February 2021
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New Year — New Opportunities
A New Year brings new opportunities to work for Creation Justice in our churches, communities and beyond. This newsletter is packed once again with opportunities to make a difference in whatever context you feel called to work.
At the local church level, note especially the 5 part Engaging the Local Church webinar series starting up Feb 25 as well as the February Creation Justice Tips. Also, remember it is not too early to work with your church leadership to plan for April Earth Day activities during worship and beyond.
If you are looking for resources to act in your community, consider attending the New Green Economy Conference Feb 6-12, or the Just Energy for All webinar series starting Feb 22.
With a new US Congress and US President there are also new opportunities for powerful country level advocacy on Transit Equity (Feb 3-4), and Climate Legislation (Feb 25). Note also this link to a recording of the Faithful Advocacy webinar held last month if you missed it.
Where ever you choose to act, know that our shared efforts have an impact. As our movement statement declares, "The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement has emerged in this kairos time of urgency, crisis, and opportunity to join our many faithful responses together through the power of collective, connectional action." May it be so!
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Upcoming Events
Transit Equity Days: Feb 3-4. Transit equity is not only an expression of our faith call to seek racial justice and economic justice, but it is key to advancing climate justice. The transportation sector is the main source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Limited access to affordable public transportation disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income communities — the same communities that experience a higher burden of negative impacts from air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to making public transit accessible and affordable for all, we can work toward cleaner air and healthier communities by advancing public transit that is powered by clean and renewable energy. Learn more and join the Transit Equity Days Community Hearing on Feb 3rd and 4th where United Methodist Women and others will share their testimonies in support of transit equity.
 New Green Economy Compass Conference Workshop: Feb 6-12 (see complete schedule). This online Conference will enable people from organizations throughout the Tennessee Valley region to learn about and strategize around approaches to economic development that foster both sustainability and equitable employment. National, regional and local strategies will all be focused on. These include furthering the Green New Deal and capturing green stimulus funding for projects focused on growing Green Collar jobs for underserved communities. Innovative cooperative community development programs will be featured. Community, environmental, labor and religious organizations will be engaged in both planning the conference and implementing the strategies that emerge. More information and a link to register here.
ResiLENT Worship: Preaching Our Way to Climate Resilience: Feb 18 6-7 pm ET. A virtual workshop hosted by Creation Justice Ministries of the National Council of Churches to learn about building climate resilience into your worship. Hear three mini-sermons on climate resilience, listen to worship music for the era of climate change, and gain tools for incorporating climate-resilient worship in your community. More information here.
Loving People and Planet in the Name of God: Engaging the Local Church: 5 evenings from Feb 25-Mar 14 from 6-8 pm CT. The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement is sponsoring this workshop designed to prepare you to understand creation care and climate justice in the Wesleyan Tradition; to recognize environmental concerns and solutions; to incorporate creation care into your worship; and to exercise environmental stewardship in the life of your congregation and community. It will focus on practical approaches to greening your buildings, your grounds, your ministry, and your witness. Five 2-hour sessions will be presented each from 7-9 pm ET on Feb 28 and Mar 4, 7, 11 & 14, 2021. Cost is $15. More information and registration here.
New Congress, New President, New Opportunity for Climate Advocacy: Creation Justice Federal Climate Legislative Team Webinar, Feb 25, 6-7:30 pm CT. Learn about the federal policies needed to reverse the climate crisis and help those affected by it. Hear a synopsis of the climate change actions already taken or planned through executive action by the new administration. Consider the make-up of the new Congress and Cabinet and its impact to hinder or help passage of federal legislation. Learn how you and the Church can become involved to help. Register here.
Just Energy for All 101 3-part webinar series on February 22, March 8 and March 22, 2021 at 3 pm ET. Learn more about the why and what of United Methodist Women's Just Energy for All campaign, as well as how your United Methodist Women unit, district or conference can be involved. These 90-minute webinars will include presentations, breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with other UMW members and people of faith. You don’t need to be a United Methodist Women member to join us—all are welcome! Register here.
Just Energy for All Monthly Strategy and Capacity Building Sessions: Join United Methodist Women every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3 pm ET to learn from and connect with other United Methodist Women and people of faith working to advance just energy for all at the local, state, and national levels. These monthly 90-minute 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. You don’t need to be a United Methodist Women member to join us—all are welcome! Register here.
 God's Call to Creation Care and Environmental Justice: 9 am CT every Sunday morning in February 2021 a 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.
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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Faithful Advocacy Webinar Series: If you missed this Jan 14th webinar from the State Advocacy Team you can view a recording and link to additional resources HERE. The webinar offered a foundation for taking action at all levels of government emphasizing the importance of telling your story and building a network of grassroots advocates in every state.
Faithful Climate Action Fellowship: This program will be investing in young people who are often not as visible or supported in the broader climate, creation care and environmental movement: young adult Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) from the midwest and the southeast. This is an exciting opportunity where we hope several BIPOC young women who are connected to the UMC will participate. This will also be an opportunity for interfaith and Christian Muslim dialogue and engagement. Deadline to apply is Feb 15th. This fellowship opportunity is co-organized with Creation Justice Ministries, Greenfaith, Wisconsin Green Muslims and Interfaith Power and Light. More info can be found here.
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!
Upcoming UMW Federal Legislative Days: United Methodist Women and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment are organizing virtual visits to Capitol Hill to urge Congress to make climate justice a top priority. Sign up to receive updates from United Methodist Women about this and other opportunities get involved in advancing climate justice and just energy for all.
God, Country, and Climate Change course: This spring Houghton College will be offering a FREE 8-week online course called "God, Country, and Climate Change: A Christian Perspective on a Global Problem." The course, which is taught by Climate Caretakers' founder Brian Webb, will feature guest lectures from top global experts including Katharine Hayhoe, Ed Maibach, Bob Inglis, John Cook, Jonathan Moo, Lowell Bliss, James Bhagwan, and more. The course runs March 17 - May 5 and will include topics such as creation care and climate theology, climate science and solutions, climate change in the American mind, and the context for global climate action. Visit www.houghton.edu/climate-course to learn more or to register for the free webinar.
Creation Justice Tips: The February 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 February: Some areas of the U.S. will be harder hit with the effects of climate change than others. You may be spared the worst, but others will not escape. We are called to love our neighbors. The coronavirus reminds us of what it means to be in a crisis together. Read about the effects of climate change or listen to a related podcast of the reality your neighbors somewhere else are facing. Add them to your prayers and talk to others about your findings.
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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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