As the world faces the “inconvenient truth”, as former United States Vice President Al Gore calls it of climate change, churches in Britain are looking at how they can help stop not just the planet’s spiritual decline but also its environmental decline. 

Seventh-day Adventists joined other churches in a consultation on climate change at the London headquarters of the charity, Christian Aid, on Nov. 20. 

According to Christian Aid, “no other single issue presents such a clear and present danger to the future welfare of the world’s poor.”

“The potential ravages of climate change are so severe that they could nullify efforts to secure meaningful and sustainable development in poor countries,” the report continued. “At worst, they could send the real progress that has already been achieved spinning into reverse ... Climate change, then, is a pressing poverty issue.”

Set within the theological context of churches being “good stewards” of creation, Christian Aid stressed the importance of a timely lowering of carbon emissions in order to protect the environment and fight against poverty in developing countries.

Adventist pastor Paul Lockham said the way church members treat the planet should reflect their beliefs. Lockham, also the executive secretary for the Adventist church in South England asked, if “we believe God is the creator—can we trust Him and destroy what He created?”

Pastor Don W. McFarlane, president of the Adventist Church in Britain, agreed. “As people who believe that the earth was created by God, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in engaging in measures to stabilize its climate.  We might think that our individual contribution to climate stabilization might be too small to make a difference, however, every little bit counts. Every snowflake in an avalanche has some responsibility for it.  Every person has a responsibility to care for our earthly home.”

That churches supporting Christian Aid should practice what they preach was the essence of discussion at the meeting. Questions raised include: What are the churches doing to lower their carbon emissions?  Should church members use energy saving light bulbs? Have church buildings been properly insulated? Is there more that could be done, such as carpooling when attending church services?

Berit Lisle, bursar at the Adventist-owned Newbold College in England, spoke of the changes being implemented on campus.

“At Newbold College, we believe that stewardship of the environment is a practical Christian responsibility and we have worked on improvements in a variety of areas,” she said. “On the campus, we have now acquired the blue and brown recycling bins for gardening and recycling waste from student and staff housing. We have changed the majority of light bulbs in all our buildings to conserve electricity. In the men’s Hall of Residence we have double-glazed all the windows to conserve heat. We are now in the process of examining sustainable alternative energy sources.”

During 2007 Christian Aid plans to target the government and businesses in an effort to encourage companies to register and lower their carbon emissions by 5 percent each year. As part of their strategy they are planning an 11-week march from Belfast to London via major cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol.  The march will end at the London Stock Exchange and a service will be held in St. Paul’s Cathedral at the end of September.