The greater Christian community has taken up the issue of climate change in a myriad of ways. David Hallman, Climate Change Programme Coordinator for The World Council of Churches (WCC), has been following this issue and its moral implications for decades. For an introduction to this area, see his recent paper, “Climate Change and Poverty Science, Theology and Ethics.”
Inter-denominational
- Eco-Justice Working Group
The National Council of Churches (NCC)
The Eco-Justice Programs office of the National Council of Churches works in cooperation with the NCC Eco-Justice Working Group to provide an opportunity for the national bodies of member Protestant and Orthodox denominations to work together to protect and restore God’s Creation. ‘Environmental Justice’ is an holistic term that includes all ministries designed to heal and defend creation. Eco-justice is an even broader term that includes efforts to assure justice for all of creation and the human beings who live in it. One of the working group’s issues is climate change, and this website offers resources for congregations, various faith statements on climate change, and a way to connect to other congregations working on the issue. They also offer a fellowship program in faith and eco-justice (linked below).
American Baptist
Anglican
- Caring for Creation, Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN)
The Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion seeks to encourage Anglicans to support sustainable environmental practices as individuals and in the life of their communities; to provide information about policies embraced by synods, councils and commissions, and especially by the instruments of Unity (Statements by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Resolutions and Reports of the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Consultative Council); to support local initiatives by providing information about ideas and best practices developed around the communion; to share information about resources and initiatives that may be of value to Anglicans everywhere; and to provide an opportunity for interested Anglicans to meet both as a formal network, and informally via electronic media. This Web site offers links to the Anglican “Statement on Climate Change” (also linked below); several church-based environmental initiatives; a compilation of talks, documents, homilies, and addresses from The Global Anglican Congress on the Stewardship of Creation held in Hartebeesport, South Africa, in August 2002; an ecumenical environmental toolkit with Resources, Support, and an award scheme encouraging churches to weave creation care into their life and mission; a collection of ideas to help congregations assess their ecological & reduce their ecological footprint; a guide to enable parishes to make their programs and activities more ecologically friendly; and an initiative of the Conservation Foundation to enable parishes to recognize and focus environmental initiatives going on in their midst.
Catholic
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Climate Change and Justice and Health Initiative
USCCB
Today, there is a particular and pressing responsibility to examine and act on the growing challenge of global climate change and its implications for God’s creation and for the poor and vulnerable. The U.S. Catholic bishops have declared, “At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both ‘the human environment’ and the natural environment.” This Web site offers links to several church statements, updates about Catholic climate change efforts, public policy and advocacy resources, and prayer resources. - Archdiocese of Hartford, Office of Urban Affairs, Environmental Justice
The Archdiocesan Office of Urban Affairs is committed to supporting the dignity and basic human rights of all persons in society, at every stage of their lives, who are subject to economic, political, and social deprivation. Its Environmental Justice program includes a focus on climate change. This Web site offers a set of church resources for teaching on care of creation, care of neighbor, and global climate change (also pasted below).
Church of the Brethren
- Brethren Witness, Our Environment
The Brethren Witness/ Washington Office works to encourage a multifaceted response to the many-dimensioned crisis facing God’s creation. This Web site provides links to many resources and projects currently underway to address this challenge, including the Brethren’s “Resolution on Global Warming/ Climate Change” (also linked below.)
Episcopal
- The Episcopal Ecological Network
Episcopal Church USA, Peace and Justice Ministries Office
The Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN) is a national network of active lay and clergy persons within the Episcopal Church, USA, who share a common concern for the environment and a common belief in the presence of God in all Creation, and who work to make these concerns and beliefs known throughout all the Provinces and Dioceses of the Episcopal Church. The EpEN’s mission is to educate, encourage, and facilitate congregations, dioceses, provinces, and the Episcopal Church, USA, toward local, regional, national, and international activities for the stewardship of God’s Creation. Through its “Source of Life and Breath” Initiative responds to global warming/climate change through Episcopal Power and Light, and promotes green renewable energy, energy conservation, energy efficiency and clean air. This site offers resources that support climate change reflection, education, and action. - The Episcopal Church Network for Science, Technology, and Faith
The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church Network for Science, Technology and Faith intends to facilitate dialogue between this Church and members of the scientific, technical, and medical communities; to be an educational resource for this Church, its seminaries, and the wider Christian community; and to provide guidelines in Christian ethics for use in everyday decisions within contemporary American culture. This Web site offers links to an Episcopal “Catechism of Creation” (also linked below), newsletters, and publications on science and religion, as well as resources on Bible study and preaching, recommended readings, and feedback for the Catechism of Creation.
Evangelical
- Evangelical Climate Initiative
National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
The Evangelical Climate Initiative is an association of Evangelical leaders who recognize that human-induced climate change is a serious Christian issue requiring action now. Members of the intitiative have issued the statement “Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action” (also pasted below) and work to encourage Evangelicals to take action to address climate change. The Web site also offers several resources including a relatively comprehensive FAQs sheet about climate change and fact sheets on the science behind climate change and its anticipated effects. - Evangelical Environmental Network’s (EEN) Global Warming Program
EEN is an evangelical ministry whose purpose is to “declare the Lordship of Christ over all creation” (Col. 1:15-20). EEN was formed to recognize many “environmental” problems as fundamentally spiritual problems. The EEN also has a program dedicated to dealing with climate change. Their Web page offers several resources including a climate change briefing for Evangelical leaders (also linked below), statements on the science behind climate change, descriptions of anticipated impacts of climate change on the poor, and a FAQs page on the issue.
Methodist
Orthodox
Presbyterian
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Statement of Global Climate Change
- Overture 99-70. On Climate Change and the Persistence of Its Causes—From the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley
Quaker
Reformed Church of America
