14 mins
UK churches call for 75% emissions cut
CHURCH leaders in Scotland and across Britain, together with 57,000 Christian Aid supporters, have joined calls for the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to pledge to cut UK emissions by at least 75% by 2030 (from 1990 levels) when he submits the UK’s fi rst climate plan under the Paris Agreement.
With the UK leaving the EU, it must now provide a standalone national climate plan to the UN climate body, the UNFCCC, outlining its proposed emissions cuts and the support it will provide to vulnerable countries that have done little to cause climate change.
The Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Church of Scotland’s Faith Impact Forum, signed the letter delivered to the Prime Minister in December, alongside senior fi gures from the United Free Church of Scotland and the Quakers in Scotland, the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, The Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, the Bishop of Salisbury, as well the Archbishop of Wales, the Baptist Union, Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church.
They write: “In 2021, the UK has the chance to be a true global leader. 2021 is a critical year to tackle the climate crisis and the UK is uniquely placed to lead the world in ambitious action as the President of the COP26 UN climate talks.
“Christian Aid, their supporting churches across the UK, and their local partners around the world expect your Government to tackle climate change in a way that is fair and just for the world’s poorest people.
That’s why today we, as representatives of those churches, are writing to you in support of the petition being submitted to you by Christian Aid, signed by over 57,000 of their supporters, calling for action.” They call on the UK Government to commit to cutting emissions by 75%, from a 1990 baseline, by 2030, solely through domestic action, and based on the scientifi c evidence provided by the Committee on Climate Change.
They also call for action to support climate-vulnerable countries with climate fi nance, assistance for communities needing to adapt to the impacts of climate change and help to acquire renewable energy technology.
They conclude: “As we look with hope to the securing of a critical deal in Glasgow next year, churches across the UK are committed – together with Christian Aid and its supporters – to working with you and your Government to help deliver a national climate plan that ensures climate justice for the world’s poorest people.” The letter is accompanied by a petition, signed by 57,000 people from across Britain, demanding a New Deal for Climate Justice.
”The UK has a moral duty to make inequality and injustice in the world’s poorest countries central to next year’s summit.
Last year, the Scottish Parliament unanimously agreed to Scotland’s emissions being cut by at least 75% by 2030, after a long-running campaign involving many of the country’s churches, and Christian Aid Scotland, as part of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition.
Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland, said: “(On December 2) the Secretary General of the United Nations told the world we have a climate emergency ‘which impacts most heavily on the world’s most vulnerable people’. We know too well here at Christian Aid that those who have done the least to cause the problem suff er the most.
“We have already seen Scotland’s Parliament stand up and take decisive action on 75% cuts by 2030. Now the spotlight is on the UK government to – at the very least – match that ambition.
“As president of the UN climate summit in just 11 months’ time, the UK will be encouraging other nations to come forward with ambitious plans. The UK’s own climate pledge must set a high bar for action.
“The UK has a moral duty to make inequality and injustice in the world’s poorest countries central to next year’s summit. People around the world facing the reality of climate change right now are counting on it to be a success.”
CHRISTIAN AID GATHERING GOES ONLINE
Christian Aid Scotland’s fl agship supporter event ‘The Gathering’ will take place online this year, with an opportunity to hear from the team in Ethiopia. The theme is ‘resilience’ and Netsanet Feleke and Solomon Woldetsadik will speak about the impact of climate change, locusts and confl ict on vulnerable communities.
There will also be the opportunity to hear about Christian Aid Week 2021 and new ways to celebrate and fundraise. Supporters who found creative ways to campaign and fundraise last year, despite lockdown, will share some of their success stories and top tips.
Val Brown, Community Relations and Fundraising Manager, said: “Though we can’t meet in person this is a great opportunity to hear directly from our staff in Ethiopia about the challenges they face, as climate change makes the weather warmer and more unpredictable. Like us they’ve had to deal with the coronavirus pandemic but they’ve also had to deal with plagues of locusts which have destroyed crops. The Gathering is about learning and inspiring action and we hope the twohour session will be interactive and engaging.” The Gathering runs from 10am – 12 noon on February 16. To register and receive the Zoom joining instructions, email edinburgh@christian-aid.org
AID CUT CONDEMNED
The Church of Scotland and Christian Aid have criticised the decision to cut the UK’s spending on overseas aid.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced in November’s spending review that the aid budget would be cut from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5% - a reduction of more than £4bn.
The Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum of the Church of Scotland, said the decision would do ‘irreparable harm to our partners around the world’ who are also suff ering the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mrs Brown said: “Cutting this work is short-sighted and tarnishes the UK’s international reputation.
