Document
2nd November, 2017
As the world gathers in Bonn, Germany for the 23rd Conference of Parties, the Methodist Church in Fiji is calling for Methodists in Fiji and around the world to join in prayer for Fiji’s leadership and for the talanoa process of negotiations which will take place over the next two weeks.
The Church’s Standing committee last Friday 27th October, resolved to call members and fellow Fijians to pray for COP23.
We also reaffirmed our support for the Prime Minister as Fiji assumes the presidency of the Conference of Parties. This was first affirmed at our Annual Methodist Church in Fiji Conference in August this year, where the Prime Minister was invited to address delegates on COP23 as part of the church’s ongoing work on stewardship of creation.
As a member of the Fiji Council of Churches, Pacific Conference of Church and the World Council of Churches, we continue to call the nations of the world to support Fiji as it amplifies the voices of Pacific vulnerable small island states and coastal cities.
We also call on all people of faith and faith-based communities in Fiji, the Pacific and around our planet to endorse the COP23 Multifaith Charter (http://cop23multifaith.com/charter/) prepared by the faith communities of Fiji in partnership with the COP23 Presidency Secretariat. “
As the nations of the world gather for COP23 under the presidency of Fiji, it is our common hope and constant prayer, as people of faith, that the reflections and discernment and life- affirming responses of such spirituality remain as critically important as scientific and political conversations in the decision-making processes during COP23.
Let us pray for:
- States to take bold action to rapidly reduce emissions, in line with the 1.5°C goal;
- An effective Facilitative Dialogue that delivers: greater pre-2020 ambition; improved NDC post-2020 emission reduction targets; speeding the advance to low-carbon economies; increased and innovative public and private finance to enable achievement of the 1.5C target;
- That the global community will practically commit to an ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk reduction as cost effective tools for all small island developing nations.
The Methodist Church in Fiji will be represented at COP23 by Rev. James Bhagwan, who has been involved in faith and climate change work for the last decade.
Rev. Bhagwan is part of the World Council of Churches delegation and we hope he will also be able to provide spiritual and practical support to the COP23 Presidency Secretariat as well.
May God’s blessings be with all those working for climate justice and may God’s peace be with all those affected by climate change.
Rev. Dr. Epineri Vakadewavosa General Secretary
METHODIST CHURCH IN FIJI