During the season of Advent, the church traditionally enters a period of spiritual waiting for the birth of the promised saviour. As each passing year brings more savage climate disasters in its wake, Christians are becoming increasingly aware that they are also waiting for the promised redemption of creation itself. ECLAS’s Climate Cathedral brings together voices from science and theology, action and reflection, that may yet bring about such a change. In his blog piece for ECLAS, the Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham, ECLAS Co-Director for Global Engagement, writes about the exhibition, ‘A global challenge needs a global perspective in which many voices and views engage with one another in a constructive and challenging way to promote a response which is both well informed scientifically, and theologically and spiritually rooted in a deep vision of God’s love for all creation.’
Climate Cathedral was curated by ECLAS researcher the Revd Prof Charlotte Sleigh who, along with Olivia Rathbone (ECLAS Communications Manager), the Revd Dr Lucas Mix (ECLAS Project Manager) and the team at CETX, brought the resources together into an interactive, immersive space set around Southwark Cathedral during the time that it hosted Luke Jerram’s Gaia installation, a beautiful and imposing illuminated representation of our globe.
Visitors to the Climate Cathedral will be able to view Gaia, and the stunning architecture of the cathedral itself, from all angles. Scattered all around them, viewers will find hotspots where they can click through to discover video interviews, short articles and other resources to help them think through the multiple connections between climate change and theology.
The cathedral is divided into three zones, exploring science, theology and different voices of climate change experience and activism. The presentation is international in its scope, with a particular focus on Africa. It includes voices from science and seminaries, from activists, educators, poets and more.
The resources of the Climate Cathedral do not assume any in-depth knowledge of climate change, and cover a range of theological perspectives that are accessible to all. They can be explored individually, or could be used as the basis for group study and exploration. Put together, they reflect the power and potential of the church to create a science and a theology that meets the needs of these broken yet still hopeful times.
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To take the tour, click here, and to view full-length versions of the Climate Cathedral interviews, scroll down.
