Evensong is interrupted
The Diocese of Chichester has respondedafterchichestercathedral’s Evensong, broadcast onbbcradio3,wasinterrupted bychristianclimateprotestors.
Almost a dozen activists associated with Christian Climate Action (CCA) – including members of the clergy – stood up in the midst of the 4pm service on Wednesday, November 29, holding signs which read ‘Chichester Diocese funds climatechaos’andsingingaplainsong penitential chant.
Afterwards, they gave a short statement condemning the Synod's decision to retain the Diocese’s investments in fossil fuels, despite the Church of England’s pledge to divest earlier this year. Following the Church of England’s advice, most dioceses agreed to divest in fossil fuels, meaning Chichesterisoneofjustthreesynods in the UK which still has shares in companies like BT and Shell.
Mary Smail, a CCA member who gave part of the statement, said: “It is astonishing that Chichester has chosen this path, described by the UN Secretary General as ‘a highway to climate hell’. We protest at this wanton irresponsibility and call upon the Diocese to reverse its decision.”
The Diocese of Chichester has responded to the CCA, issuingastatementofitsownand acknowledging the protestors’ contentions. We share the concern of the protestors. The recentdiocesansynodreaffirmed that care for God’s creation is foundational to the Christian gospel and central to the church’s mission.
“Synod also engaged with the many complexities this contentiousissueraises,which are often overlooked. We recognised that it is possible for people to hold different views on the best way to achieve the shared goal of freedom from fossil fuels.
"We remain committed to workingtowardsafuturewhich does not depend on fossil fuels. We acknowledge that achieving freedom from fossil fuels depends on the urgent need to developalternativeenergysupplies and reduce the demand for energy. The Synod also debatedthecentralrolethatlarge energy companies have to play in developing alternative energy supplies. We agreed by a significantmajoritytocontinueto investinshellandbponlywhile those companies have a clear strategy aligned with the Paris Agreement goal.”