January 2021
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Poised for Action in the New Year
This email will find your inbox in the middle of the 12 days of Christmas, poised in that sweet, "outside of ordinary time" space just before we enter another New Year. A time of joy and celebration, reflection and rest, when many of us are looking back on a strange full year and forward into the possibilities of what might be in the year to come.
The many volunteers that make up the various work teams of United Methodist Creation Justice Movement have been planning and dreaming about what we might do together next. The State Advocacy Team is planning a foundational webinar on faithful advocacy coming up quickly on January 14. The Federal Climate Legislative team plans to follow that with webinars in February and March (dates to be determined) to set our strategy for working together to call for effective federal climate policy. Below you'll find links to series from United Methodist Women and Memphis Seminary about Just Energy for All and Environmental Justice as well as resources from the larger UMC for dismantling racism all of which we commend to you.
As you add these opportunities to your shiny new calendars, we hope you let yourself linger in this quieter in-between space so you are refreshed and ready to respond to God's call on your life in the coming weeks and months. We are immensely grateful for all you have been doing in your homes and faith communities to further Creation Care and Environmental Justice and we look forward to hearing what you might be imagining for the future.
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Upcoming Events
Faithful Advocacy Webinar Series: The State Advocacy Team has scheduled its next webinar for Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 pm EST | 6:30 pm CST. Though presented by the State Advocacy Team, this webinar will provide a foundation for taking action at all levels of government. It is part of an ongoing series that will focus on faithful advocacy during the time of COVID, with an eye toward the intersections of climate justice and racial justice. We will be emphasizing the importance of telling your story and building a network of grassroots advocates in every state. More information and a link to register here.
UMW Monthly Just Energy for All Strategy and Capacity Building Sessions: Join United Methodist Women on January 20th and every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3:00 pm ET for their monthly Just Energy for All Strategy and Capacity Building Sessions. 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.
 God's Call to Creation Care and Environmental Justice: Register for free at sundaymorningseminary.org to join us at 9:00 am (CST) every Sunday morning in February 2021 for this Zoom webinar series on creation care and environmental justice. Recordings will be made available at sundaymorningseminary.org. This series is funded by a grant from the United Methodist EarthKeepers program. More information Here.
Session 1 Scriptural and Theological Foundations of Creation Care
Session 2 Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice
Session 3 Food Justice and Food Apartheid in Memphis
Session 4 Where Do We Grow From Here?
UMW’s Just Energy for All 101 3-part Webinar Series: Feb 22nd, March 8th, and March 22nd at 3 pm ET: Join to learn more about the why and what of United Methodist Women's Just Energy for All campaign as well as how your church, annual conference, UMW unit, district, or conference can be involved. Each webinar will include a presentation, break-out sessions, and an opportunity to connect with other UMW members and people of faith. Register here.
Feb 22: Why Just Energy for All? Why should people of faith care?
Mar 8: What is Just Energy for All? Fossil fuels? Solar? Wind? All renewable energy? Nuclear?
Mar 22: How do we advance Just Energy for All? How can people of faith be part of the solution?
Imagine! God's Earth and People Restored - Ecumenical Advocacy Days: April 18-21, 2021. Ecumenical Advocacy Days is an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists. We worship, delve deeply into the pressing issues of the day, and lift our voices by speaking truth to power on Capitol Hill. EAD 2021 is an opportunity to support this global movement centered on and led by the people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts due to historic racial and colonial inequities. Together, we will passionately advocate and reimagine a world that lives out the values of justice, equity and the beloved community. EAD 2021 will be a virtual gathering, to be held April 18-21, 2021. Registration details will be announced soon. In the meantime, more details can be found here.
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Creation Justice
Resources and Opportunities
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Just Energy for All Funding Opportunity: United Methodist Women's Office of Economic and Environmental Justice invites UMW groups to apply for funding to help support local organizing campaigns to advance just energy for all. Funding is available for work happening at the circle, unit, district, conference or jurisdiction level. United Methodist Women groups are strongly encouraged to apply for funding to support work that is happening collaboratively, in coalition/partnership with other organizations or groups, so long as such work involves substantial participation from local United Methodist Women members. Learn more here and apply today!
 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 most recently the Doctrine of Discovery. Links to these discussions and future events can be found here. The UM Creation Justice Movement leadership team plans to discuss the panel discussion on the Doctrine of Discovery at one of its meetings in January. We welcome and encourage everyone to join us in exploring this important resource with us.
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
Creation Justice Tips: The January Tips have been sent out and can be read here. The Tips are a simple-to-use resource for congregations and for sending to friends and family. The 10 Tips include both practical steps and theological understandings of who we are and how we are called to act. Pass the word!—Crys Zinkiewicz tips.creationjustice@gmail.com
Sample Creation Justice Tip for January: Make a green resolution for the New Year. Ask your family for ideas of what you want to do for God’s creation during the coming year. In your discussion celebrate the steps you are already taking, individually and collectively. Choose at least one new thing you will do together. Consider adding one other action for each family member, even the younger ones. Talk also about how you can support one another in realizing their goal. Hint: Blaming is not helpful!
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The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement has several volunteer work teams that meet regularly mostly over Zoom. We welcome you to join us in our work. Please reach out to us at umcreationjustice@gmail.com if you are interested in any of the following teams or would like to invite others to join you in another effort.
- Local Church Green Teams
- Annual Conference Organizing
- Just Energy for All
- State Policy
- Federal Policy
- Movement Strategy Leadership Team
- Communications Team
Communication Team: This newsletter is coming to you from the Creation Justice Communications Team. If you have skills in website updates, list management, social media, writing, editing, design, marketing, podcasting, video conferencing, etc. we welcome you to join us. Contact umcreationjustice@gmail.com to learn more. We also encourage all of you to share this newsletter in your networks, and join ongoing conversations happening through the social media channels linked below.
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Join in These Creation Justice Conversations
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The UM Creation Justice Movement has a YouTube Channel. Visit it to find a collection of videos from recent webinars, past Creation Justice Summits, and more!
Join the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Facebook Group. Share articles, resources, events, and read what others are sharing.
Join the Global Ministries Creation Care Network at creationcare.umcmission.org and invite a Friend.
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Want to hear what UMCers are doing across the country? Join us in our Facebook Group
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