Methodists’ New Year’s Resolution

Methodists’ New Year’s Resolution - to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent within a year·
Call to be ‘earth keepers’ rather than ‘earth eaters’

Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, signed up to the 10:10 campaign yesterday on behalf of over 100 staff at Methodist Church House in London. Throughout 2010, staff will work to cut 10 per cent off the building’s energy use.

Martyn said: ‘We begin to change the world when we change our lives and lifestyles. It is absolutely right, then, that as Christian disciples heeding God’s command to be good stewards of the planet, and increasingly ‘earth keepers’ rather than ‘earth eaters’, we commit ourselves to joining the 10:10 campaign. Together we can make a small but significant change and express hope in God’s future.’

Using the principle of ‘small actions, big difference,’ office staff will be encouraged to switch off lights and computers when they are not in use. There will also be a travel survey, initiating a year-long challenge to look at travel patterns for work engagements in Britain and with partner churches worldwide.

Energy saving actions at Methodist Church House have already begun. Desk printers have been replaced by more efficient shared printers. All office staff have their own recycling bin with non-recyclable material now deposited in separate communal bins. Following the results of an independent audit by the Carbon Trust, there will be an investment in a suitable building management system and exploration of PIR (passive infrared sensors) lighting.

Tamsin Omond, Faith Coordinator for the 10:10 campaign, said: “It is great to have the Methodist Church joining the initiative. Faith groups have recently had a strong voice on this issue and turning words into action is essential to tackle the global problem of climate change. All our personal actions reinforce the message to our governments regarding the scale of ambition that we expect from international agreements.”

The wider Church is encouraged to join the campaign via http://www.1010uk.org


Source: Methodist News Service 07/01/2010

Methodist Church using investments to fight climate change

Aims to reduce carbon footprint of its portfolios
New investment policy on climate change ahead of Copenhagen Summit

The Methodist Church’s investment arm has outlined how its investments reflect Methodist teaching on the environment and take forward the fight against climate change. It aims to ‘create and manage portfolios with a carbon footprint that is relatively low and measurably declining.’

‘The new policy explains how we will encourage companies to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,’ said Bill Seddon, Chief Executive of the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church. ‘We will also look for better disclosure of emissions, including those produced from a company’s supply chains.’

The policy builds on the CFB’s work on climate change over many years. It has long been a signatory of the Climate Disclosure Project, is a founder member of the Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change and works with other churches through the Church Investors Group. It regularly asks companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions. ‘We are now looking for action to accelerate the reduction of those emissions,’ said Mr Seddon.

The new policy helps to integrate church investing with church teaching, most recently expressed in a report entitled ‘Hope in God’s future’.

Steve Hucklesby, Methodist Church Policy Adviser, welcomed the CFB’s approach: ‘We are delighted that the CFB has adopted this policy. Climate change threatens to cause irreversible damage to the planet’s eco-system causing suffering to millions of people over the coming decades. It is vital that governments commit to massively reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the Copenhagen Summit, but we should not just leave it to them. We can all play a part and companies also have a responsibility to act. With this policy, the church will also be making its voice heard in boardrooms.’

Tackling climate change issues through an investment policy will not always be straightforward. ‘We know we will not always get it right,’ said Mr Seddon, ‘but the Methodist Church will always seek to act as a responsible investor.’

Source: Methodist News Service 03/12/2009

Methodists Take Action on Climate Change

In case you stop reading before the end of this News Bulletin, I want to draw your attention to the challenge 'Everyone across the connexion is invited to comment'. Please read carefully, on this Blog Action Day:-



Copies of Hope in God’s Future – a report and study guide addressing climate change – are flying off the shelves just days after the first printed editions became available.

The first print run of the booklet has sold out and Methodist Publishing has ordered a second run.

Hope in God’s Future takes the reader on a journey using the changing mood of a worship service as a framework for considering climate change and people’s effect on the planet. It outlines the position of the Methodist Church, The Baptist Union and The United Reformed Church on climate change and invites people to see how deeply faith connects with the challenge facing us.

