Blog post
Eco-Congregation Scotland is taking a baton to the climate change conference in Paris, to carry the demand of churches in Scotland for climate justice.
The baton is being passed between over 100 churches schools and other meetings throughout the summer and autumn of 2015. It was made for us by Greyfriars Recycling of Wood at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh from recycled church furniture. It bears the message Time for Climate Justice: Churches in Scotland Demand a Deal in Paris, December 2015. The relay was launched by Aileen McLeod MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform at the ECS Annual Gathering on 25th of April.
The success of the project can be seen by the steady demand from churches across Scotland to share the journey and the stories that have appeared in local papers around the country as it has moved around.
On its journey it has been to the top of Ben Lomond with the Moderator of the General Assembly and a large party of Christian Aid walkers. It has been to the National Youth Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church. In September it crossed storm tossed seas to the island so Orkney where it was warmly received by residents of some of Scotland’s most remote islands. It even made a journey over the border to the meeting of the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland held in Birmingham in June.
From almost accidental beginnings it has grown into a big story for Eco-Congregation Scotland and all participants. Receiving the baton, reading the inscription and passing it on allows us to share in a bigger journey and helps give tangible expression to our concerns and aspirations.
By the time the baton reaches Paris it will have been passed between the hands of thousands of members of congregations, young and old and will carry so many expectations that we want to share with others from around the world and with conference delegates. We look forward to sharing this story with you all.
About the author :
Adrian Shaw is the climate change officer for the Church of Scotland and secretary of Eco-Congregation Scotland.
He is responsible for co-ordinating work across the Church of Scotland on climate change. This includes proving support to Eco-Congregation Scotland, liaising with churches in Scotland and beyond, working with committees and councils of the Church of Scotland to raise awareness and action on climate change.
He is secretary of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) Environmental Issues Network and a member of the Climate Change Working Group of the World Council of Churches.
He previously spent twenty five years in local government in London and the West of Scotland. He has been a member of the Board of Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Scottish Council of WWF and the board of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Scotland. He holds degrees in geography from the Universities of Cambridge and Toronto. He is a member of the Church of Scotland in the parish of Avich and Kilchrenan in Argyll.
