Quaker Lin Patterson tells us why she campaigned at Copenhagen's Climate Change Conference
"I saw Desmond Tutu saying 'We are the hands of God', Archbishop Rowan Williams saying, 'Love casts out fear' and how if we allow God to teach us trust and if we learn to live in trust and confidence, the world will then change..." Bath Quaker Lin Patterson tells of her behind the scenes experience at Copenhagen's UN Climate Change Summit, last December. (PICTURE: LIN PATTERSON AT BATH'S FIRST CHRISTIAN NETWORKING FAIR)
"Gradually, as for so many others today, I have taken on board the 
urgent warnings of those who spend their lives studying the earth and its systems. Climate change is the most serious problem facing us today. That crisis hooks into economics, resource depletion, pollution, the power of global corporations, and militarism, to name a few. We are making the earth un-inhabitable for millions now as well as future children and innocent creatures because we haven’t learned to share. We have to learn to live the real message of Jesus in order to survive. And fast." she continues.
A member of the Bath Quakers, Lin carried a banner with Quaker messages on it at the recent summit and joined a small group of international Quakers at the Bella Centre, where negotiators worked behind the scenes.
"Quakers are aware, along with many Christian churches, that individuals and our institutions need to change to tackle the enormous challenge of climate change. We held a national conference to consider a Zero Growth Economy. The theme of our next national meeting in 2011 is 'Growing in the Spirit: Changing the way we live to sustain the world we live in.'"
Growing up in America and driving thousands of miles across her vast country of origin ignited Lin's passion for the environment and nature. "I had the strange sense then that I had to witness and imprint the beauty of the countryside flashing past the windows in order to somehow do it justice, without understanding why. I am left with an amalgamated sense of the vastness and incredible wonder of creation, all the non-human creatures, plants and rivers." she says.
Asked if she feels as 'citizens of the world' we have a moral duty to protect our environment, Lin gives an interesting answer: "Nowadays the phrase “moral duty” can be a deterrence. I think the Transition Movement - and I recommend the lively one in Bath - offers a different approach by focussing on the amazing benefits to us all by localising and re-skilling to create resilience.
"Protecting the environment is in our interest. Also Rowan Williams has the right idea by shining a light on love. If we can feel the love of God inside, if we are fortunate enough to have that grace which is actually available to us all at any moment, then that begins to translate to love of all life. If we feel our skin give way to a connectedness with all creation, then it is not so much a 'moral duty' but as natural as it would be to protect our closest kin, or even ourselves."
Lin asserts that protecting the environment and the earth is intrinsically linked to 'Quakerism' as a movement and belief system.
"There has been a strong movement to include a witness to the earth and sustainability as one of our 'Testimonies' - which are the fundamental principals to be lived by.
"The Quaker Testimonies are: Truth/Integrity; Simplicity; Justice/ Equality/Community; and Peace. Others say that if lived deeply,these already encompass care and respect for the earth. A group within Quakers called 'Quaker Living Witness Project' focuses specifically on working to change our lives to protect life and the earth."
A stand-holder at the Bath Christian Networking Fair, hosted by Springboard at the Forum recently, Lin supports Springboard Bath's passion to create society impacting change.
She says: "I felt Quakers should be there for this breakthrough initiative that Springboard represents in Bath’s Christian community. Springboard’s aim of churches networking and working together to address serious problems both in the community and world is one that deserves support. Environmental issues, particularly, need concerted action at every level, and churches are well placed to make a difference."
The Bath Quakers, who own the Meeting House in York Street have spent the past four years setting up the sale of their premises, which fell through. Lin says members are now very keen to let Bathonians know they are staying and keen to be involved in societal change. "Now we are beginning to be more outward looking again. Since one of our Quaker guidelines asks: 'Do you work gladly with other religious groups in the pursuit of common goals?' The Networking Fair seemed to fit that very well." she says.
What is Quakerism? Lin Tells Us
"I am still avidly learning. I became a Quaker seven years ago, after the bombing of Afghanistan when, looking for a way to work for peace, I found so many wonderful Quakers who were doing the same."Early Quakers in the 1650's were on fire spreading the news of their direct experience of God found in the communal silence of their meetings broken only by occasional spoken ministry from any of them. This continues today. We meet together for an hour on Sundays and or half an hour on Wednesdays in silence. Sometimes someone will stand and say something from their heart, their deepest self. This is usually brief and always followed by silence. At the end we shake hands; there are notices and then coffee before departing. One thing that surprised me was that the name 'Friends' which we call ourselves, is not just empty but actually means a growing friendship together “in the things that are eternal.”
"Because of the insistence that the experience of God is available to all equally, we do not have ministers or vicars; we share the responsibility for running our Meetings and the wider UK organisation. Our Quaker Business Method is a very special way of reaching decisions out of silence in which we connect through the presence of God in discerning God’s will. Also because of this, we do not have a creed. That means we are a very “broad church” where people from other religious backgrounds, or none, feel right at home. Many Quakers feel uncomfortable with traditional religious language, providing us with a living opportunity to grapple with diversity! My belief is, as Carl Jung said, 'Called or uncalled, God is here.'"
Read the Archbishop of Canterbury's 2009 Copenhagen Cathedral address
The Official UN Copenhagen Climate Change site