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WCC News spoke to Rev. Henrik Grape, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Working Group on Climate Justice. He was on his way home after attending an ecumenical gathering in Assisi.
By Marianne Ejdersten*
Q: What happened in Assisi?
Rev. Grape: During Friday and Saturday (31 August - 1 September), a broad ecumenical gathering to manifest around the Season of Creation was held. In its way it was the first one with significant representation from the family of Christian faiths underlined our common cause to Care for Creation and the most vulnerable. I hope that this will inspire many others in congregations around the world to come together during the Season of Creation (1 September - 4 October) in prayers and actions.
Q: Why this gathering in Assisi?
Rev. Grape: Assisi is to some extent the heart of a Creation Care attitude since this is the region of St Francis. His way of understanding the Creation as an inclusive life where all life forms reflects the grace of God and our world as a suitable place to meet and manifest.
Q: What’s the objective behind the Season of Creation?
Rev. Grape: Season of Creation (also named Creation Time) has for some decades been celebrated in the ecumenical family to highlight the importance of Care for Creation and to support a more sustainable lifestyle. To tread a bit lighter on this Earth. The ecological challenges have risen over the last decades in a way that must be addressed by more than technical and political solutions. There is a need for a more value-based change to overcome the ecological threats like climate change, biodiversity, access to water and many others. In our Christian traditions there are theological wells that can contribute to this change. There is a urgent need for change. Change of lifestyles and change of economic systems or models, change on how we understand development and how we build a peaceful and sustainable life. Metanoia is a word from our Christian tradition that needs to be reflected on in this context.
Q: What’s the main message from the church leaders?
Rev. Grape: The main message from all church leaders is that we have an obligation as people of faith to stand up for the Creation and the most vulnerable to the effects of a consumer-based lifestyle and the greed of the richest.
Q: How can the Season of Creation make a difference?
Rev. Grape: I think that it could open the eyes of people in our churches to the importance of acting on environmental issues as well as having a spiritual understanding of the challenge we are facing. Both to understand the scale of problems but also to find a language in prayer and liturgical action that helps us both formulate our sorrows and anxieties and at the same time, helps us to find a language of defiant hope. A hope that leads us to change.
Q: How could local congregation join?
Rev. Grape: By having a simple gathering within congregations, and starting to talk and think about what they see and how it relates to their faith. There is inspiration to find on www.seasonofcreation.org and other sites.
Q: What’s the strongest memory you will take with you from Assisi?
Rev. Grape: The strongest memory is mainly the inclusive and loving spirit that Christians from so many traditions contributed. It makes me confident that this is a key to a more solid and open ecumenical pilgrimage into a more sustainable future.
* Marianne Ejdersten is director of communication in the World Council of Churches
Christians Unite in Calling for Eco-Justice: Season of Creation Declaration 2018
Season of Creation 2018: a video message from WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit
Christian leaders demonstrate growing support for environmental protection, WCC press release 30 August, 2018
Learn more about Season of Creation
Learn more about the WCC's work on Care for Creation and Climate Justice
