How do we reconcile with wounds and pain – and lack – that have not yet happened but that are very likely to come to pass? How do we begin to talk of reconciliation with an unknown but almost certainly more hostile future?
Some months ago, a few of us wondered what form a discussion based around the environmental catastrophe and our three CCN guiding principles might take, and we felt that more reflection and conversation around this could be welcomed by others.
Healing the wounds of history is fundamental to dealing with the past; but how does this adapt for facing future tragedy?
Learning to live with difference and celebrate diversity – how does this sit with the world’s finite resources? How do we acknowledge the need, overall, in our diversity to live with less, not more?
Building a culture of peace – what will this look like and how might it be achieved, when the parameters and the context are so unclear, and when future generations will be the ones in the frontline?
What seems apparent to many of us is that some elements of the world as we know it are likely to be changed permanently or even gone for ever, whatever we do to mitigate humanity’s damage to the planet. Even in the best case scenarios there is unlikely to be a complete return to a past reality, with all that this means for social justice for different parts of the globe. This realisation can be a traumatic one for any of us to come to terms with.
In partnership with the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, we’ve arranged a short series of online discussion sessions this March, to look at these questions from the starting point of each CCN priority in turn. With Paul Bodenham of Green Christian, who co-led discussion at our last online session on the environment held on the eve of Cop26, and Chloe Greenwood from the Deep Adaptation Forum as the lead speakers, it will be a space for people to share, and to begin – or continue – to unpick for themselves, how we feel, and respond to, the challenge ahead as reconcilers in our own communities. The aim is to provide a creative and prayerful, reflective space for people to engage with the ecological crisis and our part in it, and to gain strength for the task from others alongside.
How can we build in ourselves, and with others, a culture of peace out of such a conflicted situation? One that is robust enough to offer something meaningful for the future with all its uncertainties, amidst the increased probability of further social upheaval and conflict?
Do join us. The full series of three sessions runs each Wednesday from 16th – 30th March from 7.00-8.30pm UK time: all welcome, but please do aim to be there for all three sessions.
Sign up here by 9th March.
Alice Farnhill, CCN Co-ordinator and Tilly Martin, APF Co-ordinator
