
Children and Climate
Participants in the Fridays for Future march in Glasgow, UK, 5 November 2021, during COP26. (Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC)
A United Methodist Insight Column
As if we needed any more impetus to care for God's creation, there's new evidence that the climate crisis is harming the world's children.
The World Council of Churches reports:
"A new study published in the journals “The Lancet” and “Child Abuse and Neglect” co-authored by the World Council of Churches (WCC) highlights the alarming impact of climate change on the health and wellbeing of children.
“'This study underscores the urgent need to recognize that inadequate responses to the climate emergency pose a profound ethical concern affecting every aspect of the rights, physical and emotional wellbeing of children,' said Frederique Seidel, WCC senior advisor on child rights. 'As people of faith, we are called to tackle the root causes of the climate emergency, as an urgent measure for protecting children from the dire consequences of a warming world.'”
For more information on the study:
Save Children’s Lives: Climate-Responsible Banking Survival Guide
More information about the study here and here.
Help children and farmers with Farm Bill support

Farm Bill Advocacy Webinar
United Methodist Insight Screenshot
United Methodist Creation Justice Movement invites all who care about farmers and hunger to join in an advocacy seminar Sept. 14. UMCJM writes: "By some estimates, nearly 18 percent of the United States economy is connected to agriculture. Building climate-smart agriculture practices is pivotal for an equitable and more sustainable economy."
The seminar will include information on why people of faith should care about the Farm Bill's fate, which is an essential tool for energizing congregations.
Plus, if you're looking for fall studies, consider signing up now for "A Minute for Mother Earth." Says UMCJM's newsletter: "Each month you will receive four free video clips—just 60–90 seconds long—to help your congregation recognize God’s call in the midst of climate-related issues. Each 'Minute' is based on the curriculum 'Wake Up World: A Curriculum for Faith and Community Groups,' available from Cokesbury. To sign up for "A Minute for Mother Earth," email adygertgearheart@hotmail.com
Quarter of Texas businesses say heat wave has hurt them
Here's more grist for discussing climate change in Texas congregations:
Dallas News reports: "In a new survey of 352 business executives in Texas from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, nearly 25% say revenue and production have either decreased slightly or significantly due to the high temperatures in recent months. Among those, 38% say difficulty operating in extreme temperatures is a primary factor in diminishing revenue.
Waco economist Ray Perryman said the impact of high temperatures is undeniable.
“'There is no question that the heat wave has had measurable economic impacts,' Perryman said. 'The findings from the Fed survey are very much in sync with our quantitative analysis. There are both winners, like utilities, air conditioning repair, and losers such as insurance companies, but in balance, there is a net loss to the economy.'”

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Share your Climate Story for the Vigil!
Faith in Place plans to hold a Candlelight Climate Vigil Oct. 10 as part of this year's Green Team Summit (October 8-11) by sharing and reflecting on stories from the ways our changing climate is impacting our communities. Interested persons are invited to share their stories of how climate change has affected them; all stories will be shared anonymously. Visit the Faith in Place website for details on the summit. Register for the summit.
Help for an inclusive church in Kenya
The Rev. JJ Warren, now a provisional elder in the New England Annual Conference, has resumed his newsletter The Circuit. He writes from Vienna, Austria, where he's studying for a doctorate:
"Partnering with Christ Chapel Oyani (2nd Reconciling church in all of Africa): Thanks to a generous donor, I will be returning to continue our partnership with reconciling churches in Kenya. During my time deeply listening to the stories, advances, and difficulties of our affirming siblings in Kenya last summer, I became good friends with Pastor Benedict Odhiambo. Pastor Benedict is the pastor of the second reconciling church on the whole continent, and as I got off the phone with him a few minutes ago he said,
"Pastor Benedict's church (which you can see a tour of in this documentary from my journey last summer) was powered by a generator, but he has had to return the generator since the community that loaned it is leaving the UMC in favor of an anti-LGBTQIA+ movement. So, we need your help. With $5,000, both the church building and the parsonage can be connected to the national electric grid. Thanks to other donors, the wiring has already begun! We're hoping to raise the first $1,000 THIS WEEK so that the electricity can begin being brought to the campus--and so that we can celebrate together and share the good news live with you all in October when I'm there with Pastor Benedict. If you or your church would be willing to partner with us, please consider donating here, or sending a check to Young Prophets Collective at 149 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 with "Supporting Christ Chapel" in the memo line."
Media Mentions as of Sept. 6, 2023
Sullivan church unites as pastors recover from 'bizarre' car accident - WCIA.com
Churches in Allegany, upper Potter counties focus on Back to Church - Olean Times Herald
The Disunited Methodist Church - Texas Monthly*
Lahaska United Methodist Church celebrates 170th anniversary | The Bucks County Herald
*Paid subscription required.
An award-winning religion journalist who has reported on The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years, Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" forms part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, an international collaboration of some 500 news outlets around the world committed to enhance climate coverage. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.