Thaddeus Dell, Carbon Reduction Policy Officer at the Methodist Church, said: “Hope In God’s Future gets people to understand the science and how this is linked to our Christian theology. Climate change is the greatest challenge to the Church in our generation. The science is overwhelming and it leads us to a moral obligation. It is especially important for people to engage in these issues ahead of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.”

The 2009 Methodist Conference adopted sections one to four of Hope in God’s Future as a draft Conference statement. This means that everyone across the Connexion is invited to comment before it returns to the Conference in 2011.

The study guide offers the full text of the report, as well as ideas for creative activities, inspirational prayers and worship, help and advice for leaders, and suggestions for group sessions lasting one or two evenings or even a whole day.

Copies of Hope in God’s Future are available from Methodist Publishing at £5.00 each, with discounts offered for bulk buys of 10 or more.


Source: Methodist News Service 15/09/2009

Churches Together plan climate prayer day in October

The Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) is calling on Christians to pray for the earth on 4 October. The initiative is timed in advance of the United Nations summit on climate change in December. The CTBI wants churches to organise prayer events throughout the country. The Bishop of London says he will be praying ‘that God’s will be done during the decisive Copenhagen conference’ and the Bishop of Liverpool hopes Christians will ‘pray for the earthing of heaven on this day of prayer’. The prayer day is endorsed by the Methodist Church and several Christian aid agencies. The Society of Friends is sending a statement to world leaders before the UN summit.

Source: The Church Times (28/8)

Church calls on all to repent of climate change sin

There has been some controversy in some circles about the use of the word sin in this context, but I think that this is a timely reminder that God, our Creator, charged the human race with taking care of His creation for Him, and failure to do so is surely 'sin'. This year's Methodist Conference has certainly been tackling many down-to-earth (if you'll excuse the pun) issues this year and we can be proud of its leadership in this and on other current issues:-

"Church to reduce carbon emissions by 80%

The Methodist Church is urging Christians to repent of the sins that contribute to climate change. A report received by the annual Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton today encourages people to acknowledge their complicity in systems that exploit creation and prey on the powerless.

But the Church also wants to empower Christians to make positive lifestyle changes, in line with the report’s title, Hope in God’s Future.

Revd David Gamble, the President of the Conference, said, “The first step in making a difference is the recognition of what we’ve done wrong so far. But we can’t just stop there. We must not be beholden to economic growth at the expense of our world and the lives of those who are most vulnerable.

“In the face of climate change, do we give up and treat it as a lost cause? No. We are people of faith. We can turn the tide if we commit ourselves to acting together to make our planet a safer space. So the report challenges the Church to tackle the issue head on, committing itself to significant action over the coming years.”

The report outlines plans to reduce the Church’s carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050, in line with the target set by the UK Government. The Government is criticised in the report for its failure to outline how these tough targets can be achieved.

“But we are also challenging ourselves,” added David. “We cannot expect the Government to take the issue seriously if we fail to do so ourselves, and this report outlines some big changes for the Church.”

Bishop Michael Baroi of the Church of Bangladesh urged the British Church to prioritise this work. He said, "By 2050, two thirds of my country will go under water and about 30 million people will be displaced and have no place of their own to live on this planet Earth, if we do not deal with this issue of global warming and climate change urgently and seriously".

Source: Methodist News Service 07/07/09

Methodist President: Church must make the world a safer place

I haven't got around to writing about my time away at the Methodist Conference and with my family, but i'd like to share part of the speech made by the new President of Conference for 2009-2010, the revd David gamble. I hope to write more later.

In his inaugural presidential address to the annual Methodist Conference, Revd David Gamble spoke of the need for the Church to be a ‘safer space’ for people from every walk of life.

David spoke particularly of the importance of supporting the survivors of abuse, affirming his commitment to making the Church and the world a safer place. He said; “When I’m talking about creating safer space I’m talking about places, situations, moments, relationships, occasions where and when people feel accepted as they are, able to tell their story, not judged and not put at unnecessary risk.”

