Wellbeing for the Sacred Earth
“It is time for us to emphasise that now and always the church exists not for its own sake but for the sake of the world and of a new humanity in Christ. This is unmistakably affirmed in John 1”, said Rev Gregor Henderson some years ago as he was installed as the national President of the Uniting Church in Australia at the 11th Assembly in 2006.
His words reminding the Assembly of these timeless truths still ring true to me in this Easter season 2024. Gregor went on to say, “John’s prologue proclaims that the whole of creation came into being through God’s Word. It is God’s world, not ours, and God’s incarnate Word came for the whole world. This is what compels Christians to engage with the world. We are not called to live apart from the world; we are called to join God in God’s world. God is already there, working for peace and love – but thwarted by people who do not recognise God in their lives and in their world.”
Over the past 18 months it has been a privilege for me to meet a smorgasbord of people who are similarly committed to caring for the wellbeing for the sacred earth. Many of them are Christians, but others are affiliated with other spiritual traditions – Baha’i, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Quakers and more. Just as Noah brought together a diverse collection of creatures on the ark, we have found our connection through a contemporary ‘ark’ (ARRCC). This is the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, and I have primarily been involved with ARRCC(WA) – the Western Australian Chapter.
Last September a Multi-Faith Forum on Climate Change was held in Bentley. Over 50 people from diverse backgrounds came together for a very intense, lively, and interesting series of presentations. Professor Peter Newman and Dr Richard Yin were keynote speakers among other passionate presenters from different spiritual traditions. There was a common enthusiasm for exploring issues related to climate change that grew out of spiritual perspectives on the sacredness of the earth and the expectation that humans shared a deep responsibility for taking care of the planet to ensure a safer environment for all people around the world. Additionally, there was a long-term responsibility to future generations – of human beings and all other creatures.
If you didn’t participate in UnitingWorld’s ‘Lent Event’ this year, valuable resources for reflection about ‘Creating a climate of change’ can still be found on the UnitingWorld website – lentevent.com.au
There are some challenging questions about environmental priorities facing Western Australians this year. To help our preparedness to respond, people may be interested to join in the Climate Conference ‘Faith in a Better Future’ which Uniting Climate Action Network (NSW-ACT Synod) is holding on 11 May 2024. We can join online, though note the 7.00am start for WA. Register on the website www.unitingclimate.org – it’s free. This looks to be a great opportunity to connect with others involved in this subject.
A Global Week of Action headed ‘Faiths4ClimateJustice’ is being planned with GreenFaith, an international partner, and ARRCC. International disruptions have led to this being postponed from May until 14 to 24 September. Find out more about how you can get involved on the ARRCC website www.arrcc.org.au/weekofaction
As ‘Easter People’ let’s translate our faith in the risen Christ into visible action towards the protection and renewal of the whole planet earth.
Rev Ken Devereux is a retired Uniting Church Minister and Vice-President of ARRCC(WA).
This article was first published in the April 2024 edition of Revive magazine.
