September 2007, Sibiu, Romania
ECEN was present at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu in September 2007. ECEN and CCEE played a prominent role in shaping the environmental dimension of the Assembly including the eco-management and climate change compensation scheme, as well in preparing the Creation Forum. Visit www.eea3.org to find out more about the whole Assembly.
The final recommendations of the Assembly included a recommendation from the Creation Forum on Creation Time:
Recommendation Ten: We recommend that the period from 1 September to 4 October be dedicated to prayer for the protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change.
In addition, the Creation Forum itself makes the following statement to the churches:
Global climate change is one of the greatest threats for the present and for future generations. Without a change of mind and heart, technological solutions or political negotiations to protect the climate will not achieve their goals.
The churches should therefore give priority to the cause of responsible and sustainable life styles. The specific contribution of the churches to the environmental movement is a better understanding of our interconnectedness with all of creation. Today a simple lifestyle is an important Christian witness. The Christians and churches in Europe are called to use the Creation time (from 1st September to St Francis day) to pray and act in response to this ecological crisis which already affects the lives of millions of people and the whole creation.
We commit ourselves to strengthen our current networks like ECEN in order to equip Christians for practical and political action ensuring that the earth’s capacity rather than economic development takes priority.
We call churches to provide guiding examples that will inspire and encourage their members and the wider community to practice excellence in eco-management and substantially reduce their carbon footprint.
The theme of the Assembly was "The Light of Christ Shines Upon All". Visit www.eea3.org to find out more about the whole Assembly (This link will take you out of the ECEN website: please use the "back" button to return.) or explore ECEN's contribution in the articles below:
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