6 mins
Climate change ‘treasure’
I write to thank Ross Greer and others for keeping the climate emergency at the forefront of the Kirk’s mind. Ian Cooper, in January’s edition, drew attention to Mr Greer’s youth and enthusiasm, alleging naivety. It is an elderly gentleman, Sir David Attenborough, who has done more than almost anyone else to raise the awful spectre of climate change in the wider public consciousness. Is he also too young, enthusiastic or naive?
Mr Cooper’s main point is worth engaging with: that continuing investment in the oil and gas industry allows us a voice and a platform to promote change.
However, most economic evidence to date completely undermines this assertion. These companies are only very slowly changing, doing so not because of shareholder pressure but rather an eye to a future shrinking market for their main commodity. They have, over many years, always put profit and company survival above all else. It will be how the market changes that will have the most influence. I have personal experience of the boom and bust cycle in the oil industry and know at first hand how profit and survival are always the oil company’s primary concern. Relatively small investors like us, as Mr Cooper notes we are, kid ourselves if we think we have influence in the boardroom. Purchasing power is all we’ve got.
There is a much more fundamental issue: are we willing to put our money where our mouths are? How can any of us talk of a just and Christian response to the terrible danger we face if we continue to profit from creation’s extinction? It may cost us, but where our treasure is then our heart is also. That might be economic naivety, but the truth of those words cuts to the core of this debate.
Investing the Kirk’s money in those genuinely working towards a cleaner future not only sends a clear message that we care, but also facilitates a more just transition and a better tomorrow. The Kirk’s ‘treasure’, in turn, might make it more possible for us all to live more lightly on the planet, God’s creation.
Gordon Strang (Rev), Grantown-on-Spey
Holy Land today
Thank you very much indeed for publishing in December’s Life and Work John Chalmers’ meditation from Bethlehem as it really is today. Ignorance and the absence of widespread protest about what has been happening to people in Bethlehem are impossible to defend.
Especially in the Church: only a few months ago, I was seriously disturbed when a speaker for 40 minutes at an open Guild meeting about the deeply refreshing experiences of a recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land without even mentioning the Wall and the plight of Palestinans in the streets.
So it was particularly heartening to also read John McCulloch’s report of Christmas in Bethlehem, with pictures of Banksy’s mural and “Modern day” greeting cards.
By next year, can we hope that our worthy charities will have replaced their smartly designed images of Bethlehem with truthful messages that show they do know and we should all care about what is actually going on?
Jack Kellet (Rev), Innerleithen
Cartoon: Bill McArthur
It was opportune to include three articles from Palestine/Israel in the December issue of Life and Work and the writers are to be commended for describing the reality of life for the Palestinians today – exclusion, intimidation, dispossession, humiliation etc.
It is more than ten years since I served as an Ecumenical Accompanier monitoring human rights in East Jerusalem and Opt. The Palestinians then were immensely grateful to the Kirk and other NGOs for all their support be it material, emotional or spiritual. But they said they did not want charity – what they needed was their freedom. They were utterly perplexed that so many came to witness their suffering and injustice and yet nothing changed, things only became worse.
Prayer, expressions of hope and lighting of candles are important and have their place. But surely as Christians we have a moral obligation to do more. It is to be hoped that the new Faith Impact Forum will continue to address the situation and encourage church members to become involved and play their part. Kate Aspinwall, Stevenston, Ayrshire
African example
I write to support the points put forward by the Rev Frank Ribbons in ‘Hubs and Vacancies’ (Life and Work December 2019). He advocates the formation of ‘Hubs’ or groups of congregations served by one minister of Word and Sacrament.
In 2018 a Report, on what the Church in Scotland can learn from the Church in Africa, was warmly welcomed by the General Assembly.
One of the things we can learn from the Church in Africa is how to do hub style ministries. For our partner churches in Africa, groups of congregations served by one minister is the norm.
The minister visits the congregations in turn, leads worship and administers the sacraments etc. In the other congregations in the group or hub, the services will be led by the members/elders.The development of the Church depends on the ‘Ministry of All God’s People’ and the Churches in Africa are growing!
The Report estimates that by 2060, 40% of the world’s Christians will be living in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ian Moir (Rev), Edinburgh
A spiritual home
On p11 in the December 2019 Life and Work magazine the Secretary to the General Trustees, David D Robertson is responding to Prof Hume who has pointed out in the Life and Work November issue (under letters) that he is very concerned by the fact that congregations will not only lose buildings through the Church of Scotland Radical Action Plan but also their homes.
A church building is much more than just a structure with a roof on its top. It is a spiritual home to a congregation and many people of each parish. It is a safe haven and a place of hope and peace. And it will break people’s hearts that because of great financial difficulties of the national Kirk they have to leave their church homes which have meant so much to them and of which they have been rightly proud for many generations. The Kirk will lose AGAIN members in this process. This time some or even many of her hardworking, long-serving, faithful, loyal, devoted and committed members who are usually also the most generous financial contributors to the church. It is heartbreaking for me to listen to some of my members telling me that they will stop going to church at all if they lose their precious church home in their parish and community. These faithful members of the Kirk won’t go to another church building nor will they join another Christian denomination. They will become private and independent Christians who feel forsaken, abandoned and not taken seriously by the national leadership of the Kirk and even by their presbyteries.
Markus Auffermann (Rev), Woodside, Aberdeen
Summer sermons
Our small congregation of Hoy and Walls had another wonderful summer.
We had several ministers who holidayed in Kirkside. They conducted some very inspiring services for us. This proved to make it a very inspiring thoughtful time for us. The sermons are still talked about (in a good way).
A W Sutherland, Longhope, Orkney
Diaconate thanks
I am writing to thank you for the profile of the newly-elected President of the Diaconate Council, Mark Evans DCS, in the December issue. Four pages of faith and real life coming together in often moving ways.
In the profile, Mark says that he wants to use his time as President to help more people understand the vital role of Deacons. I think he is succeeding.
Thank you,
Graeme Glover (Rev), Jersey
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This article appears in the February 2020 Issue of Life and Work
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