“In times of global need, it is those with the broadest shoulders that need to support others.
“International development is not about charity, it is essential to the delivery of the vision of a Global Britain, as foreign aid supports UK priorities.
“Protecting public health, promoting human rights, tackling violence against women, mitigating against climate change.
“Helping to build stable economies and societies will have long term benefi ts for international peace and security.
“The Church of Scotland has supported the campaign for 0.7% for international development budget for many years.
“We ask MPs of all parties to urge the UK Government to reconsider, for the sake of humanity and because of what this decision says about what kind of country we aspire to be.” Charities and churches had reacted with alarm when the decision was leaked earlier, and responded angrily when it was confi rmed. Mr Sunak told the House of Commons that ‘sticking rigidly to spending 0.7% of our national income on overseas aid is diffi cult to justify to the British people’ and ‘at a time of unprecedented crisis government must make tough choices’.
Head of Christian Aid Scotland, Sally Foster-Fulton, said: “Cuts have consequences and this decision will pile yet more pressure onto the millions of people worldwide who’ve been pushed into extreme poverty as a result of the global pandemic.
Cutting the aid budget during a pandemic is like closing fi re stations during a heatwave.
“These are tough times and the UK Government has tough decisions to make but balancing the books on the backs of the poor isn’t the way to do it. Over the past nine months many of us have come to realise just how interconnected our lives are with others across the world, our global neighbours. With coronavirus pushing tens of millions further into poverty this is not the time to renege on our promise to help the world’s poorest.” On Twitter, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, said the cut would ‘leave the vulnerable in a more perilous state’, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, described it as ‘shameful and wrong’, and Christian development charity Tearfund said it was ‘cruel and badly calculated’.
EMMS APPEAL FOR GIRLS IN NEPAL
Edinburgh-based charity EMMS International has launched its ‘Every Girl Matters’ campaign to improve healthcare in rural Nepal and help young girls continue in education.
The campaign is backed by the UK government’s Aid Match scheme, which will match all donations from the public, pound for pound, until February 19.
Chronic sickness in rural Nepal causes unnecessary pain and suff ering and places a huge burden of care on young girls. The project will extend quality palliative care and access to essential pain relief to 20,000 families in rural Nepal. With their loved ones well cared for, 1646 young carers can return to school and enjoy the hope education brings for them and their communities.
The campaign was launched in December in an online event featuring the opening of a new EMMS-funded palliative care centre for excellence in Pokhara, Nepal, which will also be the base for this new three-year project.
Professor Jason Leitch, Scottish Government National Clinical Director, said at the event: “We’ve seen this year how vital quality healthcare is in securing not only our physical well-being but also our ability to go to school, go to work and spend time with our families. Yet this current global pandemic is not the only challenge that we or countries like Nepal face. The ‘Every Girl Matters’ appeal gives you and me the opportunity to help girls in Nepal to free themselves from the burden of care, restoring each girl’s opportunity to fulfi l her potential and to thrive.” Dr Cathy Ratcliff , CEO and Director of International Programmes for EMMS International said: “Every girl matters and their education is a human right. But it’s also a joy, a means to understand the world; and it leads to better opportunities, increased independence and improved self-esteem.
This campaign and match funding from the UK government, give us all an opportunity to release girls and other young carers in Nepal from the burden of care.” Baroness Sugg CBE, then Minister for Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Offi ce, said: “EMMS International and its partners in Nepal know from experience that excessive caring responsibilities deny girls in Nepal the opportunity to enjoy school and the opportunities it gives for the future.
“The UK government is pleased to partner with them by matching generous public donations pound for pound, so that young carers can return to school safe in the knowledge that their loved ones are getting the quality care they deserve.” EMMS International has its roots in the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, founded in 1841, and delivers health and palliative care and healthcare scholarships in Nepal, India and Malawi. You can support the Every Girl Matters appeal at www.emms.
org/everygirl
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
A theological college and a professional musician have launched a new project off ering ideas for music each Sunday in the Church year.
Songs for Sunday, a collaboration between Iain McLarty and Trinity College at the University of Glasgow, will suggest appropriate hymns and music for use in churches each Sunday (and special services), based on the seasonal themes and that week’s Lectionary readings.
The music is drawn from a wide range of sources, both traditional and contemporary, Scottish and from further afi eld.
There is also a YouTube playlist with videos of many of the pieces of music suggested.
