Green Christian: Imagine a better future - then create it

'Re-imagining the Promised Land', was an "inspirational" online festival last weekend, 23-25 October, organised by the ecumenical organisation Green Christian. It was attended by more than 300 people over three days.

Yet, before the re-imagining, there was a stark analysis of human destruction of the natural world. On the first evening, Green Christian patron, Bishop James Jones, quoted Pope Francis' warning in Laudato Si' that the world is being turned into a rubbish dump. He felt "destroying the Earth is rebellion against God's creative purposes". In his introductory talk, referring to those lines in the Lord's prayer which say, 'your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven' he warned: "What we are now doing to the Earth is nothing short of the earthing of Hell. By living in a self-centred way, we are gradually turning the Earth to waste. We are polluting the atmosphere, poisoning the rivers and the oceans, contaminating the land; we are earthing Hell."

Environmentalist Jonathon Porritt, also warned, "how dreadful the world will be if we don't act quickly". He said, "all the solutions we need to address today's climate emergency already exist, but we are close to passing "the point of no return". He lamented the lack of political will and called on participants to keep in contact with their MPs. He applauded Extinction Rebellion, which "has given a sense of urgency", young climate activists "who see connectivity between issues," and peace campaigners who have pointed out the "enormous" carbon footprint of the military. He felt a growing realisation that mass movements are the way ahead. "I have spent much of the last 25 years working with business and trying to bring about change" he said, "but action is not proportionate to what is happening and I believe that 10 more years of incremental engagement will not narrow the gap." He reported being inspired by the work of Thomas Berry, the Catholic Passionist priest and eco-theologian, and the insights of indigenous peoples on sustainability.

On the final morning, Professor Ghillean Prance, a former Director of Kew Gardens, highlighted the same influences and added in that he kept a copy of Laudato Si' - "a wonderful document" - on his desk. He described seed vaults, re-wilding, initiatives to protect soil - a living thing full of organisms" - and efforts to live more simply. His own parish of Lyme Regis Baptist Church has solar panels on the roof and it has achieved a silver eco-church award. He thanked Green Christian for highlighting hope during a time of lament, when indigenous people are declining and one million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction this century. He described being "distressed" a month ago when President Bolsonaro - "the Trump of Brazil" - moved to repeal mangrove protections. Professor Prance attended every session over the weekend and thanked the organisers for the Festival.

Co-panellist Cleo Lake, a Green Councillor and former Lord Mayor of Bristol, spoke passionately of how climate justice was social justice, and of the need for a radical change in society in the direction of justice. Barrister Melanie Nazareth, from Christian Climate Action, described the importance of holding government to account, pointing out that their continuing support for fossil fuel companies is clearly incompatible with their aim of net zero carbon by 2050. Radical changes are needed; different lifestyles must emerge that could be seen as different, or even better, than what we have now. On Saturday morning, Revd Dr Frances Ward, former Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, shared how Christian spiritualities can set us free to commit radically to this present moment, and to find the Promised Land in the here and now. Rail engineer and Green Christian member Jenny Cooke spoke of the need to develop a sustainable transport network - and was inundated with questions about HS2, and the price of rail fares.

Green Christian's mastery of zoom was shown to fullest effect in sessions where participants shared their recent activities. Rob Hopkins of the Transition Movement showed us images of of a front garden where tarmac had been taken up and plants reinstated, of parking places used for community games and yoga, of Waterloo Bridge turned into a 'forest' during an Extinction Rebellion protest. Bridget McKenzie of Climate Museum UK described stimulating children's imagination about diversity of species using animal masks, a project week on 'acts of tree kindness,' and sharing objects that stimulate imagination on valuing creation. She challenged participants to create "memories of the future" and then place themselves in it.

The creativity during lockdown was astounding, as participants in the final session talked and showed photos of organic gardening and composting, transitioning to renewable energy, protecting trees, creation-centred liturgies, and political advocacy leading up to next year's UN Climate Conference. One participant used his father's photo of the last time the River Thames froze over in January 1963 - the 'Great Freeze' - to explain the warming climate. Another spoke about writing a booklet for her parish on the Season of Creation. Joining Green Christian was mentioned by many and Green Christian's Rainforest Fund was advertised.

A recurrent theme throughout the Festival was the need to speak out to politicians - and Christians have a big part to play in this - to support Universal Basic Income, for example, and to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill.

Throughout, the festival, hearts and souls were encouraged and uplifted by sensitive worship and prayer. Musicians from Resound ( www.resoundworship.org ) provided beautiful songs, alongside meditations from Green Christian chaplains and others. Organisers were warmly thanked in the chat and in a show of clapping for stimulating Christians to imagine a better future and then create it.

The recordings of the major sessions are available on the Festival webpage: https://greenchristian.org.uk/festival2020/