tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54231857339623171192011-04-21T12:51:27.725-07:00Emma Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10568048997751628155noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423185733962317119.post-68808604090351984092007-05-20T08:04:00.000-07:002007-05-20T10:51:25.459-07:00<strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Welcome to the Cairns Road Environment Focus Blog...</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The following outline explains the thoughts we have had about thinking more about environmental issues and the church. Here we have pulled these into a framework by which we can think through issues further, share ideas with the church and be active!<br /><br />1) Understand a Christian response to the environment and Creation care –<br />By knowing what our central motivation should be – i.e. What the Bible says to us.<br />What does it teach about stewardship?<br />What are the Old Testament and New Testament perspectives?<br />How does it fit with / into the Gospel?<br />ACTION: Series of Bible studies looking at the above.<br /><br />2) The Issues –<br />Knowing what they are, looking at different scales (i.e. local issues in Bristol) up to global issues.<br />ACTION: Show An Inconvenient Truth film with little bit of explanation/discussion on Christian response. What about a youth event too?<br />NB. Need to be careful not to scaremonger. Shouldn’t just debate without anchorage of what the Bible says. We shouldn’t lead ourselves to difficulties – remember the Christian hope perspective.<br /><br />3) The Difficulties –<br />Difficulties such as: What is the truth behind the climate change debate? Aren’t the issues just too big for us to tackle? Is it all media/political hype?<br />ACTION: Taking the time to learn ourselves, we need to research this.<br />Helping people in the church/ourselves to know what reliable resources of information are.<br /><br />4) Christian hope in this messy situation –<br />How do we bring hope – this should build on the initial Bible Studies and should point towards practical actions.<br />ACTION: Could include some testimony – Helen’s experience with A Rocha? Also refer people onto the response section below – knowing what our motivation is for Creation Care should link to our worship of God.<br /><br />5) Response -<br />Linked to Church aims?<br /><br />i) Worship & Teaching - Bible studies, bringing in the worship team, walks – getting outside in groups, Environment themed Sundays in May – teaching on the theology.<br /><br />ii) Reaching out – Including local people – links to café? Wider Bristol initiative?<br />Look at ‘secular’ motivations for caring for the environment – their ethics; we need to learn how to engage.<br /><br />iii) Practical Action -<br />· Prayer<br />· Resource people to help us live more lightly: ‘Cairns light living handbook’ – using useful resources (Tearfund, Christian Aid, A Rocha, iCount), linking people in, making it accessible and including encouragement! (Funding available for this sort of thing?)<br />· Cairns – going Carbon Neutral? Use Eco-congregation guidelines. What is our ecological footprint, what can we do to reduce it? Encouragement from Ashton Hayes example.<br />· Look outwards – open doors events – Fashion show in November – recycling?<br />· Solar panels for the church – feasible? Needs investigating but could really speak to the community too.<br />· Joining national initiatives/lobbies etc. Telling people about these.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5423185733962317119-6880860409035198409?l=eventhestonescryout.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Emma Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10568048997751628155noreply@blogger.com3