Iain McLarty is an experienced conductor of choirs and orchestras, currently the musical director of the Scottish Chamber Choir and a church musician who has both played and precented at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He is regularly involved in planning and leading worship at various national and international events, including for the World Council of Churches. He is also a worship development offi cer with the Church of Scotland Priority Areas Team.
Access Songs for Sunday at https:// www.trinitycollegeglasgow.co.uk/ songs-for-sunday
For more news follow us at www.lifeandwork.org
RIBBONS ARTWORK
PARISH NEWS
In March 2020 Rhu and Shandon Parish Church in Argyll, like all others, was closed due to restrictions imposed by Covid 19.
In the absence of any community gathering to refl ect or to pray in these troubled times, the idea of a Prayer Gate in the Church grounds was adopted. This caught the imagination of the community and several hundred ribbons were tied to the gates, each representing the hopes and prayers of individuals.
As Christmas approached, this idea was developed. The ribbons were removed from the gate by pupils of Rhu Primary School and taken into the church for the weekly Music, Prayer and Refl ection Service. A local artist will create a montage of the ribbons, which will then be framed so that the church has a permanent remembrance of the community’s hopes and prayers during the pandemic. This will be brought back to the Church for a special service, as soon as it is able to return to unrestricted worship, and permanently housed there.
The Church of Scotland’s theme for Advent was Bright Hope for Tomorrow.
Refl ecting this, small wooden hearts (symbolising hope) and ribbons were provided for individuals to tie onto the Prayer Gates, as they spend a moment in quiet prayer or refl ection. In addition, pupils from Rhu Primary School were given stars, bearing this message, for them to decorate and add their own individual hope for the future. These were hung on the Christmas tree in the Church grounds.
The tree of stars, and the gates of hearts and ribbons, will symbolise both the school’s and community’s Bright Hope for Tomorrow.
TRIBUTES AS MINISTER RETIRES AFTER 41 YEARS
On Sunday November 29, the Rev Ken Froude retired after 41 years ministering to St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy (originally St Brycedale).
A June retirement date had been moved to November to support his congregation through these challenging times.
A place had to be booked for one of his three “last Sundays”, so as many as possible could say farewell.
YouTube Live also allowed people to watch at home, and a live feed in the church hall.
During his time, St Bryce has been converted from a traditional large Victorian Gothic building to a fl exible, family-friendly worship space as well as a church centre, with coff ee bar and meeting rooms.
Tributes have been made to Ken on the church’s website at www.stbrycekirk.org and a detailed summary of Ken’s dedicated career can also be found there in the church magazine – www.stbrycekirk.org/magazine
ZOOM ORDINATIONS
Four new elders have been ordained at Kilbarchan Parish Church, during a meeting of the Kirk Session held via Zoom.
The ordination of Alison Renfrew, Arlene McKay, Elizabeth Crawley, and Tony Martin had been scheduled to take place in March, but the restrictions imposed on gatherings due to the Coronavirus pandemic had made it impossible to go forward with an ordination in church.
Under the circumstances, it was felt that an online service was the best means to proceed.
The service, led by the Rev Stephen Smith and attended by the new elders’ invited guests and members of the congregation, was the fi rst online service and the fi rst ordination of elders at the united Kilbarchan Parish Church.
Coronavirus restrictions meant that some elements of the service of ordination were diff erent from normal, with the prospective elders making their commitment to serve and signing the approved formula in their homes.
Following prayer, the Moderator then declared that the four had been admitted to the offi ce of eldership. As an alternative to the traditional ‘right hand of fellowship’ the new elders were welcomed to offi ce with a round of applause.
The four new elders are in the top row of the picture. From left: Alison Renfrew, Arlene McKay, Rev. Stephen Smith, Elizabeth Crawley, Tony Martin.
CALENDAR FUNDRAISER
A Stirling church raised thousands of pounds selling a 2021 calendar of the surrounding area.
The Rev Barry Hughes, who is the minister of St Mark’s in the Raploch area of the city, had the idea after taking some photos of local landmarks during lockdown.
He said: “It’s gone a bit bonkers. Various people suggested it after I got a camera for Christmas.
“The manse overlooks the Wallace Monument so I’ve got a good view where I am.” Barry initially printed 100, which quickly sold out, with orders for another 350.
“Raploch is a traditional, tight knit community and it’s something that people have really bought into,” he added.
“The school have asked me to bring some in for people to buy too.
“A few generous people have off ered to cover publication prices, so anything we sell can go back to St Mark’s.”
30 YEARS
Janice Muir has been presented with her long service certifi cate for 30 years as an elder at St Ninian’s Church, Dunfermline.
This article appears in the February 2021 Issue of Life and Work
If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive
here.