Living Witness Project
A Call to Action "Statement for the use of Friends" arising out of sessions on Witnessing to God in All Creation at Britain Yearly Meeting in 2001. Led by the Spirit we encounter God in the fragile web of life; in our human relationships and in the beauty and joy of the earth, our home planet. We rejoice and celebrate our oneness with God in creation. Such an encounter leads to a deep respect and humility as we acknowledge we are but one part of this complex web. We humans do not own the planet but have a responsibility towards present and future generations and towards the earth and all its riches. It is a gift to be treasured and passed on with care. We are shamed by the damage we do to that gift. We are faced with the choice of abundant life or the systematic destruction of our environment, making it uninhabitable. Creation ‘groans and travails’ under the burden of human exploitation and the idolatry of consumerism, which is sacrificing our future on the altar of greed. We are called to urgent action. Despair and fear are natural human responses in the face of overwhelming destruction, nevertheless we can be set free in the Spirit to live our lives in radically different ways that challenge consumer culture. For many this is hard, and can only involve small steps, but even small steps lead to other steps, and to empowerment, overcoming despair. Friends are not alone on this journey and we wish to join our efforts with the many others already deeply engaged making the links between religious belief, lifestyle, social justice and peace. There is much vital learning and listening to be done, in order that our actions be well informed. We are called to engage with political and economic powers challenging those which perpetrate structural violence or corporate greed. We need to use all the channels and resources available to witness truth to power. This may lead us to difficult and testing places, and we must pray for courage and discernment. Let us commit ourselves to the demanding, costly implications of radically changed lives. Let us do so out of joy, celebration, reverence and a deep love of the God of life. Let us do so with hope. Britain Yearly Meeting, 2001	Home

Living Witness Project

A Call to Action

"Statement for the use of Friends" arising out of sessions on Witnessing to God in All Creation at Britain Yearly Meeting in 2001.

Led by the Spirit we encounter God in the fragile web of life; in our human relationships and in the beauty and joy of the earth, our home planet. We rejoice and celebrate our oneness with God in creation. Such an encounter leads to a deep respect and humility as we acknowledge we are but one part of this complex web.

We humans do not own the planet but have a responsibility towards present and future generations and towards the earth and all its riches. It is a gift to be treasured and passed on with care. We are shamed by the damage we do to that gift.

We are faced with the choice of abundant life or the systematic destruction of our environment, making it uninhabitable. Creation ‘groans and travails’ under the burden of human exploitation and the idolatry of consumerism, which is sacrificing our future on the altar of greed. We are called to urgent action.

Despair and fear are natural human responses in the face of overwhelming destruction,

nevertheless we can be set free in the Spirit to live our lives in radically different ways that challenge consumer culture.

For many this is hard, and can only involve small steps, but even small steps lead to other steps, and to empowerment, overcoming despair.

Friends are not alone on this journey and we wish to join our efforts with the many others already deeply engaged making the links between religious belief, lifestyle, social justice and peace.

There is much vital learning and listening to be done, in order that our actions be well informed.

We are called to engage with political and economic powers challenging those which perpetrate structural violence or corporate greed. We need to use all the channels and resources available to witness truth to power. This may lead us to difficult and testing places, and we must pray for courage and discernment.

Let us commit ourselves to the demanding, costly implications of radically changed lives. Let us do so out of joy, celebration, reverence and a deep love of the God of life. Let us do so with hope.

Britain Yearly Meeting, 2001

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