BWA preparing for UN Earth Summit in 2012

June 2, 2011

For Immediate Release

BWA preparing for UN Earth Summit in 2012

Washington (BWA)--The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is participating in preparatory meetings for the United Nations (UN) Earth Summit that will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012. The BWA participation is predicated on the need for deeper reflection on the role of religion in the development of a global ethics on environmental care and justice, as it takes seriously the scriptural injunction, "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it," (Psalm 24:1). This is an especially propitious time for Baptists to reflect on our relationship to the environment in light of the observance of World Environment Day (WED) on June 5. WED celebration began in 1972 and is one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. This year's theme focuses on the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems.   The BWA takes advantage of this important date to remind its constituency of our responsibility as Christians to care for the earth, urging renewed efforts to protect and preserve the environment, inasmuch as the BWA has, through resolutions, statements, and funding initiatives, demonstrated its commitment to environmental care and justice. In 1989, the BWA General Council passed a resolution on the Stewardship of the Earth reaffirming God's creation of all life, and our role as stewards of God's earth. That resolution rebuked "irresponsible patterns of life" such as the depletion of non-renewable resources; worldwide deforestation; pollution of air, land and water; and failure to recycle. The resolution urged the worldwide Baptist community to "pursue a responsible lifestyle, respecting the integrity of creation," and to exert influence "through industry, business, agriculture, government and as persons to protect and restore the delicate balance of nature." In the following year, the 16th Baptist World Congress passed a resolution on Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation reinforcing the call for Christians to "witness against any form of destructive violence toward persons or any part of God's creation," and calling on Baptists "to commit to the preservation of the creation both as an act of devotion and of stewardship." In 1992, the BWA General Council passed another resolution on the Stewardship of the Earth stressing the need for Baptists to take seriously the implication of God's creation of the world, and of the stewardship given to humankind within that creation. Highlighting problems like the accumulation of radioactive waste, undisciplined use of pesticides, and the depletion of the ozone layer, this resolution asserted that "human sinfulness has developed an exploitative ethic which puts the sustaining of creation in jeopardy." The 1992 resolution referred to the UN Conference on Environment and Development, which was recently held in Rio, recognizing that commitment on the part of governments to remedy the situation was inadequate, challenging the worldwide Baptist community to continue to press governments on the "need for action in defense of tomorrow's world." It also urged all Baptists to adopt responsible patterns of consumption and behavior that do not jeopardize the future of the created order. The UN Earth Summit in Rio in 2012 will reflect and deliberate on the development of a green economy in the context of the eradication of poverty.  In the past few centuries misconceptions of the relation of human beings to nature have contributed to increase irresponsible patterns of behavior that neglect the effects of human actions on the environment. The Bible, however, clearly shows that the earth continues to be the Lord's -- all of it. Our mandate to care for God's creation is more crucial than ever before.