Christian Leaders of Indigenous Communities Fly to Washington DC to stand with #StandwithBearsEars5/25/2017 Faith champions fly to Washington, DC to strengthen the voice of advocacy for Bears Ears National Monument and the Inter-Tribal Coalition of Utah. Together, we will stand firm to defend Bears Ears. "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude". Maya Angelou
![]() Loni Romo Loni is Pyramid Lake Paiute, Tohono O’odham, and Pima. She recently graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. In the fall, she will attend Graduate school for Counseling and Education Psychology. She currently works as a Student Graduation Advocate for high school Native American Students in Washoe County School District in Nevada. Proud member of Saint Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church. Loni has two daughters that love to learn and practice their traditional teachings from their elders of their Tribe.
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Today, Creation Justice Ministries sponsored a full-page ad in the Lexington Herald-Leader, a newspaper with wide circulation in eastern Kentucky. The ad ran the day after religious leaders sent a letter to Congress urging them to support retired coal miners and their families.
Creation Justice community members who contribute to our Peoples Climate March fund-raising campaign are also honoring people who inspire them with their everyday actions for climate leadership. Below is the list of honorees, in order that they were named. According to the wishes of those who honored them, we will pray for them by name at the Peoples' Climate March.
Bishop Bud Cederholm, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Honored by: Thom Nutt-Powell Honored because: "He guides the Diocese -- and beyond -- to important Creation Care actions. A man who puts faith into action." Jason A. Groenewold Honored by: Pastor Kathryn Franzenburg Honored because: "Jason is a pioneer, advocate and worker in solar energy." Dana Nute of Sanbornton, NH Honored by: Rev. Ruth Martz Honored because: "Dana Nute is dedicated to goal and the work of making houses and buildings be as energy efficient as possible, on the inside and outside. He works through Resilient Buildings Group in Concord NH, which includes services such as: Energy Audits, Comprehensive and custom energy-centric construction management, Energy Project Monitoring and Verification, Deep Energy Retrofits - 50% energy-use reductions, and High Performance Buildings Consulting, for homes and commercial buildings. He also works for energy-efficiency in our church and parsonage, and wherever he is needed for a consultation. Thanks, Dana, for your tireless and faithful commitment to protecting our environment." Janet Roberts Honored by: Judith Gregory Polly Jenkins Man Honored by: Judith Hill Student Conservation Association in Charlestown, NH Honored by: Lenore Martin Shantha Ready Alonso Honored by: Maggie Brevig Honored because: "You're doing such amazing work and I'm proud of you!" Patricia Haug Honored by: Marti Haug Craig Todd of East Stroudsburg, PA Honored by: Frances Ferrari Honored because: During Craig's tenure as director of the Monroe County Conservation District, (34 years, retiring last year), he made sure that development had the least damage to the environment. Since his retirement, he joined the board of the BWA to help ensure that our waterways remain pristine. Today, the President signed an Executive Order to Review Designations Under the Antiquities Act. People of Christian faith are deeply concerned with this news. The Antiquities Act of 1906 was first used by President Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican who was famous for his conservation legacy. This law says the "President of the United States is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments." Under the Antiquities Act, President Roosevelt's most famous act of conservation was to protect the Grand Canyon. Since then, U.S. Presidents of both political parties have used the Antiquities Act to conserve our nation's natural, cultural, and spiritual heritage. Christian communities have long been on the record supporting use of the Antiquities Act for conservation. Faith communities have participated in stakeholder meetings, written to their newspapers, and advocated to Congress as well as the Administration regarding conserving God's creation, our history, our culture, and our spirituality through establishing national monuments. Recent examples include support of Bears Ears National Monument, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, and many others. Today's Executive Order requires a review of monuments designated after 1996. The majority of national monuments designated after 1996 highlight the stories of diverse communities -- African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American. Georges Erasmus, an Aboriginal leader from Canada, once said, “Where common memory is lacking, where people do not share in the same past, there can be no real community. Where community is to be formed, common memory must be created.” These monuments hold our nation's collective memory. As Secretary Zinke leads the Department of Interior in this review process, it is important that he listen to all the people who treasure these monuments where we learn, play, pray, and build community -- including and especially people whose histories and cultures are highlighted in those monuments. ![]() This is a picture we don't want to become a reality!! Please join us in calling on Secretary Zinke to uphold our national monuments!
Faith Community Calls for Good Stewardship of Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument4/25/2017 Today, people active in religious communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island delivered a letter to President Trump and their members of Congress which shared their support and care for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Signers included Rev. Dr. Don Anderson, the Executive Minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches and the Reverend Peter M. Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches.