David was inducted as the President of the Methodist Conference as the first order of business at opening of the Conference in Wolverhampton. He will serve for one year, representing the Church and meeting people across Britain.

Speaking of climate change as ‘the biggest issue facing our world today’, he said, “In the face of what is happening to this planet as the direct result of how we live, do we just give up, or is there a word of hope and are there possibilities to turn the tide and make this planet a safer space? Christians and churches need to be fully involved, and have things to offer in making our world a safer space.”

David also called for greater openness and understanding between people of different perspectives, traditions and faiths, commenting that, “If we really listen to people’s different perspectives we may come to a fuller and richer understanding ourselves. We can challenge and be challenged if there is respect between us. Not to seek to cast out those who think differently, but to listen, to understand and to grow.”

People can follow David’s travels on the President and Vice President’s blog (http://www.methodist-presandvp.blogspot.com/).

Source: Methodist News service 04/07/09

Norfolk churches under threat

Climate change is threatening churches in Norfolk as sea levels rise. Five churches along the River Thurne now stand on far less land than they used to as their grounds are swept away. ‘Communities are just floating away,’ said Kate Smith, a local historian. ‘We’re not talking about an act of Natural England [the government's advisor on the natural environment]. We’re talking about an ironic act of God.’ However, government plans to maintain the sea defences until 2048 should protect the Norfolk churches for the next 50 years, but locals are concerned at the fate of the churches after that time, if sea levels continue to rise.

Source: BBC (20/5)

‘Noah’s Ark’ will be built in Wales

The churches of Cardiff are recreating Noah’s Ark using ‘Helwick LV 14’, a ship docked in Cardiff Bay, to highlight climate change. The idea is part of Operation Noah’s Ark, a Christian–led campaign that aims to unite churches, environmental groups and individuals in a call for urgent action at the Copenhagen climate talks at the end of this year. Cardiff’s Ark project will involve schoolchildren, teachers, parents, churches, environmentalists, development organisations, a Salvation Army band, a gospel choir and live animals. The Ark symbolises the need to protect life on our planet, and is one of many Arks being recreated by churches in Britain and Ireland.

Sources: Church Times (14/1); Ekklesia (13/1)

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Can I draw your attention to my post headed 'Nostalgia', which spent so long in the 'Drafts' box that (although dated 13th January) it has just appeared on my blog!

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An Urgent Message from Oxfam

Decision makers are meeting this week in Brussels and Poland for crucial climate talks.

It's within their power to be bold and agree to action that will help avoid catastrophic climate change, yet they're on the brink of agreeing a shambolic, watered down position that risks locking us into a climate disaster.

We're facing a decision moment - let's demand bold, global action to tackle climate change

European countries are working out policy that should cement Europe's position as a global leader on climate change. Instead, some nations are inappropriately using the economic crisis as a reason to water down any serious plans.

The truth is that we don't have to choose between the economic crisis and the climate crisis - by investing in green jobs, and clean technology we can tackle both.

The irresponsible actions of some EU nations are now spilling over to UN climate talks, threatening to unravel any wider, global deal.

Oxfam's team of negotiators are working hard behind the scenes at the UN talks – piling the pressure on decision makers to get these critical meetings back on track.

There's no time to lose – demand bold, global action to tackle climate change

Churches Call for Crackdown on Carbon Emissions Through Energy Conservation

Concerns over Government go-ahead for Kingsnorth Power Station

The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church have urged the Government to reduce Britain’s carbon emissions following Lord Turner’s report published today.

The three denominations backed the report’s aim to substantially reduce carbon emissions by 2023. They called on Ministers to turn away from investment in coal-fired power stations and look towards pumping significant investment into energy conservation.

Steve Hucklesby, Methodist Policy Adviser, said: “We welcome the Government announcement of spending to provide better insulation and energy saving measures for public housing. Those on lower incomes have found the rise in fuel prices particularly difficult. But we must go much further and invest in a programme to conserve energy across the economy.

