March 03, 2023 | by Sharon Delgado
“Climate justice through faith-inspired connection, education, advocacy, and action”
Faith-Inspired prayer for climate justice:
Heavenly Father, we ask you to stir our hearts into action. As global temperatures increase, inspire us with ways, we can make a difference in our homes, church congregations, communities, and the world around us. We pray for your prompting where we can do more to love our neighbour. Amen.
From Compassion: Releasing Children from Poverty in Jesus’ Name
Connection:
Greetings on behalf of your new conference Climate Justice Ministries Task Force. To fulfill our mandate from last year’s Annual Conference, we seek your input and participation. This task force is here to equip our annual conference to respond to the challenges and injustices of the climate emergency. We are approaching this in four ways: climate justice through faith-inspired connection, education, advocacy, and action. Right now, as we seek connection with those doing this work, we would like your help with completing a brief survey. Please read the rest of this letter and find the survey link here. The survey will close March 17th.
Education:
Online Webinar Series Continues:
“Climate Change, Climate Justice, Climate Action: The Basics for Churches”
Webinars 4, 5, and 6 will be at 6:30 on Thursdays, March 2, March 16, and March 30.
March 2 4. Climate Action: Comparing Policy Solutions
March 16 5. Climate Justice: A Global Movement
March 30 6. Climate Action: The Role of the Church
Each session includes prayer, reflection, discussion, and suggestions for advocacy and action.
This online webinar series is being organized by elders Andrew Bear and Sharon Delgado, longtime climate leaders. Find more info and the Zoom Link here. Access previously recorded webinars at the Cal-Nevada Climate Justice Youtube channel.
Learn more about Faithful Banking (Video Presentation)
“People of conscience need to break their ties with corporations financing the injustice of climate change.” Desmond Tutu
At our February Climate Justice Task Force Meeting, a guest speaker named Dan Terpstra gave a presentation on Third Act Faith and the Banking on the Future Campaign, which our Task Force is sponsoring in this annual conference. Watch the video of his presentation here. Many people who are conscientious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their personal lives do not realize that money we keep in our banks may account for far more greenhouse gas emissions, since many banks fund fossil fuel projects. Dan, a Presbyterian, explains how faith communities are taking action and how we can join them.
Advocacy
United Methodist Church and Society calls us to join with other United Methodists throughout the United States to advocate for Climate Policies with a Vision of Justice for God’s People and God’s Planet. Sign up to become a Justice Advocate here.
Urge President Biden to Reject the Willow Project
The Willow Project is an oil drilling plan in the Arctic that would generate an estimated 280 million metric tons of climate pollution, jeopardize the health and traditional practices of nearby Alaska Native communities, and devastate local wildlife like polar bears, migratory birds, and caribou. Click here to make the call now.
Action
Take Our Survey
As we seek connection with local churches, pastors, administrators, and anyone doing this work or interested in participating with us, we would like your help with completing a brief survey. Please Find the survey link here.
Banking On Our Future (see article above)
To take action: We invite you to click the link and sign the following pledge: “If Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo are still funding climate-destroying fossil fuel projects in March 2023, I pledge to close my account and cut up my credit card. If I don’t bank at any of these institutions now, I pledge I won’t do so in the future.” Then, on the March 21 Day of Action, there will be peaceful actions at these banks around the country. Some will publicly close their accounts and cut up their credit cards. To understand why it makes sense for United Methodists to get involved in this campaign, read Sharon Delgado’s United Methodist Insight article, “Climate Change and Faithful Banking.” To participate with the task force in this campaign, sign the pledge here, watch the video, and contact us at climatejustice@cnumc.org so we can connect with you about this campaign.
Sacred Ground Project
If you could bring an out-of-town visitor to your favorite local scenic vista, what might you tell that person about the history and ecological significance of that place? What prayer or words from the scriptures might come to your mind? How might cultivating a love for wild places stir you to action for climate justice? These are questions guiding the development of Sacred Ground, a climate justice-focused smartphone app which, it is hoped, might become a form of hospitality and “church without walls,” encouraging ecotourism, justice work, and spirituality. Rev. Laurie Bayen is assembling a team with a diversity of gifts (such as photography, research, writing, marketing and creation of spiritual exercises) to “crowdsource” material to be compiled for this project through a company called Otocast, which converts typical museum “audio tours” into the form of a handy, paper-free, and no-cost smartphone app. Interested in including your favorite natural places in this project, and helping to make this innovative way of “doing church” happen? Send an email to: pastorlaurieumc@gmail.com.
Other Resources and Events for Churches
Earth Day Resources from Creation Justice Ministries, formerly the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program
Each year around Earth Day, Creation Justice Ministries offers Christian education materials to equip faith communities to protect, restore, and more rightly share God's creation. The 2023 materials have not yet been published, but they will soon be available here. The 2022 theme was Weathering the Storm, which would be a great resource for Cal-Nevada churches for 2023 as well. It focuses on faithful climate resilience and action.
Earth Day Resources from Interfaith Power and Light
Interfaith Power and Light’s annual Faith Climate Action Week. Scheduled April 14-23, the week’s theme is “Living the Golden Rule: Just Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” Their comprehensive toolkit includes faith-based worship ideas, discussion guides and action steps. Order a toolkit today.
United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Café
Through the Movement Café, the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement now has an informal, virtual space to facilitate education, connection, and conversation about creation care and justice issues. The once-a-month Wednesday meetings are an opportunity to listen, learn, and share joys, successes, questions, concerns, and possibilities. Each third Wednesday (10am PT / 11am MT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET), and occasional evenings, the Café will feature a topic and/or a speaker and generate hope for our good earth.
Everyone is welcome—from local churches, districts, jurisdictions, green teams, agency teams. Everyone. By connecting, we become stronger! That’s what the Café can do. This webpage will provide updates on speakers, topics, and recordings.
Climate Issues Connect Church, Indigenous Communities (from UM News, Feb. 10)
The United Methodist Church in the Philippines is working with Indigenous communities to prepare for disaster and address climate change. Engaging with the Aeta and other Indigenous communities offers opportunities to learn from each other and coordinate response plans.
Connect with our Task Force
If you are concerned about God’s creation or interested in faith-inspired education and action on climate change, join our climate justice email network at climatejustice@cnumc.org. You can also “Follow” and “Share” our Climate Justice Ministries Facebook page