Big Sur wildfire
In this photo provided by the California Interagency Willow Fire Incident, firefighters work in steep terrain at the Willow Fire near Big Sur, Calif., on Sunday, June 20, 2021. Dozens of wildfires were burning in hot, dry conditions across the U.S. West. In California, firefighters still faced the difficult task of trying to contain a large forest fire in rugged coastal mountains south of Big Sur that forced the evacuation of a Buddhist monastery and nearby campground. (California Interagency Willow Fire Incident)
A United Methodist Insight Column
There’s distressing news on climate crisis this week: despite the efforts of United Methodist advocates and their climate justice colleagues everywhere, it may already be too late to stop severe climate impacts that threaten human life.
From the Covering Climate Now newsletter: “According to a forthcoming report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—viewed in advance by AFP [Agence France Presse]—harrowing future climate impacts are already locked in, even if humanity manages to rein in greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s young people, and those to come, face the greatest danger. ‘Species extinction, more widespread disease, unlivable heat, ecosystem collapse, cities menaced by rising seas—these and other devastating climate impacts are accelerating and bound to become painfully obvious before a child born today turns 30,’ the report reads. The decisions humanity makes now, it says, will determine whether humanity ‘thrives or simply survives’ this century.”
We need only look to the weekend weather forecast of extreme heat in the western United States to see the truth of this report. So what are you and your congregation doing to save God’s creation and ensure a livable future for our children and grandchildren? Start here with UMC Creation Justice.
Herd immunity? What herd immunity?
Bless their hearts, but some Christians simply refuse to accept the gift of vaccination that scientists – many of whom are Christians – have provided against the coronavirus.
COVID vaccine
Photo courtesy of PRRI
From Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)’s newsletter: "According to pastor Jerry Belloit, convincing his parishioners to get a COVID-19 vaccine has not been easy. ‘There has been some reluctance to put a lot of faith in what the government says typically, and so there was some hesitancy,’ Belloit tells The Washington Post. In March, PRRI and IFYC looked at vaccine hesitancy among the religious, and found that hesitancy is strong among white evangelical Protestants. ‘Forty-five percent of White evangelicals said they would get the vaccine, the second-lowest acceptance of any religious affiliation behind Latino Protestant groups,’ report Kim Bellware and Drea Cornejo. Additional data shows that 35% of Hispanic Protestants and Hispanic Catholics and 26% of white evangelical Protestants believe that God will protect them from being infected with COVID-19.”
The international vaccination status is even worse, according to global health expert Maria De Jesus of UMC-related American University’s School of International Service. She says: “In the race between infection and injection, injection has lost.” The Conversation's newsletter reports: "As of this week, 10% of the world’s population has been fully vaccinated, nearly all of them in wealthy countries ... Just 0.9% of people in low-income nations have received at least one dose."
In an article for The Conversation, Dr. De Jesus explains "how the global vaccine rollout became so inequitable – and what that means about ending this pandemic, says The Conversation's newsletter.
And in a late-breaking report from PRRI: "A new piece by Jennifer Rubin at The Washington Post argues that the politicization of the COVID-19 vaccine, and an unwillingness of some Americans to get it, will get people killed. ... PRRI research director Natalie Jackson recently explained these statistics in a panel discussion. 'Among Republicans, news consumption really matters,' Jackson says. 'There is a reasonably strong association between QAnon theory beliefs and vaccine hesitancy and refusal.'”
Friends, it's this simple: If you want your church to re-open for in-person worship, get vaccinated! If you want the world to be protected from COVID-19, support vaccine distribution globally.
And wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance.
Church faced test with Floyd killing
UM News links to a story with this reference: “The Rev. Tyler Sit and New City Church, a United Methodist congregation, have been deeply engaged in protest, prayer vigils and emergency assistance since the killing of George Floyd about a year ago. Sit reflects on how that tragedy, which occurred a short walk from New City, galvanized a young congregation. Todd Nelson has the story for Faith & Leadership, an online publication of Duke Divinity School. Read story”
Bucket brigade prepares for fire season
UM News links to a California-Nevada Conference story: “Volunteers from more than 20 churches gathered at the California-Nevada Conference Center to assemble fire relief and recovery bucket kits. Donations from California-Nevada Conference churches as well as First Rockwall United Methodist Church in the North Texas Conference funded the materials. Selby Ewing has the story. Read story”
Wildfire season is well under way. As of June 24, only Washington State was without an active wildfire. Along with the California-Nevada United Methodists, Religion News Service shares an Associated Press story that "a group of firefighting monks was ready to defend a Buddhist monastery being threatened Tuesday by a wildfire burning in the rugged central coast mountains south of Big Sur."
Media Mentions as of June 24, 2021
United Methodists Assist 200 Vulnerable Rural Families With Food Donations – New Zimbabwe.com
Methodist Church leaders plan projects to mitigate impact of Covid in Africa – The East African
Unbreakable Faith: Church Members, Volunteers Unite after Tyler First United Methodist Church Vandalized – Tyler Morning Telegraph
AME Church Statement on the Anniversary of the Mother Emanuel Massacre – Religion News Service
Syracuse churches work to open arms to LGBTQ community – Spectrum News
Jesse Jackson, William Barber arrested protesting filibuster and Manchin – Religion News Service
How Pope Francis and Vatican activists helped rein in Big Oil on climate change – Religion News Service
Catholic bishops back document that could lead to limits of Communion for Biden – The Washington Post *
AOC, other Catholic Democrats urge bishops against ‘weaponization’ of Communion – Religion News Service
White House: Biden’s Catholic faith is not ‘political’ – Politico
How pastors and health experts are struggling to close the vaccine gap among White evangelicals – The Washington Post *
Move by Catholic bishops against Biden brings howls of hypocrisy – The HillPresident Biden pledges support for Rev. Barber’s campaign to end poverty – Religion News Service
The fight for religious freedom isn’t what it used to be – The Atlantic *
Ed Litton, a pastor known for racial reconciliation, is surprise winner for SBC president – Religion News Service
America’s largest evangelical denomination is at war with itself – Vox
One Nevada church settles, other pressing COVID-19 lawsuit – The Associated Press
*Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.