Christian Ecology Link Conference 2000 poster

All welcome at the

CHRISTIAN ECOLOGY LINK

CONFERENCE

'Celebration and Commitment'

Sat 21 Oct 2000

Wesley's Chapel, 49 City Road, London EC1.

Near Old Street Tube Station (Northern Line).

10am to 5pm.

All welcome. FREE.

CONFERENCE OPENED BY

Rt Hon Michael Meacher, MP Government Environment Minister.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Canon Peter Challen

Chairman of the Christian Council for Monetary Justice
and formerly with the South London Industrial Mission

'ANY QUESTIONS' PANEL

Charles Secrett Director of Friends of the Earth.

Tim Cooper Chairman of CEL.

Prof. Mary Grey Leading theologian and author.

Revd. Dr Leslie Griffiths Superintendent Minister, Wesley's Chapel and former President of the Methodist Conference.

WORKSHOPS

The Future for Ecological Theology

Prof. Mary Grey

Renewable Energy -- A Credible Alternative?

Adrian Smith

Your Church and Local Sustainability

Peter McDonald & Joy Gadsby

Water -- a Call for Radical Environmental Rethink

Dr. Nicholas Grey

Biodiversity and the Parish

Revd. Nigel Cooper

Music -- 'Song at the Centre'

Sarah Adams

LUNCHTIME EVENTS

CONCERT: Heritage and Crown of Life Choirs.

DRAMA: Footprints Theatre Trust.

WORKSHOPS

The Future for Ecological Theology

Our beliefs matter. Prof. Mary Grey, leading theologian, editor of EcoTheology and author of The Outrageous Pursuit of Hope will explore where ecological theology is heading. Workshop chaired by Edward Echlin, author of Earth Spirituality, Jesus at the Centre.

Renewable Energy -- A Credible Alternative?

Global warming will raise temperatures by up to 3.5°c, triggering a devastating rise in sea-levels and more severe natural disasters. Can renewables make a difference? Adrian Smith, of Renew North, will assess the relative importance of different renewable technologies and discuss whether wind and biomass will be most significant over the next ten years. Workshop chaired by Jerry Barr of the Methodist Church's Mission and Education Committee.

Your Church and Local Sustainability .

Can your local church help to bring about a more sustainable society? Peter McDonald, Local Agenda 21 Officer for the Borough of Croydon and Joy Gadsby of LondonSCARE will lead a discussion. Workshop chaired by Ruth Conway of the Values in Design and Technology Education Network.

Water -- a Call for Radical Environmental Rethink.

Travelling from drying rivers of N. America to India, Dr Nicholas Grey, director of Wells for India, will focus on West Rajasthan, where 24,000 out of 34,000 villages suffer severe drought -- no food, no fodder, no water to drink. Moving to cities is no answer. Jaipur is to run out of water in 2005, Delhi in 2015. Discussion will focus on the need for a radical agenda of change. Workshop chaired by Ellen Teague of the Collumbans.

Biodiversity and the Parish.

A quarter of the world's 4,630 types of mammals and many plant species are at serious risk of extinction. The Revd. Nigel Cooper, author of Wildlife in Church and Churchyard, will discuss a local church response to global biodiversity loss.

MUSIC -- 'Song at the Centre'.

Drawing on the works of American and English liturgical composers Sarah Adams will introduce participants to music which honours creation and respects the environment. Singers and musicians will take away a range of music which will enhance their church and school worship. (Please indicate if you are bringing an instrument so that relevant music can be provided.)

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Note: Dr Michael Northcott was originally scheduled to give the keynote talk but is sadly unable to come to the meeting due to ill health. However we are delighted that Canon Peter Challen is able to come.
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DRAFT PROGRAMME

9.30am Registration and Coffee.

10.00am Conference starts.

Conference to be opened by the Rt Hon Michael Meacher, MP.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr Michael Northcott author of The Environment and Christian Ethics, and lecturer in Christian Ethics, Edinburgh.

WORKSHOPS

LUNCH Drinks available. Please bring your own lunch. Enjoy solo story telling from Footprints Theatre and listen to music in Wesley's Chapel. Or take time to talk, network, browse and buy at the SPCK bookstall. Visit the Stalls, admire the Art Exhibition and Banners, and get ideas for practical action from the efforts of the groups who have gained CEL Millennium Certificates.

CEL AMM . Prizes awarded to the winners of the competition for Banners celebrating God's creation.

ANY QUESTIONS PANEL: Question our prominent panel members:-

Charles Secrett Director of Friends of the Earth.

Tim Cooper Chairman of CEL.

Prof. Mary Grey Leading theologian and author.

Revd. Dr Leslie Griffiths Superintendent Minister, Wesley's Chapel.

SERVICE IN WESLEY'S CHAPEL. Led by Revd. Dr Leslie Griffiths.

Commitment to work for a sustainable future.

Presentation of CEL's Millennium Certificates.

Planting of shrub outside Wesley's Chapel.

5.00 pm Conference ends.

ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING THIS CONFERENCE INCLUDE:

A Rocha International (Christians in Conservation)--Baptist Union (Mission Department)--Board for Social Responsibility of the Church of England--Christians Aware--Christian Rural Concern--Conference of Religious in England and Wales--Conservation Foundation--Eco-Congregation/Going for Green--Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland--Friends of the Earth--Forum for the Future--Social Responsibility Office of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches--Gregorios, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain--John Ray Initiative--Justice & Peace Office of the Arundel & Brighton Diocese--LondonSCARE--Living Spirituality Network--Methodist Church (Church & Society)--Minster Abbey--Newman College of Higher Education Studies in Theology, Faith and Culture--Student Christian Movement--United Reformed Church (Church & Society)--Social Responsibility Offices of the following Anglican Dioceses:- Bradford--Canterbury & Rochester--Chichester--Leicester--Lichfield--Oxford--Portsmouth.

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