PEC Response to Hurricane Helene

Presbyterians for Earth Care grieves the loss of life, the injuries, and the property damages to homes, churches and businesses caused by Hurricane Helene.  We join our prayers with other individuals and churches in this time of disaster.  We also urge our fellow Presbyterians to financially support the important work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance now  in and in future rebuilding efforts.  Hurricane Helene was supersized in  its area of destruction and the intensity of the damage because of the climate crisis.  Scientists tell us that hotter oceans are causing stronger and stronger storms, resulting in greater destruction.  We as individuals and congregations need to act now in doing all that we can to counter the climate crisis that will cause even worse storms in the near future.  We can do this through funds available through the Inflation Reduction Act that help us in buying electric vehicles, adding energy-saving insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, and countless other ways that lessen adding carbon to the environment - carbon that causes the climate crisis.  PEC has many helpful webinars available on its YouTube channel for these efforts and welcomes phone calls and emails to help individuals and churches.  This November we should vote for political candidates who see the danger of the climate crisis and support solutions.  We hope we can all pray for the relief work, and support this work financially as well as do what we can to counter the climate crisis and its related supersized storms. Grace and Peace, Bruce Gillette, Moderator, Presbyterians for Earth Care

Copyright (C) 2024 Presbyterians for Earth Care. All rights reserved.

WCC news: WCC commission urges churches to lead climate justice movement after key meeting

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development (CCJSD) met virtually on 23-24 September, renewing its call for churches worldwide to amplify their commitment to climate action, ecological repentance, and transformation.  Participants of the WCC CCJSD meeting 30 September 2024 Over the two-day meeting, the commission's five working groups shared progress on addressing critical issues like climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation, emphasizing the need to uplift Indigenous and youth voices. The commission also discussed its role in the upcoming United Nations climate conferences, specifically the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP29, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP16, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification COP16. These conferences, known as the triple COPs, provide a critical opportunity to address the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and desertification. Athena Peralta, CCJSD director, stressed the importance of holding major polluting nations accountable. “Advocacy in these spaces will focus on urging the key contributors to the triple ecological crises to pay up for planetary restoration and to cut their carbon emissions radically,” she said. Bishop Julio Murray of the Anglican Church in Panama, and CCJSD moderator, highlighted the discussions' significance, noting that they enriched the commission's proposal for an ecumenical decade for climate justice action. “It is a proposal that the whole commission can own,” said Murray, pointing to the consensus-building process as a key strength. Rev. Dr Hyunju Bae, CCJSD vice moderator, reflected on the spiritual foundation of the commission's work, drawing on the idea of ecumenical geometry. “In our uphill struggle, the CCJSD can continuously be nurtured and sustained by the hope coming from that center, which doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5), and continue to work together for the transformation of the world,” Bae said. As the commission prepares for its next in-person meeting in February 2025, Fr VM Matthew of the Mar Thoma Church in India called for the group to examine the impacts of ongoing conflicts on planetary health, suggesting this be a focal point of future discussions. The CCJSD reaffirmed its commitment to the call from the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe to pursue justice and sustainability through its statement, “The Living Planet – Seeking a Just and Sustainable Global Community.” Faith communities worldwide are encouraged to stand together in the fight for climate justice, offering moral leadership in a time of environmental crisis. Three WCC commissions meet to confront emerging global challenges(News Release, 05 March 2024) Climate emergency panel addresses how churches can respond with faith and hope (News Release, 06 March 2024) WCC climate commission moderator: “Let us be the ones to show that there is a will” (News Release, 07 March 2024) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: “Human Rights in Indonesia” side event will address crises in West Papua