The letter says, “we believe it is a moral imperative to continue to properly shelter this underwater modern ‘Noah’s ark’ from potential harm.” Religious communities appreciate the historic nature of the first marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean. The letter declares that religious leaders appreciate the gifts of God’s creation within the monument, and their role in caring for them: “We are committed to doing our part to ensure their good stewardship.” The letter calls on President Trump and Congress to “continue to keep these national monument protections in place --- preserving another piece of God’s beautiful creation for generations to come.” The letter comes as news is breaking about a potential Executive Order the Trump Administration may issue this week, which may call for reconsideration of recently designated national monuments. Religious communities have a long track record of supporting various national monuments, as well as the Antiquities Act of 1906, the law that empowers U.S. Presidents to designate monuments.
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order that calls for a rewrite of the Clean Power Plan, the policy intended to be a blueprint for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants by nearly 30 percent from 2005 levels. The Clean Power Plan was the mechanism for the United States to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets under the Paris climate agreement. The Executive Order also seeks to lift a moratorium on federal coal leasing and remove the requirement that federal officials consider the impact of climate change when making decisions. Here are some Christian communities' responses to the Administration's action. (We will continue updating this page as more statements become available.) It has never been more important to make our voices heard at the People's Climate March on April 29 in Washington, DC. Join us: www.creationjustice.org/climatemarch Ecumenical ResponsesCHURCH WORLD SERVICE (read in full) "By cutting back programs specifically designed to reduce carbon emissions, further damage — potentially irreparable — will be done to God’s Earth; this in turn, will place hundreds of thousands more of already at-risk communities in harm’s way. As a faith based organization on the front lines of responding to climate change in many countries around the world, including the United States, CWS is painfully aware of the additional burdens that these policies will cause." CREATION JUSTICE MINISTRIES (read in full) As Christians, we are first responders to climate damage. Disaster relief ministries struggle to meet challenges of rising floodwaters, merciless wildfires, and harsher storms. Hunger relief ministries seek to respond to severe droughts and disrupted access to food. Health ministries are dealing with higher rates of asthma and increased vector-borne diseases. We have a moral duty to prevent more harm. As caretakers of God’s creation, we are accountable to our Maker for sustaining the needs of current and future generations. As such, we call upon the Administration to re-examine its actions under this executive order and to remain true to its stated commitment of protecting the environment. Protestant Responses CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) STATEMENT (read in full) Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), said of the executive order, “As Disciples, we are committed to bringing wholeness to a fragmented world. This recent executive order will do the opposite. Failure to care for our climate harms the most vulnerable among us — children, older adults, people who don’t have the luxury of being able to move away from pollution, and those suffering from respiratory and other illnesses. I call upon the Administration to re-examine its actions and to remain true to its stated commitment of protecting clean air.” EPISCOPAL CHURCH BISHOPS' STATEMENT (read in full) "We live in a moment that demands urgent action. In the Episcopal Church alone, our members are already experiencing hunger, drought, and human loss due to climate change. From the Alaska Native Gwich’in hunter facing food insecurity as winter approaches to the Navajo grandmother praying for drought relief, Episcopalians are eager to confront our changing climate through local action and national policy." EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (read in full) "We call upon the Administration to re-examine its actions under this executive order and to proceed with extreme caution. We also call upon the Administration to remain true to its stated commitment of protecting the environment and to base all actions on principles of stewardship, sustainability, and justice." PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) STATEMENT (read in full) Rev. Jimmie Ray Hawkins, Director of the Office of Public Witness of the PC(USA) said, "As people of faith who believe in a God of creation who commands good and proper stewardship of this gift, we must speak with one voice that this world is worth protecting. We affirm that climate change is real and impacted by the actions of human beings. We can protect the environment and affirm the dignity of work as we come together to produce solutions which enhance all aspects of created life. But environmental justice must be a priority or we will not have a future to work towards. 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,… and God saw that it was good.' (Gen 1:1; 10b)" UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST (read in full) In 2013, the United Church of Christ became the first religious organization to call for the divestment of funds from companies that primarily profit from fossil fuels. We believe this to be a theological imperative, a faithful response to a theological emergency. We believe that the current rate of fossil fuel consumption is a death trap from which we will not escape without deep commitments to significant changes. The modest steps taken by the previous administration to comply with the Paris Accords were helpful and necessary. Recent actions by the Administration to rollback environmental protections and responsible measures to address climate change are seen by us as a crime against humanity – an act that ensures the ongoing destruction of the planet and endangers future generations on whose behalf we are charged with stewarding God’s creation. The response of the faith community must be proportional to the threat. Because climate change makes all other injustice worse, now is the time for us to step up. Catholic Responses CATHOLIC CLIMATE COVENANT (read full text)
