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By Lloyd Mackey
Those words came from Loren Wilkinson, a long time Regent College philosophy teacher who lives in BC's Gulf Islands. He was speaking a few days prior to his meeting this weekend with a wide range of Christians and other religious representatives. The event will focus on climate change, and what it foreshadows for society.
Set for April 16 and 17, the conclave will take place at the United Church of Canada headquarters in Toronto. Its overall theme is 'Creation Care: Facing Climate Change and Environmental Decline as Spiritual and Moral Issues.'
Speaking to CC.com, Wilkinson quipped: "It is my second trip to Toronto in two weeks. Those flights mean I am increasing my [carbon] footprint more than I should."
While what is being dubbed the 'Toronto Retreat' is strictly by invitation only, it is being prefaced by two Toronto 'Round Tables' open to the public.
The first took place April 14 at Trinity St. Paul's United Church. Panelists included United Church moderator Mardi Tindal; and Mishka Lysack, a University of Calgary social work professor.
The second was scheduled for April 15 at historic Knox Presbyterian Church. Lysack was again on the panel, along with Wilkinson and World Vision Canada president Dave Toycen. The session was to be moderated by Evangelical Fellowship of Canada vice-president Don Hutchinson.
The Toronto Retreat, similar to one held in Calgary last fall, is spearheaded by the Oikos Centre for the Environment at the University of Calgary. One of its avowed aims is to raise awareness for climate change as a moral issue. It is deemed relevant especially in the light of last year's controversy over allegedly manipulated climate change data produced at the University of Bristol. That issue created fodder for climate change sceptics.
While Wilkinson was self-effacing about what he could bring to the Toronto event, he spoke seriously about its reason to be. "The denial [exists in] Canada and, even more so, in the United States", he suggested, citing the case of Richard Cizik, former vice-president of the National Association of Evangelicals in that country, who was virtually forced to resign that post by a cadre of Christian leaders. One of the group, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, had insisted that focus on the environment and climate change detracted from attention needed for concentrating on "real moral issues".
More leadership on climate change issues is "coming from China and Brazil," he noted, allowing that much needs to be done in those nations as well.
Wilkinson allowed that the 'mainstream' sector of the Canadian Christian community tended to show more interest in environmental and climate change matters than the evangelical side.
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The seeming decline of that sector means evangelicals, with their growth and vigour, are being challenged to help carry the climate change argument.
One religiously evangelical and politically conservative person likely positioned to provide great impact, Wilkinson said, is Preston Manning. He said he has great respect for Manning, his integrity and his advancement of "blue environmentalism" or "green conservatism". On a personal note, he said that he had been privileged to teach Manning's wife, Sandra, who is currently engaged in masters' studies at Regent.
Dave Toycen was not available for comment prior to the Toronto meeting. But cc.com watched a video of an address he gave at last fall's Calgary session.
He noted that World Vision, as well as other groups involved in working with poverty and development issues, have found it necessary to be up to speed on climate matters -- "because it is the poor who are most impacted by the changes."
He told the Calgary group that the process of being brought up to speed requires careful listening, not always recognized by those who are trying to get their climate change message across.
Toycen illustrated his point by tell of a recent visit to his four-year-old granddaughter and her parents.
Riding in the back seat of their van with the granddaughter, he listened to her mother's repeated and explicit instructions, requiring absolute behaviour. After the mother stopped talking, his granddaughter whispered under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear: "I get it! I get it!"
He suggested that Christians who need to know are, indeed, "getting it." And part of the dialog now occurring, he added, involves listening, staying current and moving ahead on the basis of as much information available as possible.
Other panelists at the Toronto Retreat will include University of Toronto urban studies professor Danny Harvey, environmental author Alanna Mitchell, Pembina Institute climate change associate director Claire Demerse, Climate Action Network executive director Graham Saul, Ecology Project founder Jim Profit, former Joe Clark cabinet minister David MacDonald, Canadian Climate Youth delegate Kimia Ghomeshi, United Church social action co-ordinator Joy Kennedy, Kairos education co-ordinator Sara Stratton, and Toronto School of Theology earth literacy co-ordinator Linda Gregg.
Tackling effective engagement of evangelical communities will be Don Hutchinson, and Redeemer University College environmental sciences professor Darren Brouwer.
The topic of engaging multi-faith communities will be dealt with by Ted Reeve of the United Church, Tasneem Virani (Ismaili Muslim), Duncan Hanks (Baha'i) and Sensei Taigen Henderson (Buddhist)
Further information is available at www.ucalgary.ca/oikos.Retreat/Toronto/Program April 14/2010 | ||
CHRISTIANS can best impact on the larger community by communicating that "the care and healing of Creation is a part of the Christian gospel, not an add-on or a hobby."