The Hope for Creation conference, held at Stirling Court Hotel on 20–21 October, brought together theologians, scientists and experts in sustainability, with contributors from across the Church and the environmental sector.
Organised by the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Net Zero Team and sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance, the conference included addresses, breakout discussions, and workshops covering subjects such as renewable energy, caring for historic church buildings, biodiversity, funding and community energy.
Day One
The conference began with the opening keynote address delivered by author and ecologist Professor Alastair McIntosh, who introduced participants to Angus of the Hills, a figure remembered on the Isle of Lewis for his gift of spontaneous prayer.
Prof McIntosh shared a story in which Angus was asked to lead prayers but felt unable to do so. The minister reminded him that even Jonah had prayed from inside the whale.
“Ah yes,” Angus replied, “but this is different. You see, I have got the whale inside my belly.”
Prof McIntosh suggested that the story echoed the emotional burden experienced by those confronting the environmental crisis, saying: “Those times when we feel churned up. Those times when we feel a flood of feelings, emotions. What can we do?”
McIntosh closed his speech by sharing the Hebridean spiritual story “the Waiting Crook” about a man who thinks he is useless, and goes into the hills, asking God to choose his calling. At the foot of a decaying wooden cross, he discovers a shepherd’s crook lying on the heather ‘as if laid there by a hand’. Taking it up, he encounters a group that have been waiting for someone to guide them.
He concluded by asking attendees: “What is your crook? What is it that you find waiting there as if laid there by a hand before you?”
You can watch Prof McIntosh’s speech here.
Between keynote sessions, participants explored in small groups how care for creation can be put into practice in congregations and communities.
These workshops were led by experts in their fields, including Adrian Fox, Environment and Sustainability Officer for the Church of England, who discussed heritage buildings; a session on funding from the Benefact Trust, the National Lottery Heritage and Community Funds, and Historic Environment Scotland; a conversation on community energy from Pure Leapfrog, CIVIC Engineers and the HEART Project at Holy Trinity, Dunoon; YWAM, who shared stories on mission, intercession and creation care; Harriet Carty, Director of Caring for God’s Acre on welcoming wildlife; and Caroline Pomeroy, Director of Climate Stewards discussing Carbon Footprints. A further session shared stories from Pilot and Pioneer churches, demonstrating how these projects have utilised Benefact Trust and Provincial funding to decarbonise.
An ecumenical panel brought together representatives from other Christian denominations to share their experiences of responding to the climate crisis.
Adrian Shaw, a member of the Board of Eco-Congregation Scotland, encouraged churches to open conversations with elected representatives. Julia Edwards from the Church in Wales, outlined their ongoing journey in this sphere and Jo Chamberlain, the Church of England’s National Environment Officer, described international ecumenical work to establish the Feast of Creation in Christ.
The panel also heard from Hamish Leese, the Methodist Church’s Director of Environmental Engagement, about the Methodist Church’s decision to remove its previously stated ambition to become a Net Zero Church by 2030. He shared that “This was not a reflection of the diminished importance of this work… this was a reflection on the reality of the situation…And having a target date without a clear plan and a realistic opportunity to get there was not the way to address this really serious issue. So the challenge for us since the summer has been to keep and build momentum.”
Fintan Hurley, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, reflected on Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, describing the Pope’s belief that we cannot separate environmental concerns from poverty, inequality, oppression and war.
There was plenty of time throughout the conference for networking in the exhibition space, where a wide range of environmental charities and commercial partners shared advice and expertise. In the afternoon, the Rev Dr David Lewis, a Tutor in Theology at the Scottish Episcopal Institute, gave a talk entitled Prophetic Hope in a Hopeless World.
Dr Lewis discussed what Christian hope might look like in a world facing climate change. He discussed several historical and contemporary figures and groups who had experienced “the kind of prophetic imagination in which we need to now participate in order to glimpse a vision beyond our own parameters and paradigms in the here and now.”
He asked delegates: “Where are our dreams and our visions? Where is our prophetic activism? What is the shape of our future hope? And lastly, how can we, with God’s help, safeguard both creation and our common humanity?”
Evening worship was led by Rev Dr Lana Woolford and Rev Dr Karen McClain Kiefer, both of whom were ordained Deacons in the Scottish Episcopal Church this summer. Following the conference dinner, environmental scientist and climate campaigner Laura Anderson reflected on her understanding of the relationship between Christian faith and environmental action.
Ms Anderson encouraged participants to consider what they would do after returning home from the conference: “It’s great to be here and have this fellowship, but what are we going to do when we go away?”
“We should be changing our buildings. We should be doing the lifestyle action, but we should also be praying and interceding for this work to be changing hearts and minds.”
“We can use our voices. We can influence those who are around us. We can think about the sphere of influence that we have. That will be individual to each one of you.”
You can watch Laura’s speech here.
Day Two
The second day of the conference opened with the Celebration of the Eucharist, led by Bishop Ian Paton, in one of his final acts as Convener of the Provincial Environment Group (PEG), with the Rev Dr Val Cameron as Deacon, the Vice-Convener of PEG. The Eucharist was celebrated using a newly updated version of the experimental eucharistic materials for creation, provided by the Liturgy Committee.
Beginning the morning session, climate scientist Dr Ben Richards offered a scientific perspective on the climate crisis, drawing on his background in the study of past climates and his experience working with communities internationally.
The practical challenges of adapting church buildings were explored further by Paul Franklin, Principal Risk Management Surveyor at Ecclesiastical Insurance.
Mr Franklin welcomed the enthusiasm and commitment he had encountered throughout the conference, while encouraging congregations to seek professional advice at an early stage to budget for and understand their future maintenance. He said: “Think about a solution that fits your building and fits your needs. Think about the fabric and how it will interplay with what may be an historic environment.”
He concluded by reflecting on the reason for the conference: “My job is about risk, and I think the one reflection I’ve had today is that there are risks in all these things, but I think the greatest risk is probably if we all just sat here and did nothing.”
Bringing the conference towards its conclusion, the Rt Rev Ian Paton, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and former Convenor of the Provincial Environment Group reflected that “we should continue to speak truthfully, prophetically, and encourage and support those making difficult decisions. That we will hold out God’s vision of a life not built on endless consumption and demonstrate that life in our communities.”
The conference closed with worship led by the Rt Rev David Railton, who said that: “The important part of what we do isn’t really us coming together, as good as this is. It’s what happens when we go from here, go back into our churches and our communities, and use all we’ve learned and heard for the building up of God’s kingdom.”
Bishop David, who has now taken over from Bishop Ian as the Convener of PEG went on to say that: “The future of all this work … depends on you.”
He concluded by saying: “All of you who go out and do this work in your places, in your communities, in your churches. And that’s where the hope for creation is – the hope for creation is in you. In your communities and in the work that we’re doing together.”
