A United Methodist Insight Column
Gun violence continues to stain the landscape across the United States, and there seems to be no end in sight. Shootings over the holiday weekend added more bodies to the death toll. Somewhere between 15 and 20 people were killed in mass shootings over the U.S. holiday weekend, according to various news sources.
Unfortunately, U.S. culture continues to glorify guns. In Texas, an AR-15, the civilian version of an Army automatic weapon, can be rented for the price of a dinner, reports Texas Monthly.
There's a psychological cost to gun violence as well. On its Up First podcast, NPR's Rhitu Chatterjee says, "the people closest to the acts of violence face the highest risk of long-term mental health issues like hypervigilance, trouble sleeping and a sense of shattered safety. A Duke University psychologist told her (that) communities like Sandy Hook or Columbine are forever changed when they become linked to mass violence."
Allendale Wear Orange
Allendale United Methodist Church's sign describe the effect of gun violence. Allendale's pastor is MFSA Board Co-President Andy Oliver. (MFSA Photo)
Thankfully, the Methodist Federation for Social Action joins many faith-based organizations for which The Work of the Wear Orange Campaign Continues, according to MFSA's most recent newsletter. The article on its website offers five ways for people of faith to advocate for common-sense gun control. Be sure to read the article for details about these five approaches:
- Register members of your congregation to vote. Share resources about gun sense candidates with your local networks.
- Write to your U.S. Representatives that enough is enough: America needs to support common-sense gun reform now.
- Write to your U.S. Senators encouraging them to pass a Red Flag law.
- Get involved locally with your Moms Demand Action group. The local Moms Demand Action partnered with Allendale United Methodist Church to raise awareness for gun violence.
- Join the Gun Sense Action Network either as an individual or as a group.
July 4th was Earth's hottest day in 100,000 years
Thanks to Earth Sky newsletter for this news brief:
July 4 Was Earth’s Hottest Day In Over 100,000 Years—Breaking Record For 2nd Day In A Row, according to Forbes magazine. "The Fourth of July was the hottest day on Earth in as many as 125,000 years—breaking a record set the day before—as the return of the El Niño weather pattern collides with soaring temperatures at the start of summer, researchers say.
- "The global average temperature July 4 reached 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.92 degrees Fahrenheit), data from the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute showed, the hottest ever recorded on any day of any year.
- "The same record was broken the day before, when July 3 temperatures reached 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 degrees Fahrenheit), higher than the previous hottest-day record of 16.92 degrees Celsius held by a tie of two dates, July 24, 2022, and August 14, 2016, according to the University of Maine and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction."
In addition, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists shares Grist magazine's article that experts estimate that Summe 2023's extreme heat will result in 235,000 ER visits, 56,000 hospital admissions—and $1 billion in health care related costs.
Finally, The Climate Beat newsletter of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of some 500-plus news outlets, puts this column's items into sobering, even terrifying context:
"Did you know, for example, that heat already kills nearly twice as many people a year as guns? And that death toll is bound to increase as global temperatures continue their inexorable rise."
Now simply is not the time to be complacent or dismissive of the climate crisis or the gun violence crisis. As Christians we must remain vigilant to the potential effects of these ongoing catastrophes on people, and put the love of Christ into action to ease the suffering they cause.
An abundance of climate webinars
If the hottest day in 100,000 years gets your attention, there are plenty of opportunities coming on how to address the climate crisis spiritually and practically.
First, if you work in youth ministry, are a young disciple or care about young disciples' spirituality, sign up for ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries' summer reading webinar, "In Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People – A Conversation with Talitha Aho" Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 6 p.m. EDT. The author will speak on how the climate crisis affects younger generations and the importance of offering ecologically informed spiritual care.
Next, Interfaith Power and Light will sponsor a webinar, "Climate and Energy Resources for Faith Communities: A Briefing with the U.S. Department of Energy," at 3 p.m. EDT July 18. The event is co-sponsored by United Women in Faith and the General Board of Global Ministries. Speakers for the U.S. Department of Energy will offer details about "direct pay, the tax credits, the programs, and the role faith communities can play in helping our country address the climate crisis and ensure that all communities are supported," says IPL's press release. Learn More
Then, join the UM Climate Justice Movement on July 19 at noon EDT for its monthly UMCJ Movement Café. This month's theme is "Disaster Response and Just Resilience" across the United States. "We will look at the reality of what climate change is bringing to our homes, states, and neighborhoods right now, and how we as people of faith can and are responding," says UMCJM's press release. Register Here
Media Mentions
Hundreds gather for 'A Service of Unity and Love' to speak out against antisemitic acts in Georgia – WSB-TV
Sen. Ossoff joins unity service in Macon after antisemitic demonstrations – YouTube
'Today...we're all Jews." Mulberry United Methodist hosts service to support Macon Jewish community – 13WMAZ
When antisemitic hate came to Georgia, Georgians responded with unity – Atlanta Journal-Constitution*
Georgians pack Mulberry Street UMC to express support for Macon's Jewish community – Georgia Public Broadcasting
Ossoff at Unity Service: 'Swastika is a symbol of massacre; genocide' – The Jerusalem Post
Liberia: Methodist Bishop Joins Jeety to Distribute Hot Meal - allAfrica.com
Bishop Samuel Quire Urges Empowerment as Former Indian Honorary Consul Upjit Singh ... FrontPageAfrica
United Methodist congregations trying to leave amid LGBTQ+ schism say they're being held ... Los Angeles Times*
Fire at United Methodist Church causes $200000 worth of damage, no injuries reported – YouTube
Missionaries in Philippines experience ongoing persecution – Vatican News
Disaffiliations affecting churches who stay United Methodist – Times Observer
Methodist Church schism is reminiscent of divide over slavery – Akron Beacon Journal
Proud Boys Fined $1 Million for Destroying Property of Black Church – The New York Times*
Police charge 23-year-old with hate crime at historically Black US church – Sight Magazine
Arrests made in string of hate crimes against Anne Arundel County churches – CBS News
Local churches teaming up to feed international students | Cape Gazette
Judge awards a Black church $1M over BLM banner burned by Proud Boys during protest – NPR
McMurry chooses 2014 grad as its next chaplain – The Abilene Reporter-News
Monongahela: Methodist church welcomes new Liberian pastor – The Mon Valley Independent
North Alabama Conference's resolution aims to unite the UMC | Local News – Decatur Daily
Judge signs church possession order | News | jonesborosun.com
New Wakefield Grace United Methodist Church Complex Breaks Ground in the Bronx – Real Estate Weekly
Local United Methodist Church takes legal action against conference after closure – Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV
Tennessee United Methodists look to rebuild amid UMC splintering, disaffiliating churches – The Tennessean*
United Methodist Church of Red Bank to pray for LGBTQ+ youth - Asbury Park Press
UMC claims Dothan church broke internal law by disaffiliating, records - CBS 42
Farmville man launches bid for 50th House seat: 'Focus on dignity and unity' - SoVaNOW
United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans – AP News
*Paid subscription required.
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Veteran award-winning religion journalist Cynthia B. Astle has reported on The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years. She serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011 as a media channel for marginalized and under-served United Methodist news and views. "Crisis Watch" is part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 500 international news outlets committed to enhanced reporting on the climate crisis.