Godstone Deanery Synod
Report on the meeting held at Dormansland
on 25 June 2008
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Barry Goodwin Social Responsibility (Parish Development) Adviser, Diocesan Environmental Officer |
“Shrinking our Footprint”
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A priest with a chemistry background, Barry Goodwin
was the ideal speaker for this subject. Science
points convincingly to human activity as responsible for climate change, in
particular the burning of fossil fuels and land use changes. The dramatic rise in the earth’s surface
temperature in recent years cannot be accounted for by natural variations in
cycles. The result has been a steady rise
in the average temperature (global warming) and greater frequency and intensity
of extreme events such as heat waves and drought. As well as temperature and weather changes, a
recent study has identified nearly 30,000 phenomena in the natural world which
are being influenced by human-induced global warming, from the timing of plant
flowering to the rate of ice melting; there is less salt in the northern oceans
because of melting ice caps and the Gulf stream is slowing down. Readily accessible fossil fuels are running
out and remaining supplies will be in politically difficult parts of the
world. Fuel poverty will be increasingly
a UK issue. Where will it all end?
The challenge to the Church is to reclaim its
theological perspective, with a “theocentric”
approach, putting God back in the centre, instead of humans; the role of
humanity role being as stewards, priests and prophets. We must repent that we have not taken it
seriously and proclaim hope. This should
be done across denominations and faiths as there is common ground here. Radical lifestyle changes are required, with
emphasis on sustainability.
Information and resources are available on the
Diocesan website: http://www.southwark.anglican.org/,
including the Diocesan Environmental Policy, monthly Environmental
E-newsletters, “Shrinking the Footprint” which invites parishes to carry out an
audit of energy uses, and the booklet “For Creed and Creation” with ideas on
running a greener church. We need a
practical action plan that involves energy, light, sustainable travel, water
efficiency; purchasing goods that are eco-friendly, organic and fair-trade; and
grounds that encourage biodiversity. We
need to campaign, communicate the message and use political pressure. Above all, we need to care for the world and
proclaim hope.
Relevant Bible references:
· “Ask the animals and they will teach
you…” (Job 12: 7)
· “The earth is the Lord’s…” (Psalm 24)
· “If you come upon a bird’s nest with
young ones or eggs…let the mother go, but the young you may take…” (Deuteronomy
22: 6-7) - a lesson in sustainability that says we cannot keep taking the
mother bird.
· “We know that the whole creation has
been groaning in travail together…. if
we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8: 22-25)
Business Meeting
This
was the first meeting of the new Deanery Synod and the following were elected: Bob Charlton, Dormansland, (Lay Chair); Janet Harman, Hurst Green (Secretary);
Ken Bush, Hurst Green (Treasurer). Two
lay representatives were elected for the Standing Committee, Jeff Marks (new
member from Bletchingley) joining old hand Catharina Hickson (Oxted). Two clergy representatives were also sought,
but there was less enthusiasm or more
diffidence (?) here and they agreed to discuss it at the forthcoming Chapter
meeting!
The
main news of the evening was that David Butlin would be standing down as Area
Dean (having started his term as Rural Dean) after 4+ years, to be succeeded by
Graham Paddick, Dormansland.
Catherine
Wood will be leaving Tatsfield and Limpsfield Chart after six years at the end
of August, to become part of the community at Ham Common.
Tom
Sutcliffe was co-opted to continue as the Deanery Synod link with the General
Synod.
The
next meeting is on Monday 10 November at South Godstone – speaker Julie
Mitchell, from WelCare, Children’s Centre Co-ordinator at Redhill.
Janet Harman, Deanery Synod Secretary