Updates from the Summit

The 2020 United Methodist Creation Justice Summit was held online October 16 and 17. We were very encouraged by the broad interest and participation. Over 185 people from 32 different states and 2 international countries, representing 42 Annual Conferences registered for the Summit and at least 125 of those people attended. We are gratified by all that happened during the two days of the Creation Justice Summit and are hopeful about all that is now possible as we work together to heal our relationship with God's Good Creation!

This newsletter has links to many of the videos and resources shared during those two days as well as a sampling of the abundance of other resources and opportunities that exist within our denominational movement and beyond. We are glad to be connected with you and look forward to deepening those connections into rich relationships and active partnerships.

Resources and Video from the Summit

• "Four Questions About Climate" Keynote Address by Bee Moorhead, Texas Impact
• "For Such a Time as This" Keynote address by Rev Michael Malcolm, Alabama IPL

• Michael Black Tribute to Beth Bond
• Pat Watkins Devotion listing Creation Justice actions from across the connection
• Jenny Phillips talking about the upcoming Global Ministries EarthKeepers Training
• Liz Lee talking about UMW Just Energy for All
• Laura James and John Hill talking about Church and Society Advocacy resources
• Staff from Board of Discipleship and Camping and Retreat Centers Ministries
• Bob Downs talking about Lay Servant Ministries Creation Care Training
• Worship videos from across our global UMC Connection

Upcoming Events

UMW Monthly Just Energy for All Strategy and Capacity Building Sessions: Join UMW on Nov 18th and every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3:00 pm ET for their monthly Just Energy for All Strategy and Capacity Building Sessions. November's session will focus on examining the energy landscape in our own particular contexts and how we can advance just energy for all at our local and state levels. We will meet in breakout groups based on jurisdiction to share and strategize for the upcoming year. These monthly sessions are intended to provide an opportunity to network, share best practices, and support you in your work of advancing just energy for all at the local, state, and national levels. The format will vary from month to month and may include various speakers, capacity-building, peer-coaching, breakout groups by themes/region, and updates from the National Office. Register here.

John Lewis, The Beloved Community, & Energy Justice: Tuesday, November 17th | 3pm CT| 4pm ET. You are invited to a reflection on the life, principles, and practices of John Lewis and how they inform a faith-based approach to nonviolence, community formation, and energy justice. Lewis’s formative years were in the Nashville sit-in movement. This tradition continues on in Nashville. This presentation will continue this reflection by examining two more recent nonviolent campaigns: a four-month long sit-in on health care at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, and a vigorous campaign for energy justice in Chicago. Our presenter, Dr. Daniel Joranko, a UMC EarthKeeper and UM Creation Justice Movement leader, was a core organizer in both of these campaigns. He also teaches courses on nonviolent movements at both Vanderbilt Divinity School and Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. This presentation was a part of the 24 Hours of Reality: Countdown to the Future from the Climate Reality Project, and is being offered again for more ears! This webinar will be hosted on Zoom. Register Here.

Other Creation Justice
Resources and Opportunities

UMC Creation Justice Blog

In honor of Beth Bond who loved sharing good stories (especially through social media) and who was eager for this effort to have its own blog, we have launched the Beth Bond Memorial Blog with the start of what we hope will be a rich collection of Creation Justice articles and stories from across the United Methodist connection. Here are examples of stories we've just added:

• Elizabeth Quick on CreatureKind
• Lynn Jobe on US Federal Climate Policy
• Cara Fleischer on Seasons of Creation
• Karlah Burton on Church Gardens
• Bob Downs and Morris Fleischer on Stopping Pipelines

Promote Climate Justice Policy

The Federal Climate Legislative team has been hard at work since the 2019 Nashville Creation Care Summit. Their charge was to identify federal legislation that reverses the climate crisis. They have submitted this comprehensive report that reviews federal climate legislation and identifies three bills that will be effective in reducing greenhouse gases to the level recommended by the International Panel on Climate Change and that are consistent with the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church. The team is looking for input to review and strengthen its proposals and to help shape the process we might use to integrate it into our overall strategic efforts.

Please respond to this survey with your thoughts. (Note: You will need an account with the Global Ministries Creation Care Network to access this survey. If you don't have one already, just click the link and follow the steps to set up your free account.) Your ideas and perspective are needed! Contact Lynn Jobe at kl.jobe@gmail.com if you are interested in being part of this federal climate policy team or if you know others who would be helpful in this federal policy review process!

Working for Racial and Economic Justice

The work of dismantling racism and promoting environmental and economic justice continues in many different forms. Below are several opportunities and resources from across the UM Creation Justice Movement and United Methodist connection.

Dismantling Racism Events: The United Methodist Church has hosted several important denominational panel discussions over the past few months on topics such as Looking Back to Look Forward, Theological Roots of Racism, Voter Suppression, Intersectionality and more. Links to these discussions and future events can be found here.

Campaign for a national moratorium on utility shut-offs: Join UMW and the 830 organizations who are part of the #NoShutoffs Coalition in urging Congress to pass a national moratorium on utility shutoffs. Millions of people have lost jobs and wages, and the economic impacts of coronavirus will continue to hit people hard in the months to come. Local and state moratoriums have already expired across the country and thousands of people are losing service right now. People cannot safely stay at home without power, water, and broadband. We need Congress to stand up for us and ensure that a moratorium stays in the next coronavirus relief package. Click here to learn how you can speak up: Call and write to your elected officials today

UMC.org/EndRacism: We also encourage you to continue to check back with the following church connections for additional events and resources:

Join in These Creation Justice Conversations

The UM Creation Justice Movement has a YouTube Channel. Visit it to find a collection of videos from recent webinars, past Creation Care Summits, and more!

Join the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Facebook Group. Share articles, resources, events, and read what others are sharing.

Global Ministries Creation Care Network creationcare.umcmission.org: Join one of the following conversations already underway or start your own:

• Intersection of race and environmental justice
• Local Green Teams and Creation Care Stories
• Church Community Gardens in a Time of Pandemic
• UMC Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Policies and Resolutions