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Pongamia tree
The Pongamia tree with its rich beans could be a "superfood" to address world hunger at the same time its leaves help to protect the environment. (Shutterstock Image)
A United Methodist Insight Column
Concern for the global climate crisis tops many agendas during this year's annual conference sessions, reports the UM Climate Justice Movement. Here are advance highlights from its July newsletter:
- The Pacific Northwest Conference June 8, 2022 focus session included a discussion recommending passage of Creation Justice related legislation developed by Global Ministries EarthKeeper Elizabeth Williams followed by a panel discussion on land acknowledgement and creation care ministry hosted by Global Ministries EarthKeeper Kathy Neary and Rev Jenny Phillips. The panel discussion begins at 54:41.
- On June 17 2022, the Peninsula-Delaware Conference approved a resolution to Establish a Conference-Level Creation Care/Creation Justice Committee. (text is here on page 17)
- The New England Conference has launched a new Creation Care webpage at neumc.org/creationcare. The Church and Society committee reported on its work to minimize the carbon footprint of the Annual Conference (See preconference materials page 18-19). On June 11, 2022 a resolution was approved to commit the conference to responding to the Global Climate Crisis including adding a part-time climate coordinator to Conference staff. (text for resolution RS 22-222 is here on pg 99-101; amendment adding part-time staff is here under legislation adopted Saturday)
In addition, the Rev. Sharon Delgado, profiled last week by Richenda Fairhurst of Faiths4Future, announced the successful approval of a new California-Nevada Conference Climate Justice Ministries Task Force. Rev. Delgado and others will be working to gather members of the new task force from Cal-Nevada conference committees and communities.
Ukraine-focused trauma training offered
A Ukraine-focused Trauma Healing Training will be at Dallas International University July 18-22, reports Suzette Mack, a staffer at Indian Heights UMC in Overland Park, KS and a PhD student at the university.
"I would like to get the invitation out to as many people as possible," Suzette said in an email. "There are generous scholarship to help pay for travel, lodging and the cost of the training."
Click here for more information.
U.N. boss warns of ‘ocean emergency’ at conference
From the Washington Post's "Climate 202" newsletter:
"Thousands of scientists and activists hope to shift the conversation at this week’s United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, where leaders from more than 20 nations are set to issue a declaration on protecting the high seas against exploitation and restoring ocean health, Maxine reports this morning.
“'Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted, and today we face what I would call an ocean emergency,” U.N. Secretary General António Guterres told delegates at the opening of the conference. 'We must turn the tide. A healthy and productive ocean is vital to our shared future.'
"While the annual U.N. summit on climate change tends to draw more attention and media coverage, the U.N. Ocean Conference has significant implications for protecting the world's oceans for both humanity and marine life," concluded the newsletter. Among the developments for faith-based climate activists to note:
- "The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada will launch an alliance to improve the monitoring of fisheries and 'hold bad actors accountable,' according to a White House fact sheet.
- "A working group made up of 21 federal agencies will also release a five-year strategy on curtailing illegal fishing, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday issued a proposed rule to combat forced labor in the seafood supply chain."
However, some activists have mixed feelings about the proposals. Climate 202 quotes Jean Flemma, co-founder of the think tank Urban Ocean Lab:
“'There are some big announcements and commitments that have been made, and there’s a lot of enthusiasm,' she said. 'But people also feel an urgency, and some of us are worried that we’re not acting fast enough.'”
"Super tree" could answer hunger, climate concerns
Even hear of a tropical tree called "pongamia?" Me neither until I came across this article on Canary Media, one of the many climate newsletters we get at UM Insight. According to writer Michael Grunwald's article, it's "an ordinary-looking tropical tree with agricultural superpowers. It produces beans packed with protein and oil much like soybeans, except it has the potential to produce much more nutrition per acre than soybeans. It’s hardy enough to grow on just about any land, no matter how degraded, without any pesticides or irrigation. It not only removes carbon from the atmosphere, which combats climate change, but it also sucks nitrogen out of the air, so it usually doesn’t need fertilizer that accelerates climate change."
Wow! Talk about a biblical parallel from Revelation 22:1-2, describing the tree whose leaves will be "for the healing of the nations." Maybe our development efforts through Global Ministries and UMCOR should look into sponsoring the planting of pongamia trees wherever they'll grow.
'Gladly Choosing to Be United Methodist' recording posted
Touching on the crisis in the UMC, if you missed the most recent webinar sponsored by United Methodist Retired Clergy and Friends on ""Gladly Choosing to Be United Methodist," here's the link to its recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EkSutb7JiB0. You can also see previous webinars on the organization's website at www.umarc.org
Media Mentions as of June 28, 2022
Mapletown United Methodist Church rises from ashes | News | observer-reporter.com
Local United Methodist churches, pastors prepare for future - Amarillo Globe-News
Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church gives back to the community - WDBJ
Fort Smith faith leaders react to Roe v. Wade overturn - Southwest Times Record
Affordable housing Planned for Culver City Methodist church property - WestsideToday
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email for permission.