Tuesday 11 May 2021

Psalm 127

Background

The 26^th annual meeting of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP26) meets in Glasgow in November 2021. The young people of the worldwide Methodist family have come together to help us to prepare for and engage with the issues that will be the focus of attention at COP26. The team includes representatives from the Methodist Churches in Uruguay, Samoa, Italy, Zambia and Britain. Under the banner Climate Justice for All, the young people issue a challenge to the Church. COP26 is an important meeting in a series of climate meetings. It will feature the first major review of what's happened since the setting of the agreement to limit global temperature rise which was the outcome of the 2015 meeting of COP21 in Paris. The words of Amos about our young people being raised up to be prophets (Amos 2:11) is certainly the case in this instance.

Over the past days, we have considered the nature of our discipleship in terms of our obligation to care for the world in which we live. We have acknowledged the mandate of Christ, there is no opt-out clause, and we shall be judged in accordance with our response. We have acknowledged the lament of God as we have failed to exercise good stewardship of creation. We have recognised the power of the dream to reverse the negative impact that our lifestyle choices have had on the planet.

Our young people lead us in believing we can make a difference. They call us to listen to the stories of communities around the world. They ask us to commit to strive for climate justice in our own church communities. They challenge us to call on our national ambassadors to the COP meeting to strive for climate justice. Our young people believe it is crucial that vulnerable communities on the frontline of climate change must be equipped with the resources they need to adapt to the changing world. They are calling for fairness in promoting action so the highest-emitting countries commit to the most ambitious carbon-reducing targets to reach net zero, and support efforts in other countries to adapt to the impact of climate change.

Fred Kaan’s hymn "We turn to you, O God of every nation"  (Singing the Faith 720) reminds us that we do not act in our own strength, but in the strength of God. His words remind us of the challenge to love, for we cannot love one another without also loving all of creation. Our young people have been raised up as prophets in our midst, let us act on their call.

To Ponder:

• Take a look at the World Methodist Council website for more information about Climate Justice for All. 
• Do you agree that Christian discipleship brings responsibilities to care for the planet? If so, what will you do to act on that responsibility? If not, then how do you see it?