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360 items

  • Podcast: Young Minds Big Questions – An Interview with Brian McLaren

    “Climate Change and Christianity – An Interview with Brian McLaren” was released on April 26, 2017, and is the first part of a two part conversation on climate change and Christianity. The interviewee, Brian McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. His work as a pastor led him to begin writing, and he has published numerous books on faith and Christian life.

    McLaren unpacks some of the science behind global climate change and its everyday effects for human life around the world. Looking at the dangers of a changing climate, he turns to faith as the inspiration for advocacy and change. Ultimately, McLaren attributes reluctance to accept or take action to prevent climate change, in part, to a certain kind of eschatology. He then mentions instances in which congregations, inspired by care for God’s world, made real changes to combat climate change. The podcast concludes with McLaren’s own recommendations for any Christian wanting to learn more about creation care.

  • Profile: John B. Cobb Jr.

    John B. Cobb is an American theologian working in ecology and creation care. The prolific author of more than fifty books has argued inside the church and the academy for faith inspired environmental action. He began writing on faith and environmentalism in the 1970s and has remained a prominent activist and theologian through his life. In 2014, Cobb’s accomplishments were celebrated when he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

    Cobb and his students put together an early Ecotheology book list, current through 1991. Cobb’s speeches and works can be found online, and his books can be found at many major retailers and your favorite independent bookstore.

  • Justice for Each Generation

    Justice for Each Generation started with the landmark case, Juliana v. U.S. Twenty-one youth had filed a lawsuit against the United States government for its role in causing climate change and violating their right to life, liberty, and property, while also failing to protect essential public resources. They are calling for sermons from youth and adults of all faiths as a collective statement that sends a signal to the rest of society.

  • Pope Francis and Environmental Leaders Forge Vision for Global Action

    Environmental leaders, activists and advocates gathered with Pope Francis for a two-day Vatican-organized conference with hopes to emerge with a shared vision for protecting our planet. The conference was inspired by the third anniversary of the Pope’s encyclical and was attended by political and religious leaders, scientists, economists and heads of civil society organizations. Inspired by the call for unity and action in the encyclical, UN Environment also introduced their Interfaith Rain-forest Initiative at the conference.

  • Church of England to Divest from Companies that Neglect Paris Agreement Goals

    The Church of England will divest its $16 billion fund from companies that are not aligning themselves with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The decision, which passed by a majority of 347 to 4 votes, states that the church will sell its stakes in companies that do not taking steps towards climate goals by 2023. The website of the Church of England offers the following message: “We believe that responding to climate change is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God’s creation. Our environmental campaign exists to enable the whole church to address—in faith, practice and mission—the issue of climate change.”

  • Five Ways to Prevent Air Pollution

    Evangelical Environmental Network Moms (EEN Moms) provide this information sheet, urging individuals to take action in areas that might seem overwhelming and/or too difficult to change. This message by EEN Moms focuses on air pollution. Small action/steps taken by everyone can add up to make significant changes to the quality of air for our planet.

  • Leadership Meeting Guide – Breathe Free and Easy

    Evangelical Environmental Network MOMS strive for pollution free air for everyone around the globe. They believe that clean air is a fundamental gift from God (Genesis 1). Even in the United States, there are still people fighting for clean air. This resource provides a video and discussion questions about how mothers can make a difference and advocate for healthy, clean air for all. The guide can be downloaded for easier use at meetings as well.

  • Season of Creation Week 2: Climate Change: A Challenge, Our Concern

    For each week of the Season of Creation, the World Council of Churches offers a resource for celebrating creation. The second week of the Season of Creation is focused on climate change and the challenge of responding to Pope Francis’ call to care for creation. This document contains a hymn, a call to repentance, a responsive reflection, and an intercession.

  • Canadian Ecumenical Document Embraces Christian Concern for Environment

    On July 23, 2019, the Roman Catholic-United Church of Canada Dialogue in Canada released "The Hope Within Us," a document that focuses on climate change and ecological degradation. The statement urges Christian churches to put aside their differences and work in communion to acknowledge the downside of progress and greed of our economic and political systems as they negatively impact our environment.

