The one-day conference, will take place in PCI’s Assembly Buildings on 27 September. Michael Jemphrey, PCI’s Agent for Stewardship of Creation, said that he was encouraged by the numbers attending so far. “We chose the title of the conference with care. ‘God’s world, our responsibility?’ is not just a rhetorical question - it is an open invitation for Christians to engage with a vital issue. It challenges us to reflect deeply, especially in light of Psalm 24:1, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’
“From the very beginning God created humanity in His image and entrusted us with the responsibility to care for His creation. Yet, as creation itself now groans, we are left asking: how can we faithfully live out this calling as disciples of Jesus Christ?”
He continued, “This conference is designed to help us reflect on God’s world, the place He has given us within it, and the role He has called us to play. Our keynote speaker, theologian and author Rev Dr Chris Wright, will guide us through key moments in the biblical story - from creation in Genesis to the vision of new creation in Revelation, and reveal how our responsibility for the earth in Genesis connects with proclaiming the good news of Jesus and living out love for our neighbour. There will be opportunities for participation through Q and A and break out groups.”
The conference has its roots in last year’s General Assembly, which received a report from PCI’s Council for Global Mission. That report included the findings of an extensive denominational survey on climate change. Nearly 1,200 responses were gathered from individuals across 209 congregations. While views varied, the survey revealed a clear majority who affirmed that:
- caring for creation is an intrinsic aspect of Christian faith
- human-induced climate change is a reality, and
- the Church is called to act responsibly in its attitudes and actions toward creation.
In light of these findings, the General Assembly recommended holding a conference to provide both theological grounding and relevant scientific background. As part of the day, breakout workshops will address practical themes on such topics as eco-anxiety, sustainable food, and stories of congregations who are making tangible responses.
Reflecting on the forthcoming event, Rev Richard Kerr, Global Development Convener, said that it is not too late for others to book a place. “It is vital for the Church to listen deeply and learn from what God is saying through His Word, and from each other. The conference will explore what it means, as followers of Christ, to live responsibly and hopefully, in relationship with our environment, others and our Creator.””
Looking forward to the conference, keynote speaker, Chris Wright (pictured) said, “People will have different views of the practical implications of the biblical theology of creation, and what should be the nature and the limits of our responsibility to it, both as humans and as Christians, and whether and where creation care fits into our understanding of the gospel and gospel-centred mission. That’s what we will wrestle with on the day, and I hope people will come along and join the discussion, with open Bibles and open minds.”