December 8, 2011

DURBAN/GENEVA – With international negotiations on climate change near collapse in Durban, South Africa, Christian youth from around the world offer hope by studying their Bibles and reflecting on justice issues involved in the care of creation.

Youth for Eco-Justice, a joint project of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), which concludes in Durban on 10 December, has brought together 30 young people in an open dialogue on the issues surrounding climate change.

"I had an opportunity to spend a couple of days with this amazing group and came away with a renewed sense of optimism and hope," said Kristen Opalinski, communications officer for the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA).

"These are the people who will one day become the leaders of our churches and ultimately our society as a whole. It is in this realization that I find inspiration and see God at work most," added Opalinski.

The LUCSA official is monitoring the negotiations being held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP17, as part of the broad interfaith presence in Durban. Through rallies and worship services, they are promoting justice, love and compassion.

"While the gridlock of the negotiations at the International Convention Centre continues to lead COP17 towards a dangerous collapse, it is the very important work of these 30 youth here that gives us the chance to see the sunshine through the clouds," she added.

The workshops aim to reflect on the challenges posed by climate change from a theological perspective. Using the Bible as a guide to dialogue and debate, each session focuses on a different subject related to God's call for stewardship of creation.

Participants have been looking at how the gospel relates to the way people treat each others as global neighbors, consumption and the disposal of products, water justice and food security. They will head home charged with developing creative ways of countering climate change.

"There are some things that we must do here on earth. We cannot wait for heaven as some would suggest," said participant Mike Langa from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi. "We must start here by the act of sharing–sharing with others, with all those in need."

Raimy Ramirez from the Presbyterian Church in Venezuela noted that participants must ask themselves some tough questions: "What is the core of this injustice [the lack of clean drinking water]? If we work on the core, we will understand the root causes of this injustice."

Rev. Roger Schmidt, LWF Youth Secretary, said Youth for Eco-Justice is bringing young people together in Durban who will then have an impact when they return home. "Young people have been demanding in our assemblies that they have to take action and this is the response," Schmidt noted.

The youth are capable of breaking the deadlock around climate change with new understandings of the connections between justice and the ecology, Schmidt concluded.

Read more about Youth for Eco-Justice at http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=569&L=124&F=T, and LWF together at http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=569&L=125&F=T.

Order your LWF Calendar 2012 today: http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=569&L=116&F=T.

Lutheran World Information
Based on a contribution by LUCSA communications officer Kristen Opalinski