  • Earth Day statement from ELCA presiding bishop

    The Reverend Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), issued an Earth Day statement on behalf of the ELCA. A salient excerpt from the statement is shown below:

    "The effects of the warming climate are felt in nearly every corner of the globe. These include increased migration, food insecurity due to changing agricultural landscapes, national security issues and health problems. As bad as it is for all creation, the most vulnerable people around the world are suffering the most. Yet they have contributed the least and, as noted in the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,[iii] are ill equipped to adapt to or mitigate the effects of a changing climate to build resilient communities."

  • Presbyterians and Climate Change

    This article posted on Yale Climate Connections discusses grassroots efforts of Presbyterian organizations, and notes specific time frames of salient Presbyterian accomplishments with regard to climate change. The following excerpt provides a general overview of their goals and mission:

    "Presbyterians are engaged in many activities to combat climate change, from Earth Forums to hunger programs addressing food and climate crises and protests against practices that encourage reliance on coal. Since 2010, the Presbyterian Church has given 80 congregations an Earth Care Congregation Certification for demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental care."

  • PC(USA) Collaborative Agenda on Environmental Stewardship

    Chief executives of the six churches of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) provide their rationale for creating the Collaborative Agenda on Environmental Stewardship:

    "Noting the deep concern about urgent environmental challenges expressed by many commissioners at the 221st General Assembly (2014), chief executives of the six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) appointed a working group to develop a joint response. The group consisting of at least one staff member per agency—was asked to craft a positive statement of what each agency, and the agencies together, have done and plan to do regarding environmental stewardship. This document is designed to call attention to ongoing efforts by the PC(USA) to confront the underlying causes of climate change, and to resources available through the six agencies to congregations, mid councils, and other mission and ministry groups wishing to join in the effort. The working group, meeting together regularly over a period of nine months, has produced the following document— 'Collaborative Agenda on Environmental Stewardship.' It has been reviewed by each of the agency boards, which have each endorsed the document as a whole and recommended that the General Assembly also endorse it as a helpful resource to the whole denomination. This effort is particularly noteworthy as it is unusual for an item of business to come to the assembly from a collaboration of all six agencies."

  • Blessed Tomorrow - Caring for Creation Today - Commitment to Act on Climate Change

    The Presbyterian Church acknowledges that burning fossil fuels can cause irreparable damage to the Earth and to humans, with a disproportionate impact on the poor and vulnerable, and advocate instead for cleaner energy sources. They emphasize that care for creation is not a political, economic, or scientific issue, but rather a moral responsibility laid before us by God. For this reason, they are partnering with Blessed Tomorrow, to facilitate the creation of new tools and guides that will help to create a more sustainable future.

  • Solar

    The Presbyterian Church has put forth the following webinar, providing some suggestions for both individuals and congregations to utilize cleaner sources of energy and reduce costs. The introduction is to the webinar is shown below:

    "As the realities of climate change present an ever increasing urgency to our need to act faithfully in our energy consumption, many Presbyterians are exploring ways to support, purchase, and share renewable energy resources as an alternative to fossil fuel energy. From Presbyterian congregations drawing interest from the passers-by that notice solar panels on their rooftops, to a Presbyterian teen purchasing solar panels to charge his electric lawnmower (part of his carbon-neutral lawn-care service), the time is ripe to explore the options of solar energy as part of our Christian discipleship."

  • Climate Change

    The Presbyterian Church has put forth this video on care for creation, emphasizing that Christ has called us to go out into the world to care for creation and our fellow humans, especially the poor. The Union of Concerned Scientists has identified food, transportation, and energy as three key areas of focus to help stem climate change Congregations can help by implementing energy saving techniques, participate in recycling and composting waste, teaching children to grow food, and incorporating salient creation care concepts within educational settings.

  • The Power to Change

    The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA) has put forth this resolution on energy and climate change as a resource for both individuals and entire congregations. Topics at the forefront of the report include: global warming, eco-justice norms, energy guidelines, non-renewable energy sources, and alternative and renewable energy sources. The final section includes resources for education, action and advocacy.

  • Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice

    This report was adopted by the 202nd General Assembly (1990) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Their Committee on Social Witness Policy urges the assembly to adopt specified policies within the document. The report covers of multitude of critical environmental issues, with sound policy recommendations and actions that congregations can take to support the myriad of sustainability issues.

  • A Shared Quaker Statement: Facing the Challenge of Climate Change

    This statement calls for leaders to make sound decisions with regard to climate change, and for all people to cherish the Earth for future generations. The following introductory section highlights the sense of urgency:

    "As Quakers, we understand anthropogenic climate change (climate change due to human activities) to be a symptom of a greater challenge: how to live sustainable and justly on this Earth.

