Ever feel like there’s nothing we can do about the harmful effects of climate change? Of course, you do – unless you’re not paying attention. Yet how often do you hear the good news about solutions to climate change?
Covering Climate Now, an international collaboration of journalists (including United Methodist Insight) committed to enhance reporting on climate, wrote in its newsletter Feb. 10:
“It’s no wonder that climate anxiety is gripping people, particularly the young. Every week seems to bring a fresh round of warnings — 2021 was one of the hottest years on record, ocean heat is at an all-time high, the world’s largest iceberg broke off in Antarctica, and on and on. A large majority of people around the world live in a place that has been directly affected by climate change.
“While there is a staggering amount of hard work to be done, it’s essential to remember — and report — that many good things are also happening on the climate front. COP26 was not a success by most measures, but, by the end, 74 countries had pledged net-zero targets, new agreements were unveiled to reduce methane emissions and end deforestation, and the US and China pledged renewed cooperation despite a host of other differences between the two climate superpowers. The falling price of clean energy, the rise of accountability against Big Oil, and an increased focus on climate justice are additional reasons for hope, as Jeff Goodell recently wrote in Rolling Stone.
“We all need to believe that humanity can defuse the climate emergency — and recognize that that is not mere wishful thinking. A growing mountain of empirical evidence supports that conviction; for examples, look no further than Project Drawdown. We encourage journalists everywhere to acquaint themselves with that evidence and find ways to localize and humanize their reporting of it. Their audiences, young people especially, will thank them for it.”
There are reasons for creation care hope within The United Methodist Church as well.
As Dr. Daniel Joranko writes elsewhere on Insight, the UM Creation Justice Movement is developing a project that will focus on different types of creation care ministry available to all. The movement has been holding regular webinars and other events on mobilizing congregations to engage in creation care ministries. Visit the UM Creation Justice Movement’s website for more information.
Breathe Again
This week, Join United Methodist Women and partners for the “Breathe Again: Healthy Air is Health Care” Training of the Trainers event on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 17 and 18 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET.
UMW’s environmental director Liz Lee writes: “Thursday will be a ‘Train the Trainer’ event to learn more about the issues surrounding air pollution, the climate crisis and the public health impact; connect with other people working on air pollution in your state; and learn how to train others on these issues. Friday’s Day of Action will provide an opportunity to participate in collective action as together we will call our elected officials and ask them to take action!”
‘Love Beyond Borders’ resources offered
Dr. David W. Scott of UM & Global offers suggestions for more information about Global Ministries’ “Love Beyond Borders” project, a collaboration with UNICEF aiming to improve coronavirus vaccinations in countries with limited access. He writes:
“First, the podcast Get Your Spirit in Shape has released an episode featuring Dr. David Boan, a member of First United Methodist Church of Boise, Idaho, who pushed for United Methodist involvement in Love Beyond Borders, and Kathleen Griffith of the General Board of Global Ministries' Global Health team, who has helped coordinate Global Ministries' pandemic responses. The two discuss the Love Beyond Borders campaign.“Second, next Thursday at 7pm EST, there will be a public webinar about Love Beyond Borders as an expression of an interfaith movement to end the pandemic. Interested viewers can register online.“Finally, you can get a sense of how Love Beyond Borders fits into Global Ministries' larger COVID-1i pandemic response in this recent statement outlining that response.”
Ending plastic pollution at sea
From The Guardian’s “Down to Earth” environmental newsletter comes Lucy Siegle’s article, “A global plan to end plastic pollution in our seas is near:”
“Ink it in your diary, set a reminder, whatever you need to do … because later this month in Nairobi the world might just get its act together on one of the biggest menaces plaguing the ocean, and deliver a global treaty on plastic pollution. Some will no doubt think we should’ve had one of those already. But at the conclusion of the fifth United National Environmental Assembly (UNEA) – held from February 28 to March 2– this long overdue measure is widely anticipated.
“…A global plastic treaty needs to reinforce freedom of the ocean and the living organisms in it from plastic pollution. This freedom must supersede the freedom of multinational soft drinks companies to sell their product in billions of plastic bottles. It must supplant the freedom of fast fashion brands to flog quasi-disposable garments made from petroleum fibers that shed microfibres and produce emissions in production.”
Siegle has lots more to say about the encouraging prospects for such a treaty: “It’s time to push for an ambitious, real solution. That is the only way we will be the generation to end plastic pollution (and all the other climate ills besides). For more information, click here, and if you want to get involved, join @UNEP to #BeatPlasticPollution for #CleanSea.”
To get involved with faith-based ocean conservation, check out resources from the ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries organization.
Merger to bring social justice focus
Two noted congregations in the North Georgia Annual Conference, Grace and Cascade in Atlanta, have announced plans to merge Grace, the smaller predominantly white church, into Cascade, the historically Black church with a distinguished civil rights history. The satellite church will be called Cascade Midtown and will focus on social justice ministries such as affordable housing, racial equity, and gender justice, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
Cascade is known as one of the crown jewels of Black United Methodism, where such prominent clergy as Walter L. Kimbrough and Joseph Lowery have been pastors. Cascade was one of the places visited by Nelson Mandela, first president of post-apartheid South Africa, in 1993. Currently Cascade has around 7,000 members, while shifting demographics in its neighborhood have caused Grace to dwindle from 6,000 members in its heyday to a current membership around 100.
I’m impressed by this news for two reasons: first, that a predominantly white congregation has the courage to merge with a powerhouse Black congregation, and second, that the new site will focus on the social-justice needs of its surrounding neighborhood. I find that this merger gives a model for other urban churches in similar circumstances and offers hope for the future of United Methodism in the United States.
For another take on how Black and white United Methodist congregations can join together, check out this article from the Toronto Star: Racial unity: Merged Southern congregation sets an example.
Media Mentions as of Feb. 15, 2022
Northern Virginia’s largest United Methodist Church gives over $300,000 to support communities in need – Digital Journal
Onalaska United Methodist Church offering drive-thru soup | News | lacrossetribune.com
Many faith leaders wary of religious exemptions for vaccine | Miami Herald
Mystery quilt raises awareness of UMC activity group | Bonner County Daily Bee
Delphi food drive honors memory of Abby Williams and Libby German - WTHR
Houses of worship grapple with the future of their online services – Religion News Service