Archbishop of Canterbury signals a C of E eco-revolution
-04/05/06
Speaking on BBC tel
Archbishop of Canterbury signals a C of E eco-revolution
-04/05/06
Speaking on BBC televisionís flagship ëNewsnightí programme on the day of local council elections in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, renewed his call on people and governments to make positive ecological change an ethical and religious priority.
Dr Williams had earlier announced a comprehensive environmental audit to examine the impact of all the Church of Englandís activities. The aim, he said, was to reduce the size of the churchís ëcarbon footprintí.
The Archbishop emphasised that environmental action, including attempts to tackle global warming, was a major Christian issue ñ because it reflected peopleís sense of identity, belonging, and relationship to the world as Godís gift.
ìWe are a society that assumes that high energy consumption is normalî, Dr Williams told the BBC. That assumption, he declared, had to change.
Asked whether government should do more to compel people to change their lifestyles, the Archbishop said that we had to live with the democratic paradox that people tend to vote against governments that try to impose on them too much.
The key issue, he said, was to develop the publicís sense of ecological engagement, motivation and vision.
While it is right and necessary for government to play its role, this does not detract from the responsibility of individual people, civic groups and churches, Dr Williams explained.
ìItís a matter of [seeing ourselves as] belonging in an environment, not just being guests passing throughî, he said, suggesting that family concern for future generations needed ìa wider visionî behind it.
Challenged on the Church of Englandís own heavy investment in oil companies, which has reaped significant profits for the Church Commissioners recently, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the contradiction.
Affirming the necessity ñ and difficulty ñ of ethical investment, the spiritual head of the worldís 77 million Anglicans said of the possibility of the C of E selling its oil shares: ìIt would help, but it would also create a number of other challenges.î
The major issue, he said, was what level of investment is appropriate in such industries, and what viable alternatives can be created over time.
Asked about Lambeth Palace itself, Dr Williams said that in spite of its name it was not a grand edifice, but a set of offices and apartments that was ìwell occupiedî.
But the Archbishop said that his headquarters would be part of the churchís environmental effort ñ looking at light and power, computer and car use.
He even said he would ìconsiderî a wind turbine on the roof of the Palace.
[Also on Ekklesia: UK Evangelicals welcome move by US colleagues to act on global warming; Global warming threatens targets for world’s poor; US Evangelicals repent, break with White House over climate change; Churches cheer Russia’s OK on global warming treaty; Christianity used to damage environment, says bishop; Methodist church signs climate covenant; US says no in Montreal as churches warn Blair on climate; US churches apologise over Iraq war and global warming; Campaigners want more from Blair on climate change]
Archbishop of Canterbury signals a C of E eco-revolution
-04/05/06
Speaking on BBC televisionís flagship ëNewsnightí programme on the day of local council elections in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, renewed his call on people and governments to make positive ecological change an ethical and religious priority.
Dr Williams had earlier announced a comprehensive environmental audit to examine the impact of all the Church of Englandís activities. The aim, he said, was to reduce the size of the churchís ëcarbon footprintí.
The Archbishop emphasised that environmental action, including attempts to tackle global warming, was a major Christian issue ñ because it reflected peopleís sense of identity, belonging, and relationship to the world as Godís gift.
ìWe are a society that assumes that high energy consumption is normalî, Dr Williams told the BBC. That assumption, he declared, had to change.
Asked whether government should do more to compel people to change their lifestyles, the Archbishop said that we had to live with the democratic paradox that people tend to vote against governments that try to impose on them too much.
The key issue, he said, was to develop the publicís sense of ecological engagement, motivation and vision.
While it is right and necessary for government to play its role, this does not detract from the responsibility of individual people, civic groups and churches, Dr Williams explained.
ìItís a matter of [seeing ourselves as] belonging in an environment, not just being guests passing throughî, he said, suggesting that family concern for future generations needed ìa wider visionî behind it.
Challenged on the Church of Englandís own heavy investment in oil companies, which has reaped significant profits for the Church Commissioners recently, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the contradiction.
Affirming the necessity ñ and difficulty ñ of ethical investment, the spiritual head of the worldís 77 million Anglicans said of the possibility of the C of E selling its oil shares: ìIt would help, but it would also create a number of other challenges.î
The major issue, he said, was what level of investment is appropriate in such industries, and what viable alternatives can be created over time.
Asked about Lambeth Palace itself, Dr Williams said that in spite of its name it was not a grand edifice, but a set of offices and apartments that was ìwell occupiedî.
But the Archbishop said that his headquarters would be part of the churchís environmental effort ñ looking at light and power, computer and car use.
He even said he would ìconsiderî a wind turbine on the roof of the Palace.
[Also on Ekklesia: UK Evangelicals welcome move by US colleagues to act on global warming; Global warming threatens targets for world’s poor; US Evangelicals repent, break with White House over climate change; Churches cheer Russia’s OK on global warming treaty; Christianity used to damage environment, says bishop; Methodist church signs climate covenant; US says no in Montreal as churches warn Blair on climate; US churches apologise over Iraq war and global warming; Campaigners want more from Blair on climate change]