The whole of creation is screaming. And we...?
Methodists in Argentina and Chile want to listen. They want to take the plight of creation and the plight of people suffering from the consequences of climate change seriously. And they are looking for ways in which they can act responsibly.
"Climate change doesn't affect me", "There have always been problems with the climate", or even: "I'm hungry today, I don't care about the climate", are sentences that are also heard in the congregations of the Methodist Church in Argentina. But there are also these voices: "If we don't take care today, we will have big problems tomorrow", or "God is calling us to take care of creation".
Climate emergency
For those responsible at the Methodist Church in Argentina and in Chile is very clear that climate change is a problem that needs to be tackled urgently. "For us, it is a necessity that we care for creation and that we seek climate justice. We are stewards of what God has entrusted to us and it is our ethical duty to protect it," says Bishop Jorge Merino from Chile. The church has a responsibility to do everything it can. The fact that this task is urgent is shown by the awareness-raising material for parishes entitled: "All of creation is crying out! We commit ourselves to creation and declare a climate and ecological emergency." In 2025, the preservation of creation and climate justice is the Focus topic of the Methodist Church in Chile.
Everyone is in demand
Mariel Pons, pastor from Argentina and head of the "Life and Mission" branch, also emphasized that the topic is central to the church. Creation is a house that we inhabit together and the basis of our lives. Many people are already being forced to migrate because of the climate crisis. "We clearly state that we are responsible for the living conditions of the next generation. We must take care of natural resources, stand up for fair access to land and resources for all and invest in new, environmentally friendly technologies." Other issues include excessive consumption and global warming. However, the fact that Argentina is going through economic, political and social crises makes it difficult to keep a constant eye on climate change. This is precisely why the church leadership is addressing the issue at all levels: Women discuss it at their meetings, young people visit Workshopscommunities recycle material. There are documents and awareness-raising materials for all ages.
Biting ants and small gardens
In a Video for children the bird, the fox, the squirrel and the ants live peacefully together. But then a lumberjack arrives with commerce on his mind. What to do? The bird puts on his headphones; he doesn't want to see or hear anything. The squirrel eats his nut in tears. But the ants hatch a plan. They know they are small. But there are lots of them and they can bite. They chase away the woodcutter and thus protect everyone's habitat. In Chile, the church runs kindergartens and schools and influences society through environmental education. Schoolchildren plant a community garden and experience how beautiful it is when their plant grows. Young people clean up public spaces.
Networking
In Chile, solar panels have been installed on the roof of the theological seminary and church members are learning methods on recycling days. A working group is in the process of publishing a handbook containing biblical foundations and instructions for practical implementation. When it comes to setting up churches ecologically, costs are often a problem. Networking with other churches and organizations is very important in both Chile and Argentina in order to work together for the integrity of creation and climate justice. Bishop Jorge Merino reflects: "It would be great if we organized a meeting as a global church. We could share experiences and initiatives and commit ourselves together to the protection of creation. We could create and share socio-theological material containing visions, experiences and proposals from our own cultural perspective."
On March 22, 2025 at 8:30 pm is Earth Hour. Millions of people around the world, thousands of cities and companies are switching off the lights - or consciously dedicating an hour to our planet. Together, we are setting a global example for climate protection and a living planet.
