Erasmus+ – project
Revd. Elizabeth Bussmann is the Environment Officer for the Church of England Diocese in Europe. Before Ordination she was a Church Army Evangelist and this aspect of ministry has always been at the heart of all her ministry, alongside the privilege of helping people to grow in their faith. Her interest in the Environment has grown over the years from being a matter of ‘stewardship’ to the biblical enlightenment that caring for this beautiful world God has set people in, is not just an optional add-on but one of the reasons we are here at all! (A realisation that many far better-read theologians, such as the Rt Revd James Jones and the Rt Revd N.T. Wright have re-discovered!) (see ‘Further reading’ at Mothering Sunday 2019)
Elizabeth is married to a Swiss and now lives in Switzerland. Many will think, great, no problems in that wealthy country. But probably that is THE problem – complacency abounds just because everything seems to be good. In reality the problems Switzerland faces, along with most affluent countries in the West are just as great as in other parts of the world although very different. Blindness, apathy (because most people have too much!) Countries such as Switzerland are faced with different problems – the main one being that Mammon rules. Decisions are made according to how an issue will affect, primarily, the economy. Changes for the environment here and abroad will inevitably affect our wallets and bank accounts. In Switzerland that is very noticeable when the country goes to vote on an issue. If it is going to cost the individual something it will more than likely be rejected. How one invests one’s money is also a major ethical/social justice issue. Environmentally, Switzerland experienced a very warm, dry Summer in 2018 and it was said, already a 3% warming. Glaciers are melting, trees dying from drought. It is high time we acted in all way …