Kerith Climate
& Enviromental Declaration

The leadership of Kerith Community Church publicly declare a climate and environmental emergency that requires urgent prayer and action.

We commit to respond to the facts

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:22

 

  • The climate crisis is caused by human actions. Urgent behavioural change is necessary to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030 to avoid further irreversible environmental, economic, and societal impacts.

  • There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.

  • The climate crisis is unequivocally linked to global injustice, inequality and poverty.

  • The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore, earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

We commit to share the Creation Care message

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it, for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Psalms 24:1

 

  • By joining with other churches and organisations in declaring an emergency as part of our responsibility as Christians in discipleship, mission, worship and to be better stewards of God’s creation.

  • The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

  • By encouraging our community to play an active part individually and corporately through regular prayer and lifestyle changes in response to the call to protect the earth.

  • I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

  • By impacting other Christian organisations as we collaborate and speak prophetically creating ways in which our faith can enable further restoration.

  • When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

  • By asking our Kerith community to recognise the emergency and encourage local conversations and actions to live out the mission in our spheres of influence such as schools, universities, workplaces and volunteer centres.

  • Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

    …Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

  • By influencing more positive national and international leadership action from Governments, businesses and other churches for a sustainable earth locally, nationally and globally through prayer and action.

  • His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We commit to act justly

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

 

  • By actively working towards becoming accredited as an Eco Church.

  • But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving

    …At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality.

  • Our Creation Care and Justice project group will evaluate opportunities for action and produce a five year strategic plan to increase Kerith’s positive environmental impact as a corporate body across our sites as we seek ways to tackle local and global injustice.

  • If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Our passion is to help people find their way back to God through communities growing in their love for God and love for people.