Faith and the environment The Diocese of Lincoln has a group that is actively engaged with environmental issues. We are looking at a range of ways to encourage greater awareness of the environment, and the spiritual aspects of this. Items regularly appear in our magazine, Crosslincs, and we are working towards an environmental policy for the diocese. If you would like to know more, please contact Richard Steel, Mission Team Leader, by email or by calling 01522 50 40 30. Moana: Water of life. Navigating Climate Change for Planetary Health (30th August – 1st September 2019) The following resources were launched at the recent conference, Moana: Water of life. Navigating Climate Change for Planetary Health. The conference, jointly hosted by the Diocese of Lincoln and the University of Lincoln, explored the key role of water in the challenge of climate change from a scientific perspective and also from a Christian faith perspective. Diocese of Lincoln – Environmental Policy Diocese of Lincoln – Environmetal stories from around the diocese Ecochurch conference The next conference will be held on Saturday 5th October when there will be a free practical introduction to EcoChurch with workshops. It will be held at St Giles Church, Lamb Gardens, Lincoln LN2 4EH and will run from 10am-4pm. The programme for the day includes: An introductory speaker Why EcoChurch? - biblical basis, creation and justice The Fifth Mark of Mission and the new Diocesan Environmental Policy which covers: worship and teaching, buildings, land, community and global and lifestyle. Presentation and support from 'Green Journey' There will also be a bookstall and a market place with help available to show practical examples of what you can do. USPG International Consultation – Fiji 2016 In July 2016, Bishop Christopher represented the Church of England at an international consultation in Fiji that involved members of the Anglican Communion. Hosted by USPG, a total of 19 Anglican provinces were represented and welcomed by the Most Revd Dr Winston Halapua, Bishop of Polynesia and Primate and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia. The Archbishop invited delegates to the Diocese of Polynesia because some 676 villages in Fiji were at risk of flooding due to a rise in sea levels. During the course of the consultation, delegates learned a great deal about the far-reaching and wide-ranging impact of climate change, and it is hoped that the Church will further help to raise awareness of this issue. Bishop Christopher shared a letter of greeting from the Archbishop of Canterbury with delegates and members of the congregation at a special service held in Holy Trinity Cathedral (Suva, Fiji), and speaking towards the end of the consultation, he said: “It’s taught me the connection between man, God and the environment. These are things that I knew with my head, but now I understand them more with my heart because of being in this context and meeting people from this part of the world. [I’m] understanding for the first time the real implications of climate change upon real people’s lives. “I’m clear that it’s something we have to address creatively and imaginatively. We’ve got to bend our backs to do something to meet our challenges. And I hope that people across the world within the Anglican Communion and the Diocese of Lincoln can work hard to plan and work to try to play our part in reducing global warming.” In addition to the subject of climate change, other mission priorities were shared and discussed by delegates, including the significant and global issue of safeguarding. Representatives of the Diocese of Polynesia offered a presentation on a zero-tolerance policy towards violence in homes, schools, communities and the church, and delegates affirmed their commitment to working to stand firm with the vulnerable and the marginalised. A series of short films featuring representatives from around the Anglican Communion were recorded in Fiji. These films feature Bishop Christopher and also: The Most Revd Dr Winston Halapua, Bishop of Polynesia and Primate and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia Professor Elisabeth A. Holland, Director of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development The Most Revd and the Hon. Dr John Holder, Bishop of Barbados and Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies The Most Revd Ephraim Fajutagana, Iglesia Filipina Independiente The Rt Revd Derek Kamukwamba, Bishop of Central Zambia The Most Revd Philip Richardson, Bishop of Taranaki and Archbishop of the New Zealand Dioceses