuta Hala’api’api (CCIA, Fiji), Jesse Mugambi (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Larisa Skuratovskaya (Russian Academy of Medicine, Russia).
1 Fonua is the word used for land in Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa. In Fiji is vanua, in French Polynesia fenua, the Maoris call it whenua. See HALAPUA, Winston, Waves of God’s embrace. Sacred perspectives from the Ocean, London, Canterbury Press 2008, p. 6.