A DOZEN children visited the home of the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, to mark World Children’s Day, on Wednesday of last week, and express their concerns on climate change.
The children were all members of the “Mini MU”: a junior Mothers’ Union branch formed in West Derby, Liverpool.
The group challenged Bishop Bayes on how his care for the environment was lived out in his own home. They investigated his recycling bins, and asked him questions ranging from: “What is the Church doing on a day-to-day basis to reduce plastic waste?” to “Do you think it is important to listen to children?”
The children and families missioner for the diocese, Sue Mitchell, said that the Bishop wanted the diocese to be an eco-diocese. “So these children are leading the way in highlighting this. . . World Children’s Day is a good way to hear the voices of children on something they are passionate about.
“These children are also passionate about the future of the Church as well as the future of God’s world, and they constantly challenge us to ask them what they believe and are concerned about, and not assume that we know.”
Bishop Bayes said afterwards: “These kids brought real challenge about our environment. Almost never before has Jesus’s message to listen to the children been so needed. Their passion, commitment, and understanding of the climate challenge should spur us all into action.”