“It is difficult to see how we can invest in new coal-fired power stations such as Kingsnorth and still achieve the rapid decarbonisation of our economy necessary to avert climate change. Coal-fired power stations produce more carbon emissions than any other generating source. We need to begin now to work for a future in which fossil fuels will be the exception, not the rule.”

The three churches also stressed that while carbon offsetting was a positive action, it would be unacceptable for Britain to use carbon credits to buy out its responsibility to reduce domestic emissions.

“Carbon offsetting is not the solution to climate change. It is right that we support the development of clean energy in developing countries, but substantially buying out our responsibility to reduce emissions in the UK would be unjust,” said Steve.

The Methodist Church working with Church Action on Poverty sent out leaflets to all its churches today with information on how to reduce fuel bills and CO2 emissions.


Source: Methodist News Service 01/12/2008

The October meeting of the Methodist Coouncil

The Methodist Council met on 13-14 October at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire. This is the first of three meetings planned for the current Church year.

Issues discussed included the impact of current financial turmoil on the Church, climate change, the shape of the Church’s ministry and deployment, and the setting up of research and strategy projects for the coming year.

The Council endorsed the formation of a climate change and theology working group, to produce a report on climate change from ethical and theological perspectives. The group will be made up of representatives from the Methodist Church, United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Their report will focus on the need for both individual and corporate action, particularly in terms of the national Churches’ environmental policies. It will be presented to Council in April 2009, before going to the Methodist Conference in July.

There were lengthy discussions on the nature of ministry in the Church and in particular the distinctive Methodist processes involved in candidating, training and serving as a Methodist minister. Members of Council considered issues such as how to more easily identify and make use of the distinctive gifts of ordained ministers and how to encourage and promote lay discipleship.

The Revd Ken Howcroft, Secretary for Methodist Council, said; ‘This is a complex issue that affects the whole Church as it is renewed for worship and mission. Our current practices have been in place for a long time and determine the nature of Methodist ministry. They affect how ministers are placed around Britain and their experience of serving in the Church. As we seek to fulfil our calling and serve the present age, we need to seek a way forward that can be people-centred and flexible, whilst still retaining those features that make us distinctively Methodist.’

The Council also received a report on some of the consequences of the recent financial turmoil on the finances of the Church. Connexional Treasurer Ron Calver recommended that hasty decisions not be taken and that any detailed judgements affecting the Church’s finances be made next year when the financial situation has become clearer and there has been time to consider some of the long-term issues.

The Council is also responsible for approving the work plan of the Church’s Connexional Team. Projects approved for the coming year include further research on alcohol use and health warnings, a study guide on early human life and establishing a Methodist Heritage Committee."

Church urges Government to ‘get serious’ on Climate Change

Action must not be overshadowed by fear of turmoil on financial markets

The Methodist Church in Britain has responded to the report of the Committee on Climate Change by calling for concrete action and a commitment to long-term change.

The Church has welcomed the Committee’s proposal of an 80% target for the reduction of carbon emissions by 2050. This will require a greater investment in energy efficiency and rapid ‘decarbonisation’ of the power and transport sectors. The Church has expressed concern over an apparent lack of direction from the government as to how this is to be achieved.

Christine Elliott, Team Secretary for External Relationships, said: ‘This is a huge challenge. We cannot let the fear of turmoil on the financial markets paralyse us. In the Britain of the future the use of fossil fuels must become the exception rather than the rule.’

The Methodist Church has raised particular concerns over the use of carbon offsetting by industrialised nations. In submissions to Parliament the Church called for the use of carbon credits to be very limited (offsetting no more than 10% of the UK carbon reduction effort). The Government has argued for industry to have the flexibility to use carbon credits to buy out 50% of the carbon reduction effort required by the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

‘It would be unethical to dodge our responsibility to cut emissions in the UK by purchasing carbon offsets’, said Steve Hucklesby, Policy Advisor. 'Investment in clean development projects overseas is vital but cannot be a substitute for reducing carbon emissions in the UK. We are looking to the Government to provide strong leadership in mapping out the path to a low carbon economy’.

