Information on Loughborough

Environment Conference In Loughborough

Posted on 08/09/2008

earth

Humans have always influenced the environment and the environmental movement is nothing new (King Edward I of England banned the burning of sea-coal by proclamation in London in 1272, after its smoke had become a problem) In the last 100 years our impact has become global with environmentalists frequently talking about a plethora of grave and urgent threats due to unbridled consumption, economic growth, materialism, insensitive development, and booming human numbers. Perhaps most problematic from an environmentalist perspective is the modern view that humanitys fate is divorced from that of the natural world, and that our responsibility to nature is - at best - limited to the satisfaction of shallow desires. What is not often addressed is how can a Christian understanding of a creator God help us to understand our role within creation? Who does the earth belong to? What is our role? Can Christians own 4x4s?

On the weekend of Saturday 18th October "Sunday 19th October Christians involved in helping to protect the environment are coming together at Loughborough Baptist Church to explain their work in a multimedia exhibition from conservation to renewable energy and fair-trade.

Rev Dr John Weaver (President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain) will be the keynote speaker throughout the weekend and together with Andy Reed MP for Loughborough will be part of the panel chaired by Penny Poyzer answering your questions on all matters environmental.

Andy Reed commented, "Its become increasingly fashionable today to simply concentrate our minds on climate change.  I believe that that the problem runs much deeper " we need to change the whole way we live our lives today.  As Christians of course we need to get our personal relationship right with God.  Tragically what we often forget to do though is get our relationships right with our fellow human beings and the planet. 

 

Our challenge therefore as Christians whilst radical " is quite straightforward " we need to change our lifestyles, and where does this start?  With you and me.

The Saturday Exhibition "Earthkeepers - Christians and the Environment will take place on 18th October in Loughborough Baptist Church (10am -12pm & 7:30pm-8:30pm) followed by "Question Time with Andy Reed MP (8:30-9:30pm)

On 19thOctober there are two Special Sunday services with Rev Dr John Weaver (Geographer, author, President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Principal of South Wales Baptist College) will take place at Loughborough Baptist Church (10:45am) and Sutton Bonnington Baptist Church (6:15pm)

All are welcome and entrance is free.

Further Information about the Revd Dr John Weaver

John has been the Principal of the South Wales Baptist College since September 2001. Before going to Cardiff he was Director of Pastoral Training and Tutor in Pastoral Theology, Regents Park College for 10 years and before that pastor of Highfield Baptist Church, Northamptonshire for 11 years.

John was born and brought up in Cardiff and attended Bethel Baptist Church, Whitchurch, where he was baptised in 1961. He married Sheila in 1969 and they have three married children: Elizabeth, Richard and Joanna, and five grandchildren. Sheila and John are members of Tabernacle Baptist Church Penarth, where Sheila is the Small Groups Co-ordinator and John is an elder.

From 1971 to1978 John was a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in the School of Earth Sciences, University of Derby. During this time he was church secretary at Belper Baptist Church.

Following a call to ministry he trained at Regents Park College, Oxford.

John has taught various aspects of pastoral training, with a special emphasis on preaching and communicating the Gospel. At Oxford and Cardiff Universities he has taught both Practical Theology and the Dialogue between Christianity and Science. He has a passion for relating faith to life and work, and has published work in both these areas.

He was a member of the executive of Mainstream: Baptists for Life and Growth from 1982 until 1992 serving as Conference Secretary and latterly as Chair, and has been a personal member of the Evangelical Alliance for the last 16 years. He led the Agnostics Anonymous sessions at Spring Harvest for one week each year from 1991-1994.

From this experience he has a passion for engaging with people outside the church, making the Gospel relevant, and for challenging those inside the church to relate their faith and worship to their work and everyday living. These two aspects of the mission of Christ will form the theme of his presidency.