A side event to the 57th UN Human Rights Council entitled “Human Rights in Indonesia,” hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and partner organizations on 1 October, will address the dire human rights situation in West Papua, with ongoing violations that include extra-judicial killings, internal displacement due to armed conflict, restrictions on civil liberties, and a growing number of cases of land grabbing. A view of the Papuan highlands near Kiwi, Pegunungan Bintang regency, West Papua, Photo: WCC 30 September 2024 This event will bring together grassroots representatives and experts to explore practical actions that the UN Human Rights Council and national and international actors could take to address the deepening human rights and humanitarian crises in West Papua. The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal will also present the findings of its July 2024 public hearings, during which it examined a body of evidence on the environmental impacts of development projects and related human rights violations in the region. In the first six months of 2024, extra-judicial killings linked to the ongoing armed conflict between the Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (OPM-TPNPB) have been recorded. A surge in armed conflict has been reported in the period April-June 2024 which has continued to drive internal displacement among the Indigenous Papuan people. As of September 2024, 79,867 people are internally displaced with no access to basic necessities such as food, healthcare services and education, and limited access to employment opportunities. If they return to their villages and homes, they are confronted with a heavy security presence, and constant intimidation and surveillance. A growing number of cases of land grabbing have been reported from the regencies of Merauke, Mimika, Deiyai, and Sorong in the period April-June 2024, reflecting a growing trend of private investors capturing land and natural resources without obtaining free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous Papuans. There is an urgent need for the Indonesian government to immediately address the conflict and associated human rights violations, abuses, and impunity through sustainable solutions based on the principles of human rights. Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), will moderate the discussion. “The Indonesian government provides very limited transparency regarding the situation in West Papua, and even less access to the region,” he said. “Accordingly, the WCC is grateful that through cooperation with its civil society partners we can bring information regarding the longstanding humanitarian and human rights crisis endured by the Indigenous Papuan people to the attention of the Human Rights Council, and to the wider international community. We continue to hope that by sharing this information, the long overdue concern of the international community may yet be galvanized.”   Join this event live here, Tuesday, 1 October, 13:00 CEST  (Meeting ID 3353 -CR25  "Human Rights in Indonesia", Meeting number: 2744 604 7986 Password: ufTQvPJJ877)  Learn more about the WCC work on "Human dignity and rights" WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC news: WCC webinar to explore global tax justice for climate reparations

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development will host a webinar, “ZacTax– Delivering Climate Reparations through Global Tax Justice on 4 October, from 13:00 to 14:30 Central European Time. Photo: Simon Chambers/ACT Alliance 26 September 2024 The event will explore the role of global tax justice in addressing climate reparations, with leading voices from Asia, Africa, and the Americas discussing how tax systems can curb the emissions of wealthy nations and industries and raise resources to respond to climate-related loss and damage. This initiative is part of the WCC’s ongoing commitment to addressing climate injustice and advocating for vulnerable communities. “Progressive taxation has the power to challenge the very systems that perpetuate inequality and environmental destruction,” said Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia. “This webinar is an opportunity to delve deeper into the question of who pays for climate damages and how we, as a global community, can ensure that justice is served.” Speakers include Aida Jean Nacpil-Manipon of the Asia-Pacific Movement on Debt and Development, Chenai Mukumba of the Tax Justice Network-Africa, Deivit Montealegre from the Methodist Church in Argentina and United Church of Canada, and Rev. Philip Peacock of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. Rev. Sarah Bach of the Methodist Church in Switzerland and a member of WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development will moderate the discussion. The ZacTax webinar will shed light on the intersection between wealth, climate responsibility, and reparations, calling for urgent action through tax justice. “We invite everyone to participate in this crucial dialogue,” said Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. “This conversation is about fairness, equity, and ultimately, survival.” Register for the webinar here  More information about this event See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: WCC convenes Ecumenical Diakonia Reference Group to tackle global crises

From 30 September to 2 October, the World Council of Churches (WCC) will convene the inaugural meeting of the Ecumenical Diakonia Reference Group in Yerevan, Armenia. The meeting will provide WCC partners and member churches with a platform to explore new approaches to diaconal work, address urgent global challenges, and foster stronger partnerships. Sister Rosa Le Thi Bong (left), a Vietnamese member of Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, talks with Cecilia Aliminio about plant health on a church-sponsored farm in Riimenze, South Sudan. The farm is run by Solidarity with South Sudan and provides food for students at a teacher training college, residents of a Congolese refugee camp, and displaced South Sudanese. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 23 September 2024 "The establishment of this reference group comes at a pivotal time when the world faces numerous crises—from climate change to poverty and conflict," said Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia. "This meeting will enable us to develop a coordinated and innovative response, drawing on the rich traditions of ecumenical diakonia to serve humanity more effectively and collaboratively." The Ecumenical Diakonia Reference Group was formed in response to the WCC’s 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022, which affirmed diakonia as a critical expression of unity and service. This gathering in Yerevan will aim to strengthen collaboration between the WCC, ACT Alliance, national and regional ecumenical organizations, and local churches.  Participants will discuss strategies to address the interconnected crises of climate change, war, and poverty while contributing to the global efforts outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. "By fostering equitable partnerships and greater cooperation among churches and ecumenical organizations, we can respond more effectively to the needs of our world and demonstrate the unity of the church through service," said Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. The meeting will include biblio-theological reflections, panel discussions on eco-diakonia and decolonising diakonia, and group planning sessions to set a three-year action plan for 2024–2026. A visit to a local diakonia project in Armenia will also provide practical insights for participants. Learn more about the work of the WCC on Diakonia and Ecumenical Solidarity See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland