«God's renewed Creation» - Meditation and Action

From March 11 to 14, 2010, the Executive Committee of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe met in Birsfelden-Basel/Switzerland. The morning devotions on March 12 and 13 focused on the theme «God’s renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action». Robert Seitz, a retired United Methodist pastor, and Sylvia Wilhelm, a former United Methodist District lay leader, did not prepare Bible studies but chose an inspiring poetic and musical approach to the theme of the recent Council of Bishop’s message.

One decision of the meeting directly related to environmental degradation, one of the threats to God’s good Creation mentioned in the Bishop’s message. Bishop Patrick Streiff had already decided to travel as climate neutrally as possible three years ago. Now the Executive Committee agreed that all CO2 emissions caused by flights of people participating in meetings of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe would be offset via the non-profit foundation myclimate (http://www.myclimate.org/en). It was not an easy decision. On the one hand the motion was supported in view of our responsibility regarding the integrity of creation. On the other hand the question was raised whether this money – given the very limited financial resources particularly in Eastern Europe and the Balkan countries – should not better be invested in our own mission and social service projects.

March 18, 2010
Urs Schweizer, Assistant to Bishop Dr. Patrick Streiff