Matt Frei, chief Washington, D.C., correspondent for the BBC, interviewed President Loren Swartzendruber on creation care from an Anabaptist perspective for a BBC production about Christian response to global warming; the program will be aired internationally later this month.
It’s a hot topic generating heated debate.
EMU President Loren Swartzendruber added to the conversation with a message on global warming and the care of God’s creation, Friday morning, Apr. 13.
His remarks, which followed the regular chapel service in Lehman Auditorium, were recorded by Matt Frei, chief Washington, D.C., correspondent for the London-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The event opened with the singing of an a cappella hymn, “God of the Fertile Fields” (Brethren-Mennonite Hymnal #360).
Swartzendruber believes the BBC contacted him because he was among 86 Christian leaders who signed a statement concerning this issue.
“Some Christian leaders have made public statements suggesting global warming is not a reality or is a hoax/conspiracy and the BBC wants to compare responses of various Christian leaders/groups,” the president said.
‘a Theological Issue’
“I believe this is a scientific and theological/moral issue,” the president said. “We are called to be good stewards of God’s creation, and we are invited to make every effort to reduce the impact of our lifestyle choices on this phenomenon for the sake of the entire world and our future children/grandchildren.
“The projections from many leading scientists are currently quite dire, particularly for the poorest populations in the world,” Swartzendruber said.
“A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says, with at least 90 percent certainty, that global warning is man-made and will ‘continue for centuries’ – unless we take actions to slow or reverse the trend.”
“What have we lost if we make changes now for a cleaner environment, even if we should ultimately learn that the projections have been made in error?” the president stated. “If we ignore some very obvious signs, however, or avoid the tough issues, and we are wrong in that direction, millions of us and our descendants will suffer awful consequences.
Excerpts from Swartzendruber’s address and an interview will be broadcast as part of a BBC news report on global warming later this month on the BBC television and radio network to an audience estimated in the millions.
The complete text of the president’s message is available at www.emu.edu/president/creation-care.html.
You may also read more about EMU’s commitment to green building.
President Swartzendruber is available for further interviews on this topic. Contact EMU marketing and communications:
Andrea Wenger, director
Phone: 540-432-4348
Cell: 540-560-2237
Jim Bishop, public information officer
Phone: 540-432-4211