Events
Climate change and the purposes of God: a call to the Church
Operation Noah launched The Ash Wednesday Declaration on 22nd February 2012 at the start of the Christian season of Lent. The Declaration, written by Operation Noah’s theology think tank, challenges the church to realise that care for God’s creation – and concern about climate change - is foundational to the Christian gospel and central to the church’s mission.
This section of the website will offer some theological resources and background papers to support the Ash Wednesday Declaration. We hope they will be of use to preachers and teachers in churches, to lecturers and students in theological colleges, to RE teachers in church schools. Some are scholarly papers, some extracts from published work (used by permission), some notes for Bible Studies for sermon preparation or group meetings.
Energize your church!
This section of the website will give you ideas on how to introduce Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration and its significance to your church fellowship.
Below is one approach that you could take.
Step-by-step guide to getting your church engaged with the Ash Wednesday Declaration
1. Find one or two people who care either about the issue or for you, preferably both, and work together on the following:
The threat of runaway climate change is the most significant moral question facing us today, argues David Atkinson in an article for Church Times. It reaches to the heart of the faith: our relationship to God’s earth and to each other.
Press coverage for Operation Noah.
Operation Noah press releases from previous years.
Operation Noah's theology think tank met and corresponded during 2011 and 2012 to produce Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration, launched on 22 February 2012.
Psalm 8 is a song of praise to God the Creator. The overwhelming nature of the poet’s experience of God’s glory in creation helps him to a right understanding of his own place within God’s creation.
Some suggestions for further reading and other resources.
Dr John Bimson of Trinity College, Bristol, reflects on this passage from Job and its challenge to our anthropocentric view of the world.
The well-know hymn O Worship the King All Glorious Above is based on verses from Psalm 104. It is a celebration of God the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
A Bible study on justice and human flourishing.
Among our modern-day prophets are James Hansen of NASA, who states: 'The blame, if we fail to stand up and demand a change of course, will fall on us, the current generation of adults. Our parents honestly did not know that their actions could harm future generations. We, the current generation, can only pretend that we did not know.' This article outlines some of the many clear introductions to the science of human-induced climate change.
Quotations on climate change and economic justice from economists, theologians and politicians.
We have written an article about Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration that you may wish to use in your church magazine. You can also download two images to accompany the article.
The full text of Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration, launched on 22nd February 2012.
Download or order your copies of the Ash Wednesday Declaration.
Join key leaders from major UK denominations, and Christian organisations working on climate change, in signing Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration.
We are hugely encouraged by leading church figures, across the denominations, who have signed the Ash Wednesday Declaration.
We have received a number of moving quotes about the Ash Wednesday Declaration.
If you have responded to this Call to the Church, here are some suggestions of what you might choose to do next.
February 2012: Operation Noah launches the Ash Wednesday Declaration, calling for repentance over the prevailing 'shrug-culture' towards climate change.
A Bible study by Isabel Carter on caring for our neighbours.
“Redemption: Covenant Hope”: , a chapter from David Atkinson, Renewing the Face of the Earth, 2008 Canterbury Press.
A Bible study by Isabel Carter on damage to creation.
A simple service (or part of a service) to pray for the effectiveness of this Declaration in enabling the Church to speak out with a clear voice.
We have prepared Powerpoint presentations to help you introduce Operation Noah and the Ash Wednesday Declaration to your church.
A Bible study on advocacy and action, based on Luke 12:35-48 and Isaiah 52:7-10.
A Bible study on God's future promises, based on the Noah story and Deuteronomy 33: 26-29.
A Bible study on natural inter-relationships, looking at a prophecy from Isaiah regarding Egypt.
A reflection by David Atkinson on creation and covenant: a biblical kaleidoscope
Consider the Lilies of the Field: Reading Luke’s Gospel and Saving the Planet. A paper by Professor Mary Grey.
Troubled waters – Becoming ecologically awakened to the sacred earth and the implications for how we live. A paper by Professor Mary Grey.
“Justice: allegiance to the covenant Lord” , a chapter from David Atkinson, Renewing the Face of the Earth, 2008 Canterbury Press. Reprinted with permission of Canterbury Press: www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk
A reflection on Romans 8. 18 – 25 by Tom Wright, reprinted with permission from Paul for Everyone: Part 1 Romans 1 – 8 (SPCK 2004)
Visions of the End? Revelation and Climate Change by The Revd Professor T.J. Gorringe; a chapter from Sebastian Kim and Jonathan Draper (eds.) Christianity and the Renewal of Nature, SPCK, 2011; reproduced with kind permission of the author and publisher.
On Ash Wednesday, 22 February, a short public service of prayer and dedication to launch Operation Noah's Ash Wednesday Declaration was held at St Mary-Le-Bow, Cheapside, London (5pm).
Describes what climate change is and how it happens, and suggests ways in which ordinary people can help to mitigate it. It also describes the process of evolution, and proposes that Christian ecology must henceforth integrate evolution.
