As a person of faith and an employee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), I’m part of a delegation representing the Lutheran World Federation at the UN climate change conference. The ELCA has a stated policy position on climate change born out of our concern for the future of God’s creation and the impact that climate change inflicts on our international neighbors living in poverty. I’m also here as a citizen of the United States and a person who works on climate change issues in Washington.
But I’m a single voice among many thousands gathered for this meeting. So what difference can one voice make? On its own, maybe not much, but there are hundreds of people of faith here in Copenhagen.
Together, we are expressing our concern that the future of all creation is in jeopardy. Our belief is the issue is not only about science and policy and politics, but also an issue of justice.
The greenhouse gas emissions of a small number of developed nations are irreparably changing the climate for everyone. Countries in the Global South have not historically contributed to the problem, yet their people struggle the most with the impacts of climate change. The increased levels of drought, spread of disease, and rising sea levels, to name a few, threatens their livelihoods and even survival for years to come.
We gather in the hallways, speak up in workshops, and meet with our country delegations in an attempt to make a collective point. The point is people of faith care about our neighbors. We expect our governments to negotiate ways to help people living in poverty adapt to a changing climate, and to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change by reducing emissions by developed and developing countries. In sum, we expect our governments to ensure justice for all.
This Sunday, Archbishop Desmond Tutu will hand over half a million signatures to the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change demanding climate justice. More than 20,000 signatures came from people of faith in the United States, gathered through efforts of the ELCA, the U.S. National Council of Churches, Church World Service, and many others.
Following the ceremony is an ecumenical celebration in Copenhagen’s Lutheran Cathedral. The Archbishop of Canterbury will preach and the Queen of Denmark and many church leaders will attend. All this is to draw attention to the need for climate justice for all people and for all of creation.
One voice may not be heard, but with many voices, change and justice are possible.
-Mary Minette, ELCA Director for Environmental Education and Advocacy
Last weekend, 600+ high school students from Lutheran churches across five states gathered in Estes Park, Colorado to join ONE in the fight against extreme poverty and disease. High up at the base of the Rockies, the Rocky Mountain Synod Youth learned about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and what they could do to help achieve them.
I was privileged to give the opening message, where I talked about how living out the MDGS was the modern day equivalent of caring for our global neighbors. Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson also spoke on Saturday, noting that “working for justice and peace meant making your voice heard.” He said that being a part of ONE was a great way for students to work with their friends from other faith communities.
It was a weekend of many exciting firsts, too: youth groups from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and Texas all kicked-off the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. Their aim? To mobilize 8 million Lutherans in the fight against malaria. At the end of the weekend, the students all then went down the mountain, energized to organize their communities at home.
