A CONFERENCE on the environment and future of the planet takes place at Coventry Cathedral next month.
It comes as the Bishop of Coventry revealed a survey showed Christians believe opportunities to debate the “environmental crisis” were limited in places of worship.
‘Reconciling a Wounded Planet’ is a two-day conference where Christians will come together to explore, discuss and debate the environmental challenges facing the world.
Nearly 300 delegates are expected to attend the event on September 18 and 19.
They key issue will be how the Christian church can collectively work towards finding lasting solutions to global warming.
The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, highlighted a ‘lack of opportunity for Christians to discuss their response to the environmental crisis’.
A survey commissioned for the conference illustrated a need for more teaching and discussion in places of worship.
Around 41 per cent of Christians felt that they had more of a responsibility than non-Christians to tackle the environmental crisis.
Yet a similar figure said their was no opportunity to hear or discuss the challenge in their place of worship.
The Right Rev Dr Cocksworth said: “This significant survey reveals a striking – and deeply worrying – mismatch.
“On the one hand, Christians have a strong desire to protect the environment. On the other, there is precious little to help them in the teaching and preaching of our churches.
“That’s why the Coventry conference is so important. It will take the theme of reconciliation, so central to the Christian gospel, and show that living well with the whole of creation lies at the heart of our Faith as a gospel imperative.
About 60 per cent of the respondents considered themselves ‘informed’ about the environmental crisis and, in the main, trusted scientists to inform them.
The overwhelming majority indicated that an energy-efficient car was far more important to them than a high performance car, with 84 per cent felt it either ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ important to spend more on energy-efficient products in their home.
Keynote speakers including Sir Ghillean Prance, Bishop James Jones, Professor Richard Bauckham and the Reverend Margot Hodson – who will all link theology and environmental issues.
For more information visit www.reconcilingawoundedplanet.com
