Some Thoughts on Oikoumene in this Season of Creation
This week is the third week of our celebration of the Season of Creation, using the title of “Oikos- a home for all” where we join Christians from across the world in proclaiming that ALL life belongs to God, and our need to work with God protecting and healing God’s gift of our common home. As we contemplate the central image for this year, Abraham and Sarah’s tent, we are invited to consider this world as God’s tent where all are offered welcome, shelter, refuge, and safety. The Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. and others have called the oikos of God “the Beloved Community”, a community in which all of life are equally members, equally precious to God. Over recent years the world seems to have become smaller, and we talk of globalisation more. Vast multinational corporations who work to maximise profit for their shareholders, seeking countries with the lowest labour costs and environmental protections, have played a significant part in creating climate change, pollution, and biodive...