Churches in the Pacific launched the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action standing on the ground of one of the most climate vulnerable communities in the world: Togoru, Fiji.
In a special ceremony that included prayers, hymns, symbolic acts, and prophetic calls, those gathered were also part of the ongoing Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting organized by the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) from 13 to 17 April.
Togoru is experiencing severe, rapid coastal erosion, with the sea swallowing roughly 1.3 to 1.5 meters of land annually. Rising sea levels are submerging homes, plantations, and burial grounds, forcing residents to prepare for relocation as traditional seawalls fail. The village is now considered a frontline for climate change impact.
Rev. James Bhagwan, PCC general secretary, described Togoru as a mix of settlers and Indigenous people who have formed a community over more than a century. “We are gathered here because this is one of the most vulnerable communities in Fiji in the context of climate change,” he said. “When a delegation of the World Council of Churches visited this community only in 2020 there was more land for our team to visit and take photos, and now we can see this active moment of climate change is a reality in a community that is doubly vulnerable because they are non-Indigenous in the context of the government, and so face challenges when it comes to relocation.”
Community representatives—father and daughter Barney Dunn and Marama Dunn—offered a deeply personal perspective on how climate change has shaken people’s lives.
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed how meaningful it was to be with people affected by climate challenges. “It is so meaningful to be with people, to pray with them, to walk with them, to listen to them, and to know how they are being affected by the climate catastrophe,” he said. “In this context, we feel so delighted that we as the World Council of Churches can not only be in solidarity but also be able to learn from their lived experiences.”
Call for Pacific based co-ordinator for Decade of Climate Justice
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, has invited Church leaders worldwide to consider supporting or seconding a coordinator for the Decade, ideally located in the Pacific – a region on the frontlines of climate impacts and a leader in innovative and faithful responses. The coordinator would:
• Maintain regular communication with member churches and ecumenical and interfaith partners in planning, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring activities.
• Develop project proposals and assist with fundraising for key Decade initiatives.
• Gather and organise information on contributions and initiatives across the fellowship; and
• Support financial oversight, including budget preparation, and regular reporting on Decade implementation.He says: “Your support in this effort would be a significant contribution to the shared witness and impact of this critical Decade. Should you wish to consider a secondment or support the position, please contact me or Athena Peralta at athena.peralta@wcc-coe.org.”