Earth Day 2016 letter from Anglican and Lutheran leaders

Dear friends in Christ:

As we observe Earth Day on April 22, we commend to you the Storforsen Appeal, the statement from the conference The Future of Life in the Arctic: The Impact of Climate Change. Indigenous and Religious Perspectives held on Sami Territory in Sweden in 2015.

Earth Day Faith Celebrations

Earth Day is a movement that has given voice to an emerging consciousness of the unity of creation and the 'new creation' that is the resurrection of Jesus. The mutual love between God and God's people calls us to love and care for one another and all of creation.

Interfaith Power and Light is hosting Faith Climate Action Week, April 15-24. The nine-day national initiative surrounding Earth Day (April 22) connects, inspires and motivates climate action within faith communities across the U.S., offering a plethora of tools, tips, and guides for revamping or starting your faith-based climate program.

Church of England Continues with its Doomed Exxon Engagement Strategy

In 2015 the Church of England (C of E) formally adopted a climate and ethical investment policy. Recently Exxon tried to kill a motion supported by the C of E calling for transparency on climate resilience. The SEC has ruled that the vote can go forward. If the past is any indication of the present it is very unlikely to pass. In 2014 Exxon responded to the climate concerns of shareholders by saying that the company does not believe governments would impose policies that would severely limit emissions so sharply because oil and gas are so critical to global development and economic growth. Given the track record of Exxon and other fossil fuel companies pessimism is warranted. While the new C of E investment policy calls for engagement, divestment is an option when engagement is deemed unproductive.

Support the Interfaith Climate Change Statement

The Interfaith Climate Change Statement (2016) outlines religious leaders and faith communities positive judgement of the adopted Paris Agreement and urges for its prompt signature and ratification by governments so that it can come into force as soon as possible. It also insists that there is a significant increase in the current levels of ambition relating to emission reductions, financial flows, adaptation, loss and damage and a swift phase out of fossil fuel subsidies - so as to keep temperatures within reach of 1.5C.

Retreat - Eco-theology 101: Christian Thinking on our Relationship to Creation

Eco-theology 101 will take place on Friday April 29th from 5:00 pm to Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Retreat leader is Br. Robert L’Esperance.

We face a modern environmental crisis unprecedented in scale in the history of mankind. This retreat is an introduction to Christian thinking that seeks to expand both our religious understanding of humankind’s relationship to the created order as well as our proper place in that order.

Christians Give Up Fossil Fuels for Lent

As reviewed by Grist, the Washington Post recently reported how Christians in the UK gave up fossil fuels for lent. This is noteworthy for those in the Anglican Church of Canada who will be voting on a fossil fuel divestment motion later this year and specifically the Diocese of Montreal which has already voted to divest but has yet to act. 

Here is an excerpt from the Grist article:

A new initiative in the United Kingdom is not only calling for Christian communities to band together in support of clean energy, but actually helping them get their own electricity that way. The Big Church Switch, which launched Wednesday, aims to inspire both individuals and churches to make the switch to renewable energy sources — and they’re already gaining support from church leaders in the country.

Jesus Calls us to Take a Stand Against Fossil Fuels

You’re basking in the glow of a glorious Palm Sunday. Your plans are ready for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But how are you commemorating Table-Turning Monday?

"Jesus wasn’t crucified just because he said he was the son of God. He was crucified because he took a public stand against political and religious corruption that hurt the poor."

— Rev. John Helmiere, Valley and Mountain Fellowship (UMC)

Table-Turning Monday marks the day after Jesus enters Jerusalem—the day when he overturns the tables of the money changers in the Temple. This critique of the ways in which religious, political and economic powers collude to oppress common people set the course for Jesus’ journey to the cross. "Jesus wasn't crucified just because he said he was the Son of God," says Rev. John Helmiere of Valley and Mountain Fellowship in Seattle. "He was crucified because he took a public stand against political and religious corruption that hurt the poor."

Canadian Anglicans and The Right to Water Initiative of the National Youth Project (Diocese of Huron)

In commemoration of World Water Day (March 22) here is an article that addresses fundraising and educational efforts that are part of the Right to Water initiative in the National Youth Project in the Diocese of Huron.
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Fundraising and education efforts in the Diocese of Huron are providing a vivid example of how young Anglicans can support the ongoing Right to Water initiative of the National Youth Project (NYP).

Earth Hour Activities of Anglicans Faith Communities and Spiritual Groups Around the World

WWF's 10th annual Earth Hour takes place between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 local time on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Six continents, over 170 countries and more than 7000 cities and towns are expected to participate. This annual event calls everyone including people of faith and spiritual communities to turn off their non-essential lights and focus on environmental stewardship and climate action throughout the year. Participating spiritual organizations are being asked to register their involvement and add themselves to the online Earth Hour map.

This year's theme is: Protecting the places we love. We are encouraged to consider the places we love and what impact climate change may have on those places now and in the future.

Christ Church Cathedral Hosts Earth Hour Concert

On Saturday, March 19, CBC Montreal and the Choeur des enfants de Montréal are teaming up to present the 3rd annual Earth Hour concert. Five youth choirs will perform in the hopes of raising awareness for this global event. In keeping with the essential concept of Earth Hour, all of the Cathedral's lights will be extinguished and candles will be lit.

The concert is open to the public. There is no cost, but there will be a free-will offering at the door.

Christ Church Cathedral Montreal (635 St. Catherine Street West) Saturday, March 19, 2016
8:15 - 9:30 p.m.

