Lake Charles roofing
A disaster response team from the Desert Southwest Annual Conference works on a resident's damaged roof in Lake Charles, La. (Desert Southwest Conference Photo)
A United Methodist Insight Column
Disaster response volunteers are in the news this week as trained groups from annual conferences help many who’ve been struck by extreme weather and other catastrophes this summer.
From Desert Southwest Conference, the Rev. Tom Mattick, disaster response coordinator, reports: “With fires, floods, and disasters amid the COVID pandemic, the Desert Southwest Conference Early Response Teams are actively engaged in relief efforts. In June, as many as 14 persons went to Globe, AZ to assist the Salvation Army and other agencies to sort relief supplies for survivors of the flooding resulting from the Telegraph Fire just south of the Globe-Miami area. Flash flooding from monsoon rains inundated the area closing roads, damaging homes, and distressing the residents. Our team provided critical support in getting needed supplies ready for distribution in the community.” Read more about Desert Southwest’s team.
From Arkansas Conference: The conference sent out an email requesting prayers for a team of disaster response coordinators headed to Baton Rouge, La., this week to help with damage assessments from Hurricane Ida. The group includes communicator Caleb Hennington, who will be photographing the trip, along with Sheri Mathews, Southwest District; Byron Mann, Andrew Smith, Ken Savells, Paul Grandy Jr., and Kevin Overholt, Northwest District; Eric & Althea Fox, Northeast District; Lester & Ida Rose, Roy & Shelley Lee and David & Donna Johnson, Central District. Let’s keep these folks and other disaster response teams in our prayers as they go in harm’s way on our behalf.
Hurricane Ida
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Annual Conference.
Climate bigger threat than COVID-19
From the NPR newsletter: “The warming climate is a bigger threat to global health than COVID-19, according to an unprecedented joint statement from more than 200 medical journals. The editorial says the world can't wait for the pandemic to end before tackling climate change — which will only bring more infectious diseases.”
Meanwhile, the newly formed worldwide advocacy group, Climate Justice 4 All, "is inviting the global Methodist family to take action for the planet together," reports the First Friday newsletter of the World Methodist Council.
In preparation for the UN’s Climate Change Conference, COP26, happening in November in Glasgow, CJ4A "has been releasing short films and worship resources to enable Methodist communities to focus on creation care in their worship. ...The film discusses how the climate crisis is impacting communities, and in particular farmers, in India," First Friday says.
In August, the content came from the team of CJ4A volunteers in India. In September, content will come from Italy. Worship resources include prayers, eco-reflections and discussion questions. CJ4A hopes that many communities will use these in whatever way suits them: Sunday worship, small groups, youth groups or in personal worship. Click here for more information.
Fire weather days
Map courtesy of Climate Central
NPR also reports: “Firefighters are finally gaining on the Caldor Fire, near Lake Tahoe, but a new crop of suspicious fires that erupted over Labor Day weekend added to an already busy wildfire season in California, including more than a dozen in Sonoma County.” The California-Nevada Annual Conference website has excellent reports from pastors, church members, disaster volunteers and other on-the-scene folks.
Media Mentions as of Sept. 7, 2021
After Roe, role of religion in battle over abortion in Texas became more prominent – Dallas Morning News*
The real question is: Who benefits from Texas' new abortion law? - Religion News Service
As some religious groups laud Texas abortion ban, others cite religious freedom concerns – Religion News Service
No major organized religion objects to Covid vaccines. Will religious exemptions hold? – Yahoo News
Pandemic has been a spiritual boon for some, and Rosh Hashanah 2021 shows what’s changed – Washington Post*
Why This Evangelical Got Fired for Promoting Vaccines - The Atlantic*
Religious exemptions to vaccine mandates could test 'sincerely held beliefs' - NBC News
S.B. 8 and the Texas Preview of a World Without Roe v. Wade – The New Yorker magazine*
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans experienced a weather disaster this summer – The Washington Post*
Arkansas volunteers pitch in to assist Hurricane Ida victims – Arkansas Online
Millions in U.S. lose jobless benefits as federal aid expires, thrusting families and economy onto uncertain path – The Washington Post*
The Proud Boys came to Portland. Here is what I saw. - Religion News Service
To address climate change, address gender inequity - Religion News Service
Clergy, social workers, counselors fear they could be targeted by new Texas abortion law, which Supreme Court lets stand for now – Baptist News Global
*Paid subscription required.
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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 ongoing coverage of The United Methodist Church's response to the global climate crisis. Insight participates in Covering Climate Now, a worldwide collaboration of some 400 news outlets commited to enhanced reporting on climate change.