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About Christian Ecology Link

Christian Ecology Link (CEL) is an ecumenical organisation for Christians who care about God’s Earth. We provide support for individual Christians and seek to inspire them, and church communities, to lives of pioneering ecological discipleship. We currently focus on two main campaigning issues - climate change and food - but also have a wide-ranging resource base at www.christian-ecology.org.uk and in printed form. We offer speakers for church events and conferences, and arrange at least one major event each year ourselves.

Climate Change

The Bible does not address global climate change directly. But it does suggest that if we love and serve God and respect his creation he will bless us with ‘the early and late rains’ so that harvest will be good, while if we turn aside and worship other gods (like cars and status) the land will ‘yield not her fruit’ (Deut. 11:13-17). The Psalms echo this message of respect and care for God’s creation (e.g. Psalms 65, 95, 104, 148). The climate is God’s gift to us and the whole Earth community. To put this wonderfully diverse planet at risk by dramatically altering something as fundamental as our global climate could be described as blasphemous.

We work with others on climate change to create a climate of justice for the poor and future generations. There are some differences of opinion on specific issues – nuclear power being the current pinch point on energy policy – but there are huge areas of consensus. For example, we need to ‘cut the carbon’ by pushing for a massive increase in energy efficiency and conservation, and an increase in renewable energy production, plus a lowering of consumption levels in the developed world.

The Operation Noah climate change campaign is an example of co-operative working on these many consensus issues. Operation Noah is a joint project of CEL and the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The campaign calls on people to take three simple steps. 1) Sign the climate covenant to put pressure on government and pledge personal action; 2) ‘cut the carbon’ for instance by switching to green electricity; 3) spread the word about climate change and Operation Noah. For more information and resources visit www.operationnoah.org.

Faith and Power

Climate change and the impending closure of ageing nuclear reactors have raised the prospect of a new nuclear reactor construction programme. In a new report, Faith and Power, CEL is arguing for a low consumption, non-nuclear energy strategy based on efficiency, conservation and restraint, with increased use of renewable sources and decentralised supply rather than nuclear power. (Faith and Power, cost £2, is available from CEL Publications, 40 The Avenue, Leeds LS8 1JG, or online at www.christian-ecology.org.uk/fp.pdf).

Food and CEL’s LOAF principles

Our main contribution to the debate on food issues is based on our LOAF principles. LOAF stands for food which is Locally produced, Organically grown, Animal friendly and Fairly traded. We encourage shared community LOAF meals where at least some of the food provided complies with LOAF. Promoting the LOAF principles through shared food stimulates discussion and debate. We also provide ideas for worship based on LOAF. Visit www.christian-ecology.org.uk/loaf for more information.

Community of Prayer

CEL’s Community of Prayer is a community, together not in space but in time, and in hope and purpose. Joining means that you are dedicating yourself to:

- Praying for the creation and action for ecological justice some time between 6am and 9am, or 9pm and 12 midnight every Wednesday

- Sharing prayers, poems and thoughts with others in the community

- Using the CEL Prayer Guide

Email CEL’s chaplain at community-of-prayer@christian-ecology.org.uk if you want to find out more.

One reason for Christians to care about the material as well as the spiritual world is that Jesus became a part of our material world by being born as a human baby. Through his bodily resurrection Jesus has transformed our relationship with the Earth, which is to be treated with great reverence. We Christians are called to love all neighbours, to be healers and servants. If we are to honour Christ we too must take responsibility for caring for the whole Earth. Members of CEL are striving to take that responsibility seriously in prayer and in action.

Barbara Echlin
CEL Secretary
bjechlin@fish.co.uk

13 Thornbank Crescent, Bexhill, East Sussex TN39 3ND.

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