Mega Drought
Graphic Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A United Methodist Insight Column
Here we are in September, with many areas of concern demanding United Methodists' prayer and action. We've had another firsthand encounter with the climate crisis over the holiday weekend, as a line of storms packing tropical-storm-force winds raked Dallas, even causing structures on a building site to collapse. Knowing how continuing crises can weigh on our souls, we commend to your reading a feature from The Conversation about how "crisis fatigue" can divert us from circumstances needing our attention.
Meanwhile, here are the latest reports to keep in our hearts, minds, actions, and prayers.
Megadrought, extreme heat and more on the climate crisis
Prayers rise up like thermal drafts this week for all those enduring the extreme heat in the western United States. Axios' Andrew Freedman reports on the conditions in Historic heat wave intensifies in the West as grid concerns mount. Various news sources confirm that the current "megadrought" out west is the worst such event in 1,200 years. The graphic at the top of this article shows the Aug. 9 map from the U.S. Weekly Drought Report prepared for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
With the ecumenical observance Season of Creation underway through October, NOAA highlights the 32nd annual State of the Climate study published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in an article BAMS report: Record-high greenhouse gases, sea levels in 2021. Says NOAA:
"The international annual review of the world’s climate, led by scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, ... is based on contributions from more than 530 scientists in over 60 countries. It provides the most comprehensive update on Earth’s climate indicators, notable weather events and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments located on land, water, ice and in space.
“With many communities hit with 1,000-year floods, exceptional drought and historic heat this year, it shows that the climate crisis is not a future threat but something we must address today as we work to build a Climate-Ready Nation — and world — that is resilient to climate-driven extremes,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. Important takeaways:
Earth’s greenhouse gases were the highest on record. The major atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — each rose once again to new record highs during 2021.
Earth’s warming trend continued. A range of scientific analyses indicate that annual global surface temperatures were 0.38 - 0.50 degrees F (0.21-0.28 of a degree C) above the 1991 -2020 average. This places 2021 among the six warmest years since records began in the mid to late 1800s.
Ocean heat and global sea level were the highest on record. The ocean sequesters the vast majority of the excess energy trapped in the Earth's system by greenhouse gases and other factors; estimated at more than 90% over the past half-century. Global ocean heat content, measured from the ocean’s surface to a depth of more than 6,000 feet, continued to increase and reached new record highs in 2021.
Tropical cyclone activity was well above average. There were 97 named tropical storms during the Northern and Southern Hemisphere storm seasons last year, well above the 1991–2020 average of 87. ... Category 4 Hurricane Ida was the most impactful storm in the Atlantic. At $75 billion (U.S. dollars) in damage, Ida was the costliest U.S. disaster of 2021 and the fifth most expensive hurricane on record since 1980. Super Typhoon Rai was the third-costliest typhoon in the history of the Philippines causing about $1 billion (U.S. dollars) in damages and more than 400 deaths.
This year's Season of Creation theme is "Listen to the Voice of Creation," and these reports speak loudly and clearly to the climate crisis. As faith communities with a responsibility to care for our neighbors, friends, and families, we ignore these warnings at our peril. Now is the time to advocate with local, regional, state and national governments to take actions that will protect and restore God's creation.
Hatred directed at LGBTQ persons
Amid the top-line crises of climate change and coronavirus, there's another crisis that has come into focus again over the past few weeks – the persecution of LGBTQ persons in the United States. This reality isn't merely an "alternative fact," but one borne out by statistical research. It's something that many United Methodists believe should cause sober reflection about how attitudes can spark actions, as the denomination fractures over LGBTQ acceptance.
For example, last week Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) reported "FBI: 20% of Hate Crimes Directed at LGBTQ People." Its newsletter says:
"According to a new report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate and the Human Rights Campaign, the spread of anti-LGBTQ hate online is multiplying due to a small group of 'bad actors' on social media, Daniel Figueroa IV reports. Data from the FBI found that approximately 20% of hate crimes are now related to anti-LGBTQ bias. Likewise, Forward, a Jewish nonprofit news outlet, reported that social media user Libs of TikTok started off 'stoking racial tensions and downplaying police brutality against Black people,' but truly gained traction once the platform started spreading conspiracy theories that children are being “groomed” in classrooms and that gender-affirming care is child abuse. PRRI’s American Values Atlas found nearly 80% of American adults support pro-LGBTQ measures."
Then the website LGBTQ Nation reported: "4chan trolls target Trevor Project suicide hotline in hopes LGBTQ kids would die." Writer John Russell says that the trolls "flooded the non-profit's crisis hotline with fake requests for help" to keep LGBTQ youths from accessing the service. Wesley Bros cartoonist Charlie Baber notes in this week's installment "History of Incompatibility" that LGBTQ youths are eight times as likely to have attempted suicide, six times as likely to report high levels of depression and three times as likely to use illegal drugs.
Against this backdrop, we find there are United Methodists who are bearing witness to God's all-inclusive love that embraces people no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation. National Public Radio (NPR) interviewed the Rev. Kimberly Scott, chair of the Reconciling Ministries Network and an elder in the Desert-Southwest Conference. Rev. Scott spoke of how she was embraced by the annual conference, giving her the opportunity and confidence to serve in ordained ministry.
