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A United Methodist Insight Column
Creation Justice Ministries, an offshoot of the National Council of Churches, has set up back-to-back events to help churches respond to the global climate change emergency.
A recent release from Avery Davis Lamb, resilience project coordinator, noted: “Our faith communities are on the frontlines of climate impacts and climate resilience. As climate disasters — wildfires, hurricanes, heat waves, and more — accelerate around the world, it is critical that we are preparing and asking our leaders to do the same.”
The first event is the Faith Communities and Climate Resilience Summit, 5:30-7:30pm ET, Aug. 26. This event includes:
- Premiere of two "Faithful Resilience" short films, based in Georgia and North Carolina
- Stories from the frontlines of climate change and resilience
- Messages from Members of Congress
- Training to advocate for climate-ready infrastructure.
The second event, Act for Creation. Act for Justice. A National Faith Call-In Day for Congressional Climate Action takes place Aug. 27, launching at noon ET. Participants will engage in a one-day virtual advocacy event and receive:
- A call and email script to contact your Members of Congress anytime on August 27th
- A toolkit to engage with your Members of Congress over social media.
- An invitation to join us for the "Act for Creation, Act for Justice Launch Event" at 12pm ET on August 27th featuring prominent speakers and advocacy training.
Both events follow on last week’s release of the sixth environmental assessment by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC report makes clear that there is no time left to stave off the worst climate change effects without immediate radical reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that cause global scorching.
Poignant account of COVID’s impact
One of the most touching stories of the coronavirus pandemic’s effects on local communities came this week in a letter to the Loudon Now online journal from a group of United Methodist clergy who serve smaller, more rural churches in Virginia.
Letter: United Methodist Clergy of Leesburg and Western Loudoun reads in part:
“The past year and a half of this pandemic has been heartbreaking for our communities. As clergy, we have grieved with family members who have lost loved ones, as we also have lost one of our own colleagues at Bluemont and Roszell Chapel UMC to Covid-19. Our food pantries and outreach programs have seen increases of requests for assistance due to the economic downturn. We have seen a rise in cases of addictions and have worked hard to find ways to safely provide safe places for people to find support. We have walked beside people wrestling with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, sharing God’s presence with them in dark times and helping them to find the places in which they can receive the best help. Having witnessed this over the past year and a half we can say that our community is hurting.
“We do not write this as a political statement on governmental laws, mandates, or policies taken by employers or businesses. Instead, we write as a personal plea, that just as our Holy Scripture tells us to “love our neighbor as ourselves,” we may live into the words of our Lord Jesus by considering, faithfully, what is loving for our neighbors and communities and seek to act in love for the vulnerable, the frontline workers, the businesses and all our neighbors of our community.”
The letter was signed by the United Methodist clergy of Loudon County, Rev. Joshua King, Bethany UMC; Rev. Hyunsik Kang, Bethel/Rehobeth UMC; Rev. Bruce Lugn, Bluemont/Roszell Chapel UMC; Rev. Ralph Carver, Ebenezer/Hillsboro UMC; Rev. Debra Lucas, Harmony UMC; Rev. Jim Wishmyer, Leesburg UMC; Rev. Heather Wray, Leesburg UMC; Rev. Tracey Lyons, Mt. Zion (Hamilton)/Mt.Zion (Leesburg)/ Willisville Chapel UMC; Rev. Daniel Wray, Round Hill UMC.
We commend their witness and encourage prayers for their continued ministry.
Pandemic response earns award for Africa U.
David W. Scott of UM & Global alerts us to news of an award for Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, for its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Scott writes:
“In recognition of their production of U-Safe Hand Sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, African University has been awarded the prestigious Jairos Jiri Humanitarian Award by the government of Zimbabwe, as reported in this press release. The U-Safe Hand Sanitizer is the only locally produced hand sanitizer in Zimbabwe. Africa University, a United Methodist institution, began production of the sanitizer as a way of aiding the coronavirus response in their setting.”
Way to go, Africa U! Thanks for representing the UMC in your country.
Media Mentions as of Aug. 16, 2021
United Methodist divorce nears as progressives moves further left – Times Record News
Religious health care providers win injunction on ACA rules – Raleigh News & Observer
Study: Gen Z doubles down on spirituality, combining tarot and traditional faith – Religion News Service
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Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" is part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of some 400 news outlets committed to enhance reporting on the worldwide climate crisis.