Source: Methodist News 9/11/08

Eco-Congregation Award

At the morning service on 17th August at Caversham Heights Methodist Church, in the Reading and Silchester Circuit,the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Peter Beard, presented to the Revd. Dermot Thornberry (the minister of the church) a plaque celebrating its success in being granted the Eco-Congregation Award of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The church is the first in Reading to gain the Award, following four year’s work by a small group of members with the encouragement of the former minister of the church, the Revd. Rosemary Fletcher.

Ecology is defined as the interaction of people with the environment and churches applying for the Award have to demonstrate their active concern with many aspects of the environment in which their members live. They have to show their concern for their neighbours in the local community and their neighbours in the wider world community, particular the developing world. They have to demonstrate their awareness of the impact of climate change on the physical environment and the actions that a church and its individual members can take to mitigate its effects.

Each Sunday worshippers include paraplegics from the Milbury Care Group and other handicapped members of the local community. The Church provides a home for many local community groups including a pre-school, the 2nd Caversham Girls’ Brigade Company, a flower club, a Women’s Institute, a Townswomen’s Guild, the Red Cross and the Polio Fellowship. It is the host to two well- patronised groups started many years ago by members of the church, the Caversham Heights Society and the Stay Awhile lunch club for pensioners.

The poverty and injustice suffered by people living in the developing world have for long been a concern of members of the Church. Ten years ago it established a partnership with the United Church of Zambia at Mindolo in Kitwe for which it provides prayerful, financial and material support. Members are firm supporters of Fair Trade and have been actively involved in the Make Poverty History, Fairtrade and Tools With A Mission campaigns.

The Christian church celebrates creation and is committed to respect for the earth. Evidence of a concern to preserve the natural environment is a priority in the assessment for the Award and the Church has had to demonstrate that it has taken action in respect of fuel economy, recycling and the elimination of waste. The attention of church members has been drawn in Church newsletters to the practical action that they can take to care for God’s world.

The Award is valid for three years, during which time the Church is required to examine its commitment to its objectives and to ask itself if there are areas where it could still do better.

For more information about how your church could work towards the Eco-congregation Award visit:
www.ew.ecocongregation.org

Caversham Heights Methodist Church website:
www.cavhmc.org.uk

Methodist Response to Queens speech

Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, says;

"The Government wants to make education, housing and health care the centre of its work over the new Parliamentary session. Methodists care passionately about these issues and welcome the opportunity for debate.

The Methodist Church welcomes the introduction of the Climate Change Bill. Earlier this year we responded to this bill in its draft form. As a nation the UK must achieve real year-on-year cuts in carbon emissions. The urgency for action is underlined by a report published by the UN today stating that carbon emissions from industrialized countries are at a record high. We argue that long-term targets should be revised in the light of the findings published this year by the International Panel on Climate Change. In addition we must not use the purchasing of carbon credits overseas to buy out our own responsibility at home.

The Human Tissues and Embryos Bill will prompt further debate on abortion and the ethical and moral issues around early human life. The Methodist Church will seek to listen, learn and speak with great care on this sensitive issue.

We take a keen interest in the proposals to combat terrorism. The Methodist Church previously opposed extending the time for which people can be held before trial to 90 days but we recognise the need to consider how a balance can be achieved between providing adequate powers to address terrorism and ensuring the right to liberty and justice for all."

Source: http://www.methodistchurch.org.uk/opentogod.news/ 6/11/07

I don't agree with the proposal to make it compulsory for young people to stay on at school or in training until the age of 18, although I fully understand the reasons behind it and am always encouraging those who left school early without much in the way of qualifications to take every opportunity to study to get those qualifications later in their lives. Anything that is compulsory tends to evoke rebellion in many teenagers, whereas I have known several who thought school was a waste of time until they found a job. Then they realised the point of it all and are quite happy to do that same study now because they can see how much it will help their work.

The opposition, who say that the Government is tackling the problem in the wrong way because we should, rather, be dealing with the cause of unqualified school leavers, has a very good point. However, it is far from easy to find a way to prevent the perfectly natural rebellion against compulsory education which happens even now and will surely increase if this legislation goes through.