"The administration claims that these new orders will create jobs and grow the economy. The fact is, however, that those who work in energy conservation and renewable energy are already experiencing an economic boom. Government policies should support the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. As Pope Francis emphasizes, “There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, for example, substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy” (Laudato Si’ 26)." JESUIT CONFERENCE OF THE US AND CANADA (read full text) "We know the effects of climate change are borne by the most vulnerable people, whether at home or around the world. Increasing floods, droughts, food and water insecurity, and conflict over declining resources are all making the lives of the world's poorest people even more precarious. Pope Francis in Laudato Si', laments the widespread indifference to 'a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation.' Catholic Relief Services echoed this concern in a recent report noting, 'As arable land and water become increasingly scarce, conflict looms, along with the potential for migration from the most affected countries and a repetitive cycle of costly emergency response.'" SISTERS OF MERCY (read full text) “Our sisters in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Philippines who are experiencing melting glaciers, rising sea levels and devastating storms have been calling on us in the United States to urge our government to take strong measures to address climate change,” said Sister Patricia McDermott, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. “This order ignores the cry of the Earth, our common home, and the cry of the most impacted peoples, including here in the United States, where low-income communities of color are disproportionately located near polluting industries that contribute to climate change.” Trump Executive Order on Climate Rollbacks Threatens God’s Creation and the Most Vulnerable Among Us3/28/2017 On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review and possibly repeal the Clean Power Plan and carbon pollution standards for new power plants. The executive order sets in motion the dismantling of several important climate change protections intended to safeguard our environment and public health. The executive order fails to offer an alternative plan to safeguard our air quality and the stability of the climate.
Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants account for 40% of the carbon pollution in the United States. Creation Justice Ministries serves communities burdened by these power plants’ air pollution. We are responsible to the children, older adults, people with respiratory diseases, and communities of color who bear a disproportionate burden when we fail to protect our air. As Christians, we are first responders to climate damage. Disaster relief ministries struggle to meet challenges of rising floodwaters, merciless wildfires, and harsher storms. Hunger relief ministries seek to respond to severe droughts and disrupted access to food. Health ministries are dealing with higher rates of asthma and increased vector-borne diseases. Short-sightedness, greed, and apathy have burdened God's creation with irreversible damage. We have an urgent moral duty to prevent more harm. As caretakers of God’s creation, we are accountable to our Maker for sustaining the needs of current and future generations. As such, we call upon the Administration to re-examine its actions under this executive order and to remain true to its stated commitment to protect clean air. At this juncture, we believe another path forward is necessary and possible. Ecological and economic well-being should go hand-in-hand, and every day local communities are innovating creative climate solutions that also foster job opportunities. The love we have for our neighbors, for children, and for God’s good creation will strengthen our communities to prevail. ### Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care policies of 38 Christian communions, including Baptists, mainline Protestants, Historically Black Churches, Peace Churches, and Orthodox communions. Learn more at www.creationjustice.org Contact: Shantha Ready Alonso, 202-618-2501 (mobile) [email protected] Forty Six Religious Organizations Call on Congress to Uphold BLM Natural Gas Waste Reduction Rule2/3/2017 Today, 46 religious organizations released a letter urging Congress to preserve the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Natural Gas Waste Prevention Rule. The letter arrived on the day the U.S. House of Representatives voted 121-191 to gut the Rule using the power of the Congressional Review Act. The letter, signed by religious organizations with diverse theological and political views included denominations, councils of churches, and nonprofits. It called on Members of Congress to “uphold the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Methane and Natural Gas Waste Rule, a rule that not only curbs methane waste on public lands but safeguards human health and protects God’s creation.” The letter states, “Currently, more than $330 million worth of natural gas is wasted on public and tribal lands each year. This is not good stewardship of the resources God has provided.” Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, said of the House vote “I am deeply saddened that a majority of U.S. Representatives made this reckless choice that wastes taxpayer dollars and allows natural gas -- a finite energy source – to disappear into thin air. We who value responsible energy stewardship will look to the Senate for better leadership.” Religious communities participated in stakeholder processes since the Rule’s introduction with support statements, various sign-on letters, decision-maker meetings, and a letter to trade associations. Religious organizations also expressed gratitude when the rule was released. On the Wednesday before the House vote, religious leaders traveled from Arizona, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee for a faith advocacy day for energy stewardship. ### Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care policies of 38 Christian communions, including Baptists, mainline Protestants, Historically Black Churches, Peace Churches, and Orthodox communions. Learn more at www.creationjustice.org FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER
February 3, 2017 Dear Member of Congress: We are religious organizations of diverse theological and political backgrounds. We are united by our shared commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and protection of the common good. We write to urge you to uphold the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Methane and Natural Gas Waste Rule, a rule that not only curbs methane waste on public lands but safeguards human health and protects God’s creation. We urge you to vote no on the BLM Methane CRA Resolution. The BLM rule is a common-sense policy that requires the oil and gas industry to reduce venting, flaring, and leaks at industry operations on public and tribal lands by deploying available technology. Currently, more than $330 million worth of natural gas is wasted on public and tribal lands each year. This is not good stewardship of the resources God has provided. Oil and gas sources also emit other dangerous pollutants that harm Americans’ health, such as smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and cancer-causing toxics like benzene. Wasteful practices only increase this pollution. Repealing this rule would harm public health and reduce revenue to the federal government and Western states. We request that you vote in opposition to this egregious attack on commonsense standards which protect the God’s creation and the common good. Vote no on the BLM Methane’s CRA Resolution. Sincerely, Arizona Interfaith Power & Light California Interfaith Power & Light Climate Action Network, Central Pacific Conference, United Church of Christ Colorado Council of Churches Delaware Interfaith Power & Light Delaware Ecumenical Council for Children and Families Disciples Center for Public Witness, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Earth Justice Ministries in Nevada City, California Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light Eco-Justice Ministries Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Episcopal Church in Navajo Land Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Florida Council of Churches Franciscan Action Network Friends Committee on National Legislation GreenFaith Iowa Interfaith Power & Light Interfaith Climate Group of Gainesville, Florida Interfaith Power & Light Jewish Climate Action Network Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light Michigan Interfaith Power & Light Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light North Carolina Council of Churches North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light Catholic Diocese of Gallup, NM, Office of Life, Justice, Peace and Creation Stewardship Oregon Interfaith Power & Light Pennsylvania Council of Churches Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light Por La Creación Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries Voices for Earth Justice of Southfield, MI West Virginia Interfaith Power & Light Wisconsin Council of Churches Wisconsin Interfaith Power & Light Wyoming Association of Churches Christian faith leaders traveled to Capitol Hill today to urge their US Senators and Representatives to defend the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Natural Gas Waste Reduction Rule.
The BLM rule requires oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands to plug methane leaks. Each year, millions of dollars’ worth of methane, the primary ingredient in natural gas, is wasted. The rule underwent significant stakeholder engagement processes, and religious communities participated with support statements and sign-on letters to decision-makers and trade associations. These letters noted that taxpayers lose out on more than $330 million worth of methane each year as a result of wasteful leaking, venting, and flaring from oil and gas operations on federal and tribal land. These religious organizations also expressed gratitude when the rule was released. Deacon Mike Margerum of Sparks, Nevada condemned the possibility of the BLM rule being rolled back through the Congressional Review Act: “In an ideologically-driven effort to end all regulations, this common-sense rule is in danger of being undermined.” Sarah King of the Arizona Faith Network visited with Senator Flake, staff of Senator McCain, and Rep. O’Halleran. She said of the BLM rule, “This rule will have a positive economic impact on Western communities, and particularly our Navajo brothers and sisters. To get rid of it would be foolish, and poor stewardship.” President of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina Rev. Dr. James Blassingame visited with staff from Senator Graham and Senator Scott’s offices and addressed a forum of the House Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee. His moral message was: “Our most basic Christian call, starting in the book of Genesis, is to till and keep the Earth. This means we must responsibly steward Earth’s resources as well as the wealth they generate. We have a moral call to prevent waste and fairly share the gifts of God’s creation.” While the rule is intended to cut waste of natural gas and ensure a fair return for taxpayers, Chrsitian communities are also deeply concerned about the health impacts. For Rev. Charles Maynard, District Superintendent of Maryville, Tennessee for the United Methodist Church, who met with staff of Senators Corker and Alexander as well as Rep. Duncan and Rep Roe, the connection between air quality and health is a primary concern. “Air doesn’t respect state lines. The whole creation is without boundaries. We have to deal with this nationally, not state by state. People in Tennessee understand this especially impacts the health of our Western brothers and sisters, particularly the most vulnerable.” |
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