There are also some inspiring testimonies posted on the RMN website about the recent dedication of First United Methodist Church in Moheto, Kenya, the first Reconciling Congregation in the Kenya-Ethiopia Conference. This writer found the witness of Moheto-First's pastor the Rev. Kennedy Mwita to be especially apt for the UMC's current situation:
"The church belongs to Christ and not human beings. I have watched children of God being persecuted unjustly, judged wrongly for things beyond human control. This is what motivated me to seek a new way of searching and living my faith in relationship with God.
"It is God’s will that we involve each and every person in the life and ministry of the Church. We are all coworkers in the Lord’s vineyard. As coworkers, no worker has more right than another on the Lord’s farm," Rev. Mwita said. "We need to deconstruct the patriarchal, dictatorial, merciless God we were taught in order to embrace the God of love, tolerance, and forgiveness. This is the Lord I preach."
Here in Texas where Insight is produced, we're facing the oppressive onslaught of government investigation into the lives of families who seek gender-affirming care for their transgender children. It seems to us, and to many other United Methodists, that now is the time to stand up for the rights and dignity of all LGBTQ persons in the face of such persecution, just as much as we step up to care for those harmed by natural disasters.
NIC Aids Flood Victims
An ERT group from First UMC in Morris cleans up flooded homes in southeastern Kentucky. (Photo Courtesy of Northern Illinois Conference)
Northern Illinois helps flooded Kentuckians
Early Response Teams for several annual conferences have gone to southeastern Kentucky to aid those harmed by recent floods in the region. Annette Spence, editor of Holston Conference newspaper The Call, reported recently on efforts from churches there. Anne Marie Gerhardt of Northern Illinois Conference provides a report on the volunteers from her conference. Ms. Gerhardt writes:
"A group of Early Response Team (ERT) members from First United Methodist Church in Morris spent five days in Betsy Layne, Ky., to help with the massive flooding that occurred in late July.
"On the first day, the volunteers worked to clean up and remove mud from a basement. The flooding from the nearby creek caused about two feet of water to enter the basement and left several inches of gooey mud everywhere.
"The team has been amazed at the damage water can do. Flooding in the mountains is completely different than flooding in Illinois said Colin Monk, NIC Disaster Relief Coordinator.
"'Water runs down the mountains, collecting in streams and creeks,' said Monk. 'This creates huge rivers of water rushing through neighborhoods and towns. The force of the water sends cars, houses and trees downstream. Many areas we were in had 6 to 8 feet of rushing water. Debris is scattered everywhere.'
"During their trip, they were able to help five homeowners by doing physical work, but more importantly, Monk said they were able to provide a Christian presence as they listened to their stories and offered our support."
Much as the physical work is appreciated, we suspect that the "Christian presence" and attentive listening brought even more relief and recovery to Kentucky flood victims. That's a ministry skill that anyone can learn and share with others – a way to show "they'll know we are Christians by our love," ("We Are One in the Spirit," No. 223, The Faith We Sing).
Media Mentions as of Sept. 1, 2022
UMCOR ERTs deploy to Kentucky for next flood relief phase - Global Ministries
Friendship UMC to transform cargo container into a medical clinic for the people of Ghana – The Donalsonville News
Newfoundland United Methodist Church to help food pantries in a special way – The West Milford Messenger
North Texas ministers say state abortion bans violate United Methodists' religious freedom – Baptist News Global
United Methodist churches face deadline for disaffiliation - Butler Eagle
Liberia: Pres. Weah Pays Graduation Fees for over 1300 Graduates of UMU – FrontPageAfrica
President Weah Motivates United Methodist University (UMU) Graduates to Aspire for Greatness – African Business
Local Church's Helping Hands For Mississippi | Features | wboc.com
St. Timothy on the Northshore taking steps to leave the United Methodist denomination – NOLA.com
Community Gospel Choir sings out for equity, justice | | stlamerican.com
East Lakeview church holds abortion rights rally after vandalism - Chicago Tribune
'Not going anywhere': How this gay NC man has long sought full Methodist acceptance – The News & Observer
Bishop meets with church as part of disaffiliation process - Times Observer
Un-United Methodists: Church splits between its conservative and gay-affirming sides – Raleigh News & Observer
Methodism implodes amid litigation | WORLD - WNG.org
Church In McKinney, Texas Vandalized With Racist And Antisemitic Graffiti For A Second Time – Local Profile
Don't want the government forgiving student loans? Then your church should. – Religion News Service
Faith-based and other relief efforts underway to assist Pakistan flood victims – Baptist News Global
Christ Church considers leaving United Methodist denomination - Daily Memphian
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011 after 30 years reporting on The United Methodist Church at all levels. This column is part of Insight's contributions to Covering Climate Now, an international collaboration of some 500 news outlets committed to enhance reporting on the global climate crisis. Email Insight for permission to reproduce this column elsewhere.