Happy Earth Day

Climate change is having a disproportionate effect on women, indigenous people and people of colour. Climate change hits hardest the poorest countries and poorest people of the world. Meantime, the widespread destruction of the natural world is a crisis for creation. Climate volatility, loss of biodiversity and concern about the future, create human need. This can range from those who are unable to produce a harvest, or who have lost their homes to flood, to those who are mourning the loss of countryside and species and need to lament.

Practical efforts to combat climate change are guided by theology – a belief in a creator God, and a hunger and thirst for righteousness. 

Responding to the climate crisis is central to our role as stewards of God’s creation and to achieve a just world.

The five marks of mission: 

The five marks of mission have been developed by the Anglican Consultative Council since 1984. Since then, they have been widely adopted as an understanding of what contemporary mission is about. The marks were adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in 1996 and used as the basis of action plans and creative mission ideas.

The mission of the Church is the mission of Christ:

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

3. To respond to human need by loving service

4. To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation

5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth

The fifth mark of mission is the mark which most explicitly provides the missionary rationale for engaging with environmental issues. However, each of the marks of mission demands ecological engagement and will be enriched and deepened by it.

Here's how you can put your faith and action:

• Consider what switches you could make: change to using LED/lower energy bulbs, recycled or sustainably sourced products, reducing use of disposable crockery and cutlery, use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• Consider how to reduce your travel footprint by walking or cycling more where possible.
• Many people do not have ready access to “green space” despite this being shown to be helpful to well-being and mental health. The local churchyard might well fill this deficit.  The Tadworth branch in the Diocese of Southwark, donated a MU bench to be put in the churchyard. This is a great gift to enjoy it is also a great way to advertise that Mothers’ Union is active in this church.
• Think about improving any outside land or space you have for the benefit of people and native wildlife through tree planting, wildflowers, bird feeders or bug hotels. 
• Join in with any local conservation work or community clean up projects.

Our actions make a difference and by making more sustainable everyday choices, we show we value the world God has given us - this Earth Day and beyond. 

Written by Ish Lennox, our Faith and Church Relations Manager.