Another Indigenous Environmental Activist Murdered in Honduras

Less than two weeks after the assassination of Honduran indigenous environmental activist Berta Cáceres, another member of her organization has been murdered.

We mourn and condemn the murder of Nelson Garcia, a faithful member of the Council of Indigenous Peoples of Honduras (COPINH).

Berta Cáceres and Nelson Garcia sacrificed their lives to protect their people’s land and river from destruction by the Agua Zarca Dam, one of the world’s largest dams that would cut off the ethnic Lenca people from water, food and medicine.

Remembering Berta Cáceres on International Women's Day

On International Women's Day 2016 we mourn the loss of Berta Cáceres, a truly heroic environmental organizer. On March 3rd she was gunned down in her hometown of La Esperanza, Intibuca in Honduras. Her assassins are still at large and unlikely to ever be brought to justice.

Berta was an indigenous women who championed land and resource rights. In 1993 she co-founded the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). She was a dedicated protector of the natural world who bravely stood up to powerful corporations, corrupt governments and police with ties to death squads.

Pope Francis' Homage to Wildlife

Early in December just ahead of the successful conclusion of the COP21 climate talks in Paris, Pope Francis hosted a moving photographic homage to wildlife. This show was part of a wider initiative by the pontiff to address environmental degradation and climate change in particular.

The show was titled “Fiat Lux: Illuminating Our Common Home” and it was inspired by the Pope's recently released "Laudato si," meaning ‘Praise be to you,’ a phrase commonly used by Saint Francis, the Pope's namesake. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology. He is one of the most famous Saints in all of Christianity and in one well known miracle St. Francis is said to have tamed a wolf that was terrorizing the people of Gubbio.

Anglican Diocese of Quebec fully Divested from Fossil Fuels

The Diocese of Quebec has fulfilled its pledge to divest from fossil fuels. In this regard this diocese is a model for other dioceses and national churches.
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Some aspects of the Governance of the Diocese of Québec differ from that of most or all other dioceses because of its time and place in pre-Confederation history. Within this Diocese, responsibility for investments rests within the mandate of an entity called Church Society of the Diocese of Québec. Church Society exercises this part of its role through an Investment Committee of professionals who volunteer their time and expertise.

Anglcans Think that Climate Action is a Priority for the Church

Anglicans appear to be in agreement that combating climate change is an important issue for the church. There are many different views on how Anglicans should respond to the climate crisis. The Church of England has put forward investment guidelines that take climate concerns into account. Some dioceses have voted to divest from fossil fuels including the Diocese of Montreal and the Diocese of Quebec has already fully divested. Two motions for climate sensitive investing will be brought forward at the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada in July.

Most Popular Posts of 2015

As part of our activities in 2015 the Stewardship of the Environment Committee published dozens of posts.  We covered a wide range of topics from the Blue Dot Movement at the beginning of the year to COP 21 at the year's end.

As part of our efforts to support responsible investing and specifically the divestment motion in the Diocese of Montreal, many of our posts focused on divestment from fossil fuels in faith communities.

Here are five of our most popular posts from 2015:

Combating Climate Change as a Moral Imperative
Anglican Bishops Call for Urgent Action on Climate Justice
Faith Communities Divest Holdings in Fossil Fuel Industry
Why Faith Communities Must Divest from Fossil Fuels
Church of England Adopts New Climate Change and Ethical Investment Policy

Call for Federal Action on Climate Change!

Sign the Call for Climate Action today to support an ambitious Canadian GHG emission reduction target! Now is a critical time for climate policy in Canada.

Draft Ecological Investment Motions for the General Synod 2016

The 41st General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada will take place from July 7-12, 2016 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel and Suites, Richmond Hill, Ont. in the Diocese of Toronto. The theme of the Synod is “You Are My Witnesses” which comes from Isaiah 43:10. Here are two draft investment motions to be tabled at the General Synod in 2016:

MOTION 1: SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL INVESTMENT TASK FORCE

Lenten Reflection Guide Forty Days with Scripture and Laudato Si'

The Lenten Reflection Guide from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns contains reflections, questions, prayers, and actions based on each week’s Gospel reading and the teachings of Pope Francis in his latest encyclical, Laudato Si’.

Summary of Activities in 2015 (Stewardship of the Environment Committee)

After a brief hiatus, the Stewardship of the Environment Committee is back with a new constitution and a new vision. We begin the new year with a review of our activities in 2015. As we reflect on the events of last year we are forced to concede that it was a momentous year. People of faith helped to advance climate action both on the world stage and locally.  We are grateful for those who strive to care for creation and for those who worked towards the positive outcome at COP21 and the successful passage of the fossil fuel divestment motion in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.

The Stewardship of the Environment Committee humbly appreciates all the support that it has received over the last 12 months. We would like to thank the consultants to our committee: Raymond Noel, Diane Norman and Afra Tucker. We would also like to thank Rev. Rhonda Waters, Deborah Tagornak, Henriette Thompson and John Scott for their contributions to our climate justice events in December.

Last year our primary areas of focus were faith and environmentalism, Pope Francis, fossil fuel divestment, and the Paris climate talks. As part of our expanding social media presence we posted 88 articles on our blog, Facebook page and Twitter feed, we supported 9 events and organized 3 actions. During the course of the year we prepared and supported the divestment motion that was passed in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal in October. Along with Christ Church Cathedral, we also organized a speakers conference and candlelight vigil in support of COP21.