Church Leaders' Easter Statement on the Environment

In the lead up to the Federal election, a number Australian Church Leaders have signed the Easter Statement calling on our political leaders to protect and preserve God's creation.

NCCA member church leaders that signed the statement alongside NCCA president, Rev John Gilmore include:

• The Most Rev'd Mark Coleridge, Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, President Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
• Rev Sharon Hollis, President Uniting Church in Australia Assembly
• Ann Zubrick, Presiding Clerk, Quakers Australia
• Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian, Primate, Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand

Download:  pdf Church Leaders’ Easter Statement on the Environment (26 KB)

Background:

Reverend Tim Bennett won’t be hosting an Easter service this year, his church in Lismore in Northern NSW has been severely damaged in successive floods and he doesn’t know if it will ever reopen. “But us not having a church is neither here nor there,” he says. “Hundreds of families have lost everything.  

“The idea that climate change will affect the poorest and most vulnerable first is no longer abstract, that’s what we are seeing with the least well off in North and South Lismore hit the hardest. If Jesus were alive today, he would encourage people to consider the environment when they cast their vote in May.”  

Dozens of church leaders, including many others affected by flooding and bushfires, have signed on to an open letter calling for government leaders to take action on climate change. In the letter arranged by the Very Reverend Peter Catt, Dean of Brisbane, they say, “Our churches, along with homes and businesses in our communities, are being burnt down, flooded and severely impacted by extreme weather. Damage to the climate is a key contributing factor to these events.” 

Easter is the holiest time in the Christian calendar and a powerful symbol of hope. Church leaders say they are hopeful, and buoyed by the strength of their communities in coming together to face the challenges of climate change, however they recognise that this great challenge requires systemic transformation that must be led by governments. 

They say, “As our government leaders continue their election campaign this Easter, we welcome them to our churches and call on them to take powerful action to preserve and protect God’s creation by: 

• Halving carbon emissions this decade, in line with the recommendation of scientists and targets of our major trading partners;
• Transforming our energy system towards 100% renewable electricity while delivering a planned and just transition for energy workers; and 
• Investing in programs to support communities on the frontlines to plan, prepare and adapt to the extreme weather events.

Available for interviews: The Very Reverend Peter Catt, Dean of Brisbane 

Why stand for climate change?

"Why should Christians be particularly concerned about climate change – or what someone in the report prefers to call “climate justice”? " Ross Gittins looks at the Tearfund report, They Shall Inherit the Earth climate report, released on 21st March 2022 in the Sydney Morning Herald of 17 April 2022.

Easter offers no escape from our responsibility for climate change  Ross Gittins, Economics Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald. (Article published on 17 April 2022) 

They Shall Inherit the Earth

Tearfund Australia’s landmark report on climate, young Christians and the Church in Australia. It's the most comprehensive research to date on Australian Christians' views on climate change.

They Shall Inherit the Earth climate report, released on 21st March 2022, reveals that:

• more than three in five young Christians are very, or extremely, concerned about climate change,
• with two thirds of young Christians calling on the local church to lead the way in taking action to address it

Concern about climate change has climbed to an all time high, and in 2021, Tearfund commissioned this in-depth study of the views of young adult Christians, church leaders and the wider Australian community. It offers vital insights for healing the growing generational and geographical divide on climate change within the Church. This summary presents the key findings of the report.

Visit Tearfund Australia  for more about the Report, The Summary for Church Leaders, and resources.