By Nicola Currie
Lambeth Conference Communications

A sub-section of Lambeth Conference's Section One (Called to Full Humanity) has called for a greater emphasis on environmental concerns in its draft report.

The report from the sub-section provides a theological review of ecological issues, and speaks of the damage done by humanity to the created order as God made it. It stresses that humanity's relationship to the created order is fundamental to human well being. The report also outlines links between ecological concerns and poverty, drawing on the first-hand experience of the bishops within the section.

The report highlights the importance of a Christian contribution in caring for the environment but also delineates the church's shortcomings in this area. The bishops in the sub-section have voiced their concern about the low priority given to this topic at the Conference and call upon Christians to be aware of their responsibility and accountability for the destruction of the natural environment.

"The last (Lambeth) Conference focused on women's ordination, this one on debt and sexuality, human dignity and human rights but at the heart of the matter we need to relate to the whole created order - we need to relate to the world that God has made," said Bishop George Browning of Canberra and Goulburn (Australia), chair of the sub-section. "I think the church is mirroring world governments where the pressure of the immediate is so great that we have to focus on what appear to be the critical issues and they are almost always humanity based.

The report emphasises the spiritual nature of ecological concern: "Some environmentalists have come to believe that the necessary changes will only be brought about by a profound shift of consciousness rooted in some kind of religious or spiritual renewal."

Bishop George Browning outlined four ways in which the Communion could work in this area:

Convince the Church-In order to convince those in the church of the importance of this issue the sub-section report's emphasis has been on providing a theological statement which is both news and good news for many people, Bishop Browning said.

"If this theological paper commends itself to the church at large perhaps the church will see that in the environmental issue we do have a foundation for evangelism, for teaching and for a renewal," he said. "For young people an entry into spirituality is through the environment. Evangelism is touching people with the gospel of Christ and the environment is one of the ways of doing that."

According to the theological statement from the sub-section, "the Sabbath principle is more than just a religious principle, it is a life principle," Bishop Browning said. "Built into to the whole created order is the principle of rest and refreshment-the land needs it, plants need it. We are appealing to the church to appropriately reclaim that principle."

Make acts of individuals count-Individual acts as basic as building houses, using energy, or disposing of rubbish have ecological consequences, the report asserts. Millions of Christians caring for the environment in their daily lives could make a huge difference. "We are encouraging the bishops to see the ecological issues as fundamental to their episcopate as the way they manage their administrative and more traditional aspects of church management," Browning said.

Influence governments and companies-Environmental issues are not necessarily a popular stance in government because of the cost of imposing ecological restraints, according to the report. This advocacy role is essential for the church, Bishop Browning said. The sub-section's report provides a theological statement showing how environmental concerns are a core part of the Gospel. The sub-section also hopes that this will provide the impetus for people in the church to move onto practical programmes in their own nations and communities.

Establish an Anglican coordinator for the environment-The sub-section calls for the appointment for an Anglican coordinator for the environment in the same way that the Anglican Communion Office has officers for other areas of the church's world. The appointment of such an officer might ensure that environmental issues get higher up the Lambeth Agenda next time, Bishop Browning suggested.