They have committed themselves to do more to help address the effects of climate change within their own faith communities, as well as make specific calls for increased ambition and action by Parties and non-state actors.

The Fiji Council of Churches, which includes the Catholic church, is among the signatories.

The Charter:

• asks States to take bold action to rapidly reduce emissions, in line with the 1.5°C goal
• seeks an effective Facilitative Dialogue that delivers:
  • greater pre-2020 ambition
  • improved NDC post-2020 emission reduction targets
  • speeding the advance to net zero emission economies
  • increased and innovative public and private finance to enable achievement of the 1.5°C goal
• urges the global community to support through sustainable financing, capacity building and technology transfer for ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction as cost-effective tools for all small island developing nations

Fiji's prime minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama is the president of COP23, the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The conference began in Bonn Germany on Monday 6 November.

The summit is being held in Bonn because Fiji does not have the resources to handle the logistics of hosting such an event, which is expensive to organise for the thousands of international delegates expected to attend.

Although the COP23 is understood to be mainly technical in nature, Fiji hopes to draw attention to the threat weighing on the inhabitants of the Pacific islands - particularly the Kiribati, Tuvalu and Marshall islands.

"We who are most vulnerable must be heard, whether we come from the Pacific or other Small Island Developing States, other low-lying nations, and states or threatened cities in the developed world like Miami, New York, Venice or Rotterdam," Bainimarama said in a speech last May.

Read the Charter

Source

• cop23multifaith.com
• France 24
• Fiji Times
• Image: UNESCO

The service marked the inductions of the new leadership team of the Fiji Council of Churches. (FCC)

The liturgy in the Methodist Centenary Church had been prepared by the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches.

Hymns, action songs, prayers and scripture readings were provided by other member churches of the Fiji Council of Churches.

Chong said that part of the vision of the Fiji Council of Churches was to establish unity among all the Christian churches in Fiji in order to be a prophetic voice in Fiji by embracing the values of the Kingdom of God.

He said the door was open to all Christian communities which confess the faith of the universal church in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"We acknowledge that the life of faith to which they are called is a gift of the Holy Spirit continually received in word and sacrament and in the common life of God's people. We acknowledge the word of God in the Old and New testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as the supreme rule of faith and practice for all God's people."

He called on the leaders being inducted to ensure the council offered opportunities for theological reflection, prophetic action, collaborative mission and by fostering mutual understanding and respect among the Christian churches in Fiji, the Pacific and the World.

In the sermon, Reverend Amy Chambers, an Anglican priest of the Diocese of Polynesia and principal of the St John the Baptist Theological College, challenged the council in her message to work together as the body of Christ and speaking with one voice on issues confronting our country such as climate change and gender-based violence.

Those inducted were Reverend Dr Tevita Banivanua of the Methodist Church in Fiji, president, Major Uraia Dravikula of the Salvation Army vice-president, Reverend Bruce Edwards of the Fiji Community Churches of Christ, treasurer and Reverend Simione Tugi of the Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, general secretary.

Founded in 1963 the FCC is made up representative from Methodists, Catholics, Congregational Church of Samoa, Coptic Orthodox, Fiji Baptist Convention, Fiji Community Churches of Christ, Presbyterian and Salvation Army

Source

• fijitimes.com Reverend James Bhagwan is an ordained Methodist minister and a citizen journalist. The opinions expressed in the column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Methodist Church in Fiji or of the Fiji Times
• oikoumene.org
• Image: calnevumcfiji2011.files.wordpress.com

Members of the council include the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia, Fiji Baptist Convention, Congregational Christian Church, Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva, the Salvation Army, St Andrews Presbyterian Church, St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church and Fiji Community Churches of Christ.

The significant and challenging task of the churches' service in "different sections" of God's "one and same vineyard and collectively," was highlighted by the council's interim president, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu. Speaking to church leaders and representatives, Mr Waqairatu said "it was not easy to sail our ecumenical boat, during the past years".

Reflecting on how the churches handled this ecumenical journey from a denominational perspective over the last six years, he said: "I believe that we had a lot to share," both individually and collectively, especially, our deep theological insights and interpretation" of events since 2006.

Source

• Padre James Bhagwan: The Fiji Times
• Image: Croz Walsh Blog