A United Methodist Insight Column
If it seemed that 2021 had more than its share of climate disasters, you’re right. The Guardian reports: US hit by 20 separate billion-dollar climate disasters in 2021, NOAA report says.
An excerpt from the news article:
“The US was battered by 20 separate billion-dollar climate and weather disasters in 2021, one of the most catastrophic climate years on record which led to at least 688 deaths, according to the annual report of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“Damage from the year’s 20 most costly disasters, which included thousands of wildfires burning across western states, frigid temperatures and hail storms in Texas, tornadoes in the south-east, and tropical storms saturating the east coast, totaled around $145bn.
“This makes 2021 the third costliest extreme weather year on record, with four tropical storms – Elsa, Fred, Ida and Nicholas – accounting for just over half the total price tag.”
This news makes it doubly urgent that we support the United Methodist Committee on Relief. According to its website explanation, “UMCOR responds to natural or civil disasters of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on its own. Through UMCOR, United Methodists extend loving care to people within the United States. When disaster strikes, it is local churches that provide the first response to their communities. This basic understanding—that disaster response is local—forms the foundation for UMCOR’s US disaster training and response. When responding to a disaster in the United States, UMCOR provides training, financial assistance, expertise, community collaboration to churches and partners making them more resilient to disasters.”
In addition to its stated mission, one of the best things about UMCOR is that 100 percent of each donation goes to the specified purpose, such as domestic disaster relief. UMCOR’s operating costs are paid through the annual “fair share” contributions known as “apportionments” that fund United Methodist ministries beyond local churches. To contribute to U.S. disaster response, give to Advance # 901670 or send a check through your local church to UMCOR, with Advance #901670 on the memo line.
Hitting the million mark again
Today’s COVID-19 news: The United States notched 1.35 million cases of coronavirus omicron variant in a single day, according to multiple news outlets Jan. 11.
In light of the omicron variant surge, United Methodist churches are being advised to revisit their coronavirus safety protocols, such as Philip Brooks’ article for Resource UMC, Updating COVID-19 protocols in response to omicron. As one recovering United Methodist posted during a Jan. 11 prayer session livestreamed on Facebook: “COVID-19 is no joke.”
Why keep up climate justice efforts?
It has been a tough few months for faith-based climate crisis activists. First, there were the disappointing results of the United Nations climate conference, COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland in early November. Then came more extreme weather, such as the record-breaking snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and northern Virginia that stranded travelers for days, punctuated by terrible wind-driven wildfires just north of Denver, Colo. To learn more about these events, see The Conversation’s article on the $145 billion damages from weather events.
The first of 2022 brought even more disheartening news that greenhouse gas emissions around the United States rose in 2020 from increased use of coal to make electricity (see Crisis Watch, Jan. 10). It seems as though faith-based climate advocates are having little to no effect at changing behaviors and policies that lead to extreme events.
And yet, Iyad Abumoghli, director of the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Program, recently urged climate advocates not to lose heart. In an interview with the National Catholic Reporter’s environmental columnist Brian Roewe, Mr. Abumoghli assured faith-based advocates that their work isn’t in vain.
"We need to demonstrate the sustainability of our efforts towards making the world really safer, in terms of living in a healthy environment and a healthy planet, to ensure that people live in prosperity,” Mr. Abumoghli said. “And that requires continuous engagement all over."
In other words, overcoming the climate crisis is a marathon, not a sprint. The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement is working toward strengthening climate efforts through its seven-part skill-building series, "UMC Annual Conference Organizing." The next episode of the free online webinar series will be an interactive session focused on starting and/or growing a conference ministry, emphasizing methods for inviting, recruiting and retaining people and congregations. The fourth workshop will be at noon CT, Monday, Jan. 24, led by Dr. Daniel Joranko. Register for this session HERE.
Recordings of two of the three completed workshops are available on YouTube. The latest session held Jan. 10 will be posted shortly.
- Session 1: “Why is this our Mission?: Creation Care and Wesleyan Theology “led by the Rev. Pat Watkins. HERE.
- Session 2: “What is our Mission Context for Creation Care?” led by Daniel Joranko and Pat Watkins. HERE
Media Mentions as of Jan. 11, 2022
As Methodists consider a split, local church sets priorities | | kilgorenewsherald.com
Forgiveness And The Future Schism (Part 3) | C. Don Jones - Patheos
Kansas legislative session promises more debate on COVID-19, critical race theory ... – Kansas Reflector
Ministry maintains focus on promoting healthy eating habits in new year - The Oklahoman
Homeless and hungry ministries look to 2022 | Life | The Brunswick News
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.