Renewing our passion for creation in a time of trial

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, September 5, 2026. The European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN)* met for its 16th Assembly from 29 August to 2 September 2026 in the Belgian capital Brussels. More than 50 participants from 15 countries discussed the theme: “Renewing our passion for creation in a time of trial."

This summer Europe has been confronted with clear signs of the climate crisis: heatwaves, wildfires and extreme droughts. Yet the geopolitical focus seems to have shifted to warfare and military expenditure. How to stay committed to urgently needed environmental policies and actions?

Member and vice-president of the European Parliament (EP) Nicolae Ștefănuță from Romania underscored the need for Christians and political leaders to join forces for European policies that are up to protect people and the planet. Two new publications were presented by their authors: How to survive in a world in crisis by Ruth Valerio, and Practices of communion; the task of an integral ecology by Pr Carmody Grey. Also highlighted was the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025-2034), initiated by the World Council of Churches.

On September 1 the network took part in the worldwide launch of the Season of Creation in attendance of Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, secretary general of the Conference of European Churches, and Fr. Manuel Enrique Barrios Prieto, secretary general of the Commission of the RC Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (Comece). Messages were conveyed during a mass and an Anglican church service, respectively by Rev. Laurence Flachon, President of the Belgian French-speaking district of the United Protestant Church of Belgium, and The Ven. David Waller from the Church of England, Archdeacon of Gibraltar and Italy & Malta.

In the course of the Assembly around twenty presentations from different projects around Europe showed the progress of church environmental work over the last decades. Especially moving were the Wash in War exhibition and testimonies from Ukraine, which raised participants’ awareness about the true environmental impact of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam: the second worst environmental disaster in Ukraine after Chernobyl. The resilience shown by the victims of the war inspired the participants of the Assembly to commit once more to their important work, and will continue to inspire Christians all over the world.

* The ecumenical network was set up in 1998 and includes churches and church related organisations from all over Europe. It engages in environmental work, such as ‘greening’ the churches, education, awarenessbuilding and theological research, in sinc with programmes of the World Council of Churches and the Laudato Si’ Movement.

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Media contact:

Rev. Claire des Mesnards, ECEN executive secretary

ecenecen [dot] org Phone: +336 27 75 56 37

Marijke Van Duin, Council of Churches NL |

Working Group on Climate Change World Council of Churches

marduin10[at]gmail.com

Calendar

23.09.2026	Creation Care and the Gospel
29.08.2026	ECEN Assembly 2026
20.04.2026	How Can You Help Your Church Engage With Creation? Webinar
18.03.2026	Feast of Creation enters liturgical calendars: webinar and resources announced

A few words about the new ECEN Secretary

Claire Mesnards

My name is Claire des Mesnards. I have been working within the United Protestant Church of France as a pastor for 6 years. Before turning to theology, I worked with Civil Society Organisations in networks like the European Confederation of NGOs for sustainable development and international cooperation (CONCORD) and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) of which I was coordinator for the European region during the Action2015 campaign on climate and the Sustainable Development Goals. These were the first places where, after studying philosophy and political science, I tried to voice together with others my genuine concern for people and the planet. For me this concern is deeply rooted in Christian faith and explains why I responded to a call to serve Jesus Christ as a pastor.

Currently, I live in Nîmes, a small and beautiful Roman city known as one of the Reformation’s cradles in France. I am working full time for the local protestant parish. Together with a number of friends I have been closely involved in founding a Peoples University on Religions. The purpose of this specific project is to provide an open and neutral space where the diversity of beliefs can be approached in-depth by a wide audience. In the French context where religious questions are often relegated to the private sphere as a result of the 1905 separation of religion and the state, there is a desperate need to overcome ignorance and the resulting tensions that it can trigger between citizens.

Beside this and the usual activities related to pastoral care, I share my day-to-day life with Paul Kleiber, an Earth-lover who has over the years helped raise my awareness about the state of our planet. We are getting married on April 26! We will then move to the countryside in the North of France where we hope to get involved in permaculture – a dream Paul has had for a long time and which I now share. This new move brings together my initial background in biology and my long-standing interest in health and the environment. We would be grateful for your prayers and support as a new chapter of our lives opens. We strive for balanced relationships with God’s Creation and are eager to learn from every encounter.

Looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you!

You may contact me at ecenecen [dot] org and/or by phone at +33 6 27 75 56 37.

Keywords

ECEN on Facebook

European Christian Environmental Network

ECEN Assembly

European Christian Environmental Network announces its next Assembly, which will take place under the title: ‘Renewing our passion for creation in a time of trial’ from 29 August – 2 September 2026 in Brussels (Belgium).

Every part of creation matters – invitation to the discussion

Caring for God’s creation is an integral part of the calling of churches. How can this be done? The publication Every Part of Creation Matters produced by the Conference of European Churches serves both as an invitation to dialogue within and amongst the churches, as well as an effort to identify questions for further dialogue with politics. This discussion paper has been prepared as an opportunity both to share thoughts and to stimulate further discussion.
Every Part of Creation Matters (2022) is freely available for download in electronic form and as a printed version from Amazon. Every Part of Creation Matters is a consultation document. The paper is commended for further reflection. We invite churches, interested groups, and individuals to react to the paper and share experiences and comments from different parts of the continent.
Reactions are welcomed at: Ecenecen [dot] org