    We recognize that the current rise of greenhouse gas emissions is leading to an unprecedented rate of increase in global average surface temperature of extreme detriment to the Earth’s ecosystems and species, including human beings.

    We recognize that catastrophic global climate change is not inevitable if we choose to act urgently."

  • A Quaker Response to the Crisis of Climate Change

    A Quaker Response to the Crisis of Climate Change discusses how climate change and consumer waste negatively impacts disadvantage populations the most. The first two paragraphs of the introduction are stated below:

    "The crisis of global climate change represents a supreme test of humanity’s collective wisdom and courage. Our immoderate use of the Earth’s resources violates the entire biosphere, threatening the lives of millions of people and the habitats of thousands of species. Many of the poorest people are already suffering a changed climate; they are
    asking us all to act.

    How has humanity produced this crisis? Our faith response is that prevailing social values have obscured what it means to live authentically on this Earth. In rich European countries we consume more than we need within an economic system that divides us as a society; in much that we do, we cause harm to the planet and each other without enriching our lives."

  • Baptists and Climate Change

    Among the Series on Climate Change and Major Religions, this Baptists and Climate Change article serves as a message to all Baptists. Despite their wide range of views and beliefs on environmental issues, the authors urge individuals to come together and take action to care for creation as God had intended. The following excerpt highlights the current division among members:

    "The apparent contradiction between the Biblical ideals of dominance and stewardship is one of many divisions in Baptist discussions of climate change/global warming. Among more liberal American Baptist churches, members said in recent interviews, hardly anyone is a global warming 'skeptic.' But among Southern Baptists, a backlash against climate leaders is ongoing."

  • On Global Warming

    This first half of this message posted on the Southern Baptist Convention website provides some key time frames with regard to ongoing climate issues. The second half focuses on responses from/actions taken by Southern Baptists. An additional overarching theme is humans responsibility for care for creation and, in particular, the poor.

  • The United Church of Christ and Climate Change

    This article from the United Church of Christ points to specified time periods/salient highlights of their responses to various environmental issues over the past 15 years. The United Church of Christ recognizes climate and energy issues as moral and ethical issues that affect everyone. However they also acknowledge that it most negatively impacts those with the least access to resources.

  • A Resolution on Climate Change 2007 GS26

    In 2007, The United Church of Christ put forth a resolution on climate change. They acknowledge the negative impact of global warming and urge governing bodies to support measures that reduce green house gas emissions. The following is an excerpt from the 2007 resolution on climate change:

    "WHEREAS, the predicted impact of global warming will have a disproportionate impact on those living in poverty, least developed countries, the elderly and children and those least responsible for the emissions of greenhouse gases;

    THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Twenty-sixth General Synod of the United Church of Christ admits Christian complicity in the damage human beings have caused to the earth's climate system and other planetary life systems, and urges recommitment to the Christian vocation of responsible stewardship of God's creation, and expresses profound concern for the pending environmental, economic, and social tragedies threatened by global warming, to creation, human communities and traditional sacred spaces;

    WE FURTHER RESOLVE that the Twenty-sixth General Synod of the United Church of Christ urges the United States Government to respond to global warming with great urgency and firm leadership by supporting mandatory measures that reduce the absolute amount of green house gas emissions, and in particular emissions of carbon dioxide, to levels recommended by nationally and internationally recognized and respected scientific bodies;"

  • World Council of Churches Endorses Fossil Fuel Divestment

    This message from the World Council of Churches (WCC) discuss their endorsement of fossil fuel divestment (2014 Geneva, Switzerland). WCC is one of a growing number of religious groups to support the fossil fuel divestment movement. The introduction is stated below:

    "The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), a fellowship of over 300 churches which represent some 590 million people in 150 countries, endorsed fossil fuel divestment this week, agreeing to phase out its own holdings and encourage its members to do the same."

  • Care for Creation and Climate Justice

    The World Council of Churches provides a brief description of their stance on care for creation and climate justice on their website. The following is an introductory statement, urging individuals forgo over-consumption and greed:

    "The present world development model is threatening the lives and livelihoods of many, especially among the world's poorest people, and destroying biodiversity. The ecumenical vision is to overcome this model based on over-consumption and greed."