Recently, a series of new resources were developed by the UCA Environmental Action Group in cooperation with Uniting Church Fellowship and Mission Support (UCFAMS), with support from the SA UCA Synod, entitled, \u201cLessons from Covid-19 for the Climate emergency\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the launch, Dr Deidre Palmer, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, said: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis resource raises awareness of the climate crisis we face, encourages conversation and reflection \u2013 personally and communally. It sets it within the context of our Biblical and theological foundations and our faithful following of Jesus. It encourages us to engage intelligently with the science, and to seriously question the way we are living our lives daily. The resource sets it within the context of what we have been facing over this past year, and our response. After more than a year of the emergence of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, and as we continue to live with all its impacts, we are grieving -the loss of life, loss of social connection, loss of income and the uncertainty for our future. We lament the inequities in our world, where not everyone has the opportunity to wash their hands in clean water, or to socially distance, as they cope with crowded shelters and inadequate health care. We are joining together in global cooperation, and in Australia, to stem the spread of this virus, and to protect the most vulnerable in our community\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur political leaders and health and economic professionals are leading us through this crisis with guidance that is based on scientific evidence and compassionate care for those impacted. We have seen what can be achieved in a very short space of time to address a crisis that threatens us all. In the resource, \u201cLessons from COVID19 for the Climate Emergency\u201d<\/em>, we recognize as a Church, we have another crisis that we need to face together \u2013 the crisis that our whole creation is groaning under the impacts of climate change, pollution, and degradation of our ecosystems\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEmerging from the COVID crisis \u2013 what will we do? Some have talked about what will be the \u201cnew normal\u201d on the other side of this pandemic. This is a time for us as the Uniting Church to be asking: What do we want our common life to be? As followers of Jesus, what are the values and practices we want to embrace and maintain? How will we bear witness to God\u2019s vision of the reconciliation and renewal of the whole creation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe new resource encourages us to consider these questions and others that are before us, and to take action. We need to urgently take action to prioritise what is important for now and into our future. God is calling us to shape a world, where our common life includes care for the earth, which we all share; a recognition, that creation is not there simply for our use and abuse, but the creatures of the earth, the plants, and the land itself, need to be respected, and cherished. We need to live in a sustainable way, using renewable sources of energy, recycling, reducing waste, and having sustainable manufacturing and agricultural practices, so that there is a future for our earth. We need our Government to set in place strategies to ensure that all communities are able to transition into the new low carbon world for the sake of the whole planet\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deidre outlined the video series: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first video<\/a> is an introduction to the series by Rev Jennifer Hughes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the second video<\/a> \u201cCompassion and Innovation\u201d, Tarlee Leondaris speaks of the significant challenges that face us, if we don\u2019t respond to the climate crisis. And she reminds us of God\u2019s great compassion for the earth. She also reminds us that God\u2019s call to us is to participate in God\u2019s mission now in our present: \u201cJesus\u2019 understanding of the new heaven and new earth includes that it is not just a future phenomenon, after our death. We are participants in bringing them about in this time and in this place.\u201d She notes that there is hope \u2013 and that \u201cHope is a verb, rather than a noun\u201d \u2013 an action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The third video<\/a> features Rev John Hughes speaking about our \u201cConnectedness\u201d \u2013 with a reference to our SA Synod Moderator\u2019s theme: Connections \u2013 we are connected with God, with each other and the earth<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n