Reading program
Illustration from the cover of United Women in Faith's 2023 Reading Program catalogue. (UM Insight Screenshot)
These days it seems that a dwindling minority of people are making good moral decisions. Like most "senior saints," I find today's moral climate vastly different from 30 years ago, when I was still learning my way around the United Methodist landscape as a reporter.
Wogman
Dr. J. Philip Wogaman
Back in 1991, a professor at UMC-related Wesley Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. J. Philip Wogaman, wrote a little (96-page) book titled "Making Moral Decisions." Dr. Wogaman was one of the authorities serving on the church-wide Committee to Study Homosexuality, which I was assigned to cover. I received a review copy of the book and proceeded to read it avidly.
In the introduction, the author recounted that as a Christian ethicist teaching future clergy how to make moral decisions, and how to guide their congregations to make moral decisions, he discovered something when he started to write his book. He said he found that every moral challenge he wanted to use as an example had already been explored in a series of booklets published by United Methodist Women!
That same commitment to reading and thinking on Christian morality and ethics remains an active focus of the church women's organization, now known as United Women in Faith. A recent announcement of the 2023 Reading program prompted me to follow a link to the new UWF website, where I found this explanation with suggestions:
"The Reading Program is a cherished tradition that brings together members to explore, share and discuss books.
"There’s something for everyone—the Reading Program is available for:
- Adults, youth, and children
- Enlightening subjects in diverse genres, including:
- Education for Mission
- Leadership Development
- Nurturing for Community
- Social Action
- Spiritual Growth
"Reading is connecting.
"The Reading Program is not meant to be completed alone or in a vacuum. You can enrich the experience by doing one or several of these things:
- Share the program with United Women in Faith members and members of the community.
- Help people attain books. Distribute this guide.
- Connect with local and district groups. Start a book club, download books onto an e-reader to pass around and share, present book reviews at group meetings.
- Display a progress chart in your church for all who wish to participate, and post displays to encourage book sales.
- Pray. Books often raise concerns about people, countries, and issues. Bring these concerns to God during your prayer time at home and at group meetings.
- Advocate for tangible change. Many Reading Program books address issues including climate change, mass incarceration and racism. Organize a task force to address these issues in your community."
Sadly, Dr. Wogaman's excellent book on making moral decisions appears to be available now only through an online service, which listed one copy in its inventory. However, the 2023 UWF Reading Program book list is available at uwfaith.org/read. I downloaded the book list, and I recommend it for your church's study in the coming year. If 2023 is anything like 2022, we're going to need all the serious reading, thinking and praying we can muster.
By the way, Dr. Wogaman is still around at age 90. His last published book was "Surrendering My Ordination: Standing Up for Gay and Lesbian Inclusivity in The United Methodist Church" in which he describes why in May 2017 he gave up his clergy credentials in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference after the clergy session refused to approve the ordination of a married lesbian, T. C. Morrow, as a deacon (Rev. Morrow was finally ordained this past June). Ever the scholar, Dr. Wogaman starts his book with an examination of ordination's theological, ethical and pastoral meaning, and then describes his action and the aftermath. He remains an advocate for The United Methodist Church's full inclusion of LGBTQ persons. Worth reading.
A raft of climate and coronavirus news
Playing editorial catch-up after an extended vacation has left little time for writing, so I have a lot of climate-related news backed up. Here are some recent notes I've saved, and I hope you'll follow up on them.
"The climate news is as grim as ever," writes Ishaan Tharoor of The Washington Post in an Oct. 27 recent Today's WorldView newsletter. "Despite the stated ambitions of the international community to take action, the world’s nations have shaved just 1 percent off their projected greenhouse gas emissions for 2030, according to a new U.N. report. The meager outcome places the planet on a path to warm by 2.4 degrees Celsius (4.3 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century — below some of the greatest fears of climate watchers but still beyond the safe temperature threshold set at 1.5 degrees Celsius. It precipitates a dangerous future of extreme weather, rising sea levels and 'endless suffering,' as the United Nations put it itself." Subscribe to the newsletter for more details.
Back on Oct. 25, veteran climate crisis advocate Bill McKibben took note of what he calls a "vast and remarkable assessment" of the health impacts of climate change thay appeared in the venerable British medical journal The Lancet. Among many other results, the study found that "because of the rapidly increasing temperatures, vulnerable populations (adults older than 65 years, and children younger than one year of age) were exposed to 3.7 billion more heatwave days in 2021 than annually in 1986–2005, and heat-related deaths increased by 68% between 2000–04 and 2017–21" In other words, our overheated climate is killing our old and our young. If you're involved in faith-based climate advocacy, you need to get Bill's newsletter. Subscribe to Bill McKibben's newsletter.
The Associated Press reported "nearly two-thirds of Americans think the federal government is not doing enough to fight climate change, according to a new poll that shows limited public awareness about a sweeping new law that commits the U.S. to its largest ever investment to combat global warming. ... The measure, which passed without a single Republican vote in either chamber, offers nearly $375 billion in incentives to accelerate expansion of clean energy such as wind and solar power, speeding the transition away from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas that largely cause climate change." Most in US want more action on climate change: AP-NORC poll
Climate Central issued a press release with a list of facts on why the next United Nations global climate conference, COP27, matters to local interests as well. The conference is formally known as the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) Top of Climate Central's list:
- COP27, the U.N. climate conference starting November 6, aims to close the gap between global climate goals and climate action.
- Analysis and graphics for 246 U.S. locations show that U.S. warming by 2100 could range from 1.8 to 9°F, depending on how quickly global emissions are cut, a key topic on the COP27 agenda.
- The new Global Climate Shift Index (CSI-Global) tool reveals the daily influence of climate change on temperatures experienced by billions of people around the world—including in 1,000+ cities
The General Board of Church and Society will hold "Witness Wednesday: A Call to Social Holiness and Global Advocacy at COP27," led by Rev. Laura Kigweba James, director of grassroots organizing. The event takes place at noon Nov. 9 on Zoom and Facebook Live with John Hill, GBCS Deputy General Secretary. Register Now Here
Stay tuned for Insight's coverage of faith-based activism at COP27 the week of Nov. 7.
Media Mentions as of Oct. 25, 2022
Chattanooga-area churches take steps to leave the United Methodists – Chattanooga Times Free Press
Community coalition proposes grass-roots effort to address gun violence - The Toledo Blade*
Debate over the future of the United Methodist Church heats up – KX News
29 Oklahoma United Methodist churches are given green light to leave denomination – The Oklahoman
Mt. Bethel Church closing day care, selling unrestricted properties - East Cobb News
Mt. Bethel Church dropping charter status with Boy Scouts -- East Cobb News
A ministry of interpretation - UM News
Hurricane Maria successes help Methodist Church of Puerto Rico save Fiona lives
Global Ministries
Sardis UMC creates special treats for local NICU - Benton Courier
Jackson Pride event continues to spur First Amendment debate – The Jackson Sun
To Fellow Methodists Regarding Our Church Schism | Letters To The Editor – Cape May County Herald
Liberians reflect on Africa University's impact - UM News
Newark United Methodist Church congregants 'fill the ark' with donations for food pantry –Newark Post
Southlake megachurch plans vote to leave United Methodist denomination – Dallas Morning News*
Birmingham's St. Paul United Methodist Church receives $500000 grant from National Park Service – AL.com
Brentwood Community United Methodist Church celebrates seventh anniversary – Brentwood Press
*Paid subscription required
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. This column is part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, a worldwide collaboration of some 500 news outlets committed to enhance reporting on the global climate crisis.