November 2006





Victorian Baptists are the latest group to make a strong call for action on climate change.


At its annual assembly on 28 October 2006 the Baptist Union of Victoria (BUV) voted overwhelmingly to call on the Australian government to commit firmly to a sixty per cent reduction in Australian greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.


It called for massive investment in renewable energy, public transport and fuel efficiencies, and urged the government to introduce a carbon-trading scheme.


The BUV's Director of Ministries, Rev. Alan Marr, said this was the first time Victorian Baptists had taken a stand as a group on an environmental issue. "We believe the science is in and it's time to take decisive action", he said. "This is the planet's biggest environmental crisis, and we know it will hit the world's poor the hardest. We have to act now."


The resolution also called on Baptists themselves to "be the change they want". Churches will be encouraged to audit and reduce their own energy use, introduce environmental themes in worship services and call on their members to change their lifestyles.


One church, Westgate Baptist Community in Yarraville, is already leading the way, with care for creation an integral part of its community life. It is a depot for recycling corks, CDs and various plastics (using the Christian recycling company Green Collect). It held its own Ride To Church day last month. It has a church garden. It has added a "season of creation" to its church year. It worships outdoors regularly. And it takes part in Clean Up Australia days.


Dr Ross Langmead, the member of the BUV Public Issues Network who moved the motion, said, "If Baptists are speaking out, we can say that the middle-ground in Australia is clearly moving on this issue. Since theologically conservative leaders in the United States formed the Evangelical Climate Initiative earlier this year there has been a huge shift in concern. Small initiatives won't be enough-every country will need to aim at a reduction of sixty per cent or more for us to address this problem."


[The full resolution and a background paper is downloadable from http://www.buv.com.au from the home page - go to Assembly Gatherings, then Gathering Information (at bottom of page), then Global Warming (at bottom of page).]



Rev Alan Marr Dr Ross Langmead
Director of Ministries BUV Public Issues Network
Baptist Union of Victoria