In Theory

The 2009 U.N. Summit on Climate Change opened this week in Copenhagen.

Through Dec. 18, the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases — among them, the U.S., China and India — will try to work out deals there setting targets for controlling emissions, which, scientists say, contribute to global warming.

Apart from the politicians and scientists, religious leaders representing many faiths have gathered at Copenhagen.

Earlier in 2009, leaders from different religions attending a U.N. conference in Bangkok collectively said that reversing global warming is a moral duty.

As religious leaders in Newport-Mesa and Orange County, do you agree that religions have a role in safeguarding the planet? And how would you persuade your congregants to live their lives in a more eco-friendly way?

We are stewards of God’s creation and have a responsibility to take that duty seriously. Pope Benedict XVI has not been quiet on this matter himself. Our way of life must be respectful of the environment, while at the same time we must not make ourselves dictator of all creatures and of nature, which can happen when God is denied. A balanced approach is always called for.

Father Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa

Simplicity, a spiritual discipline, is the solution to “ensuring environmental sustainability,” the seventh of eight Millennium Development Goals which are a focus of this Parish Church.

In our frenetic efforts to achieve and accumulate, we easily neglect the beauty beautiful that is present in everything, everywhere. We too seldom “lieth in green pastures” (Psalm 23) or “stop to smell the roses.” We need to take time every day in still silence to reflect on what we are doing: what we are eating, what we are wearing, where we are living, what we are creating with our lives, and to ask questions like:, “Do we need what I want to buy?”; “Has it, or will it, hurt the environment?”; “Why must everyone own a car?” (Yes, even in California!).

We are part of nature, meant to care for, and live in harmony with, “this fragile earth, our island home” (Book of Common Prayer, page 370).

(Very Rev’d Canon) Peter D. Haynes

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

Religious or not, we all have a role to play in safeguarding the planet. Reversing global warming is necessary for the future of all humanity.

We should all come together and work to create as eco-friendly a society as is possible. Population control will have to be a significant part of that effort, because we have probably already passed the population limit that the Earth is capable of sustaining, no matter what else we do.

Jerry Parks

Member, Humanist Assn. of Orange County

In the beginning, there were not Ten Commandments, only four: take a day off, have lots of children, leave that one tree alone, and take care of the planet.

That’s it! Those are pretty simple, and, frankly, other than the tree, pretty enjoyable. One of the most ancient commands of God is to take care of this planet. In our rebellion against three of those commands, humanity began the systematic destruction of our home.

Like selfish graffiti artists, not recognizing that we were destroying our own home. Scripture says that creation is groaning under the curse of humanity’s rebellion. We can still take our God-given responsibility for our world.

We are in the process of eliminating paper bulletins on Sunday morning and replacing them with other forms of electronic communications.

We don’t own a facility (nor do we want one), so we can’t make lightbulb changes and things like that, but we consider the use of an otherwise unused facility a wise use of our resources and the resources already in existence.

Ric Olsen

Lead Pastor, The Beacon

We share a common responsibility toward creation — to defend the earth, water and air as gifts of God that belong to everyone, not just to those who can obtain them most readily. Above all, we must protect humankind from self-destruction. Religious faith calls us to an ongoing moral conversion, intellectual conversion and lifestyle conversion. Pope John Paul II wrote that we need new lifestyles “in which the quest for beauty, goodness and communion with others for the sake of common growth are the factors which determine consumer choices, savings and investments.” As nations we must think globally, collaborating with the family of some 200 two hundred nations in protecting nature and managing a just sharing of resources, for we are all actors in a common drama for survival. We progress humanly when we develop the habit of regularly deciding to do small things that make a difference — purchasing fair trade goods, avoiding restaurants that serve food in paper and plastic, reducing home electrical consumption, purchasing gas-efficient vehicles rather than oversized thirsty ones, promoting humanitarian development instead of war. The pedagogical axiom is to observe, judge and act. Our lifestyle choices really do make a difference. We choose to preserve the world intact and resourceful for future generations rather than plunder it for short-term gain and convenience.

Msgr. Wilbur Davis

Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Newport Beach

I do agree that Christians have a role in safeguarding the planet, but I also believe that safeguarding the planet has become a Satanic substitute for the true calling of churches, which is the preaching of the Gospel.

Jesus Christ did not leave heaven, come to this earth, suffer and die upon Calvary and rise again the third day to save the planet. He came to save sinners and this must always be the foremost message of the Church. As far as persuading my congregation to live in a more eco-friendly way, I would not presume that they need my help in this. God called me to proclaim His Word, and exalt His Son. I believe that task deserves my full attention and energy. Our people are intelligent enough to change their own light bulbs, if they so desire. And, yes, we do use energy-efficient bulbs at the church and my home.

Pastor Dwight Tomlinson

Liberty Baptist Church of Newport Beach

I heartily agree that religions have a role in safeguarding our/God’s planet. I have been preaching on ecology — global warming on Earth Day for many years, and mentioning those concerns regularly.

Three years ago, we decided to replace our light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.

We’ve been very conscious of turning off all lights when not using them.

Another change has been to stop using Styrofoam cups for our coffee hour after worship. Members bring their own mugs. We also encourage ride sharing to all events.

Rev. Dr. Dennis W. Short

Senior Pastor, Harbor Christian Church

Of course, I believe that religions have a role in safeguarding the planet!

In our Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions, we hold sacred the Genesis story of God commissioning human beings to care for the Earth. God created this miraculous spinning ball, imbued it with life, and we have a moral and religious obligation to treat it with sanctity!

At Fairview Community Church, we have been attentive to raising green consciousness through different vehicles.

No less than twice a year, we hold worship services that focus specifically on Care of Creation.

Two years ago, instead of giving up meat or anything else for Lent, we committed to go green for Lent and spent an entire six weeks specifically dedicated to considering ways we could be more aware of caring for the environment.

Last year we planted a community garden, which we invite you to participate in co-planting with us, as we raise fresh produce for the hungry in our community, and encourage a connection to the earth that so often gets lost in suburban life.

Our council has been considering whether or not we can go solar, and while it is still too expensive for our small congregation now, we are discerning ways in which we can model stewardship of Creation.

As a pastor, I share the Word of God, and that word compels us to care for each other and to care for the Earth. This is how I raise awareness, and this is how we transform our lives to better live toward God’s realm of peace and love manifested on earth.

The Rev. Sarah Halverson

Fairview Community Church

There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the issue of “global warming,” but one thing is very clear to Latter-day Saints: All things in the Earth are provided by a loving Heavenly Father and are “for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart, … to be used with judgment, and not to excess.”

In 1991, I had the opportunity to journey with the blind climber, Erik Weihenmayer, to Everest Base Camp in preparation for his summiting of the world’s highest mountain.

My clothing had pockets on pockets, and, at every break, I would fill them with trash that had been left on the trail by those who preceded me.

Pollution is everywhere: the rivers, our lakes, the air we breathe. We are caretakers of the Earth and need to do a better job.

As inhabitants of a fragile earth, we have an individual and collective responsibility of stewardship.

Tom Thorkelson

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

To read more responses, visit this story at www.dailypilot.com.