The upcoming NIFEA E-conference on “Degrowth – Living Sufficiently and Sustainably” will discuss and unpack various visions of “de-growth” or “post-growth” to address the urgent eco-crisis and pandemic of inequality in our world today. Specifically, it aims to promote discussions towards developing a short ecumenical message to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome from 30-31 October 2021 on theme of “People, Planet and Prosperity”. The 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will form a vital backdrop for this NIFEA conference.
Organised by the Council for World Mission (CWM), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), World Council of Churches (WCC) and World Methodist Council (WMC) under the New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) initiative, the E-Conference will explore questions such as:
How do we address the contradictions between our society’s obsession with limitless economic growth and the ecological limits?
Are there environmentally-friendly models of the good life that meet the needs of all people, and share wealth and power?
What resources and strategies can we employ as faith communities to empower a just, sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and a just transition from a growth-oriented economic paradigm to a life-affirming, life-flourishing economy?
Both sessions will be held on 1st October.
Register for Session 1 (10:00 – 12:00 CEST) at https://bit.ly/3EEquQ0
Register for Session 2 (14:00 – 16:00 CEST) at https://bit.ly/3hSxnU8
About the Programme and Speakers
Session 1, 10:00 – 12:00 CEST
Moderator:
Dr Rogate Mshana, moderator (Tanzania, Oikotree)
Speakers:
Lemaima Jennifer Vai’i (Fiji, Pacific Conference of Churches)
Dr George Zachariah (India and New Zealand, Trinity College)
Dr Martin Kopp (France, Federation of Protestant Churches in France)
Prof Lalrindiki Ralte (India, Aizawl Theological College)
Rosario Guzman (Philippines, Ibon Foundation)
Summary of the discussion:
Rev Dr Peter Cruchley (CWM), Rev Dr Sivin Kit (LWF), Rev Philip Peacock (WCRC), Athena Peralta (WCC), and Bishop Rosemarie Wenner (WMC)
Session 2, 14:00 – 16:00
Moderator:
Rev Dr Gordon Cowans, moderator (Jamaica, Ecumenical Panel on a NIFEA)
Speakers:
Rev Chebon Kernell (USA, Native American Comprehensive Plan, United Methodist Church
Dr Arnie Saiki (USA-Hawaii, Imipono Projects)
Dr Fundiswa Kobo (South Africa, University of South Africa)
Dr Priya Lukka (UK, Goldsmith University)
Rev Rozemarijn van’t Einde (Netherlands, De Klimaatwakers)
Summary of the discussion:
Rev Dr Peter Cruchley (CWM), Rev Dr Sivin Kit (LWF), Rev Philip Peacock (WCRC), Athena Peralta (WCC), and Bishop Rosemarie Wenner (WMC)
Interpretation into Spanish will be available for this session.
Panelist bios:
Lemaima Jennifer Vai’i is a young person from the Methodist Church in Fiji and the Pacific Conference of Churches. She is passionate about climate justice and is part of the Reweaving the Ecological Mat Youth Team.
Dr George Zachariah is from India and is currently the Wesley Lecturer in Theological Studies and Coordinator of the Research Committee at Trinity College in Auckland, New Zealand.
Dr Martin Kopp chairs the Commission on Ecology and Climate Justice of the Federation of Protestant Churches in France and holds a doctorate in Protestant theology from the University of Strasbourg.
Prof Lalrindiki Ralte is an Indigenous person from Mizoram, India and teaches theology and ethics at the Aizawl Theological College.
Rosario Guzman is the executive editor and head of research at Ibon Foundation – a non-profit research, education and information-development institution based in the Philippines.
Rev Chebon Kernell serves as executive director of the Native American Comprehensive Plan of the United Methodist Church in the USA and a member of the WCC’s Ecumenical Indigenous People’s Reference Group.
Dr Arnie Saiki is from Hawaii, coordinates Imipono Projects and authored the book, “Ecological-Economic Accounts: Towards Intemerate Values.”
Dr Fundiswa Kobo is a senior lecturer on Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology at the University of South Africa.
Dr Priya Lukka is a lecturer in economics at Goldsmith University in the UK. Previously she worked with ChristianAid.
Rev Rozemarijn van’t Einde is a pastor in the Netherlands and co-initiated and is a spokesperson for De Klimaatwakersor Climate Watchers.