Worship, discipleship and theological reflection are at the heart of a Methodist response to climate change.
Climate Justice and Theology
Hope in God's Future
Hope in God's Future is a report and study guide to help individuals and local groups:
- understand the position of The Baptist Union, The Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church on climate change
- become aware of a vital connections between climate change and the Christian faith
- transform lifestyles through studying, praying and acting on the issues
- inspire others in the community to live in harmony with the whole of creation
The study guide offers the full text of the report, and questions to get you thinking, ideas for creative activities, inspirational prayers and worship, help and advice for leaders, and suggestions for group sessions (lasting one or two evenings or even a whole day).
You can download your copy here.
Read the 2007 Methodist Conference Resolution 'Caring for creation in the face of climate change'
The 2009 Methodist Conference adopted sections one to four of Hope in God's Future as a draft Conference statement. In Conference 2011 it was adopted as an official Conference Statement, and in 2020 additions were made to the resources list and other appendices to bring it up to date.
For further information please contact Steve Hucklesby.
Climate and creation
The Resource Hub of the Methodist Church has a page dedicated to climate and creation with worship and theology resources. Find them here.
Watch this excellent series of talks hosted by Bramhall Methodist Church where seven eminent scientists from a range of disciplines discuss how their scientific knowledge informs how they pray for our planet.
Climate justice blogs
The Revd Simon Topping has written a series of six blogs looking at the theology of climate justice.
The new paradigm - A call for a new way of thinking about climate justice.
From subduing to tilling and keeping - How we might develop a healthy theology of climate justice.
End of the world or a harvest for all? How the way we see the relationship between earth and heaven guides our understanding of climate justice.
A common treasury - A warning that the actions of some are threatening the benefit of our last remaining commons for all.
A fair balance - How our present relationship with the land, sea and air (and fellow human beings) is unbalanced and that the call for rebalancing in favour of sustainability that can be found in the Bible, offers a guide for climate justice.
Sufficiency - In his final blog, Simon encourages us to model the spirit of sufficiency or “enoughness” in our daily living and to actively challenge the “rich fool” economics which is leading to climate disaster.
Perspectives from across the globe
Among the Methodist Church in Britain partners, those in the pacific offer many resources and wisdom. Read a reflection from the Revd James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, and access a webinar here.
Additional resources
The World Council of Churches has produced these resources specifically focused on Children and Youth here.
Find worship resources for Creationtide here
Share your Climate Justice Prayers and Services
You have written a Climate Justice Prayer or Service and are happy to share it with the Connexion? Send it to us with details of the occasion it was written for (if relevant) and we will share it here.