100+ clergy declare climate change real

RICHMOND, Va. — More than 100 religious leaders from across Virginia, including United Methodists, delivered letters to U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner last week making a moral case for comprehensive climate legislation. Such legislation would have strong emission reductions, international adaptation assistance and protections for low-income families, according to the faith leaders including United Methodists.

We are writing to express our alarm at the state of environmental stewardship here in Virginia and nationwide.

The letters were delivered in person to senate staff during meetings in Richmond by a representative group of signers. Numerous others are calling the Senators’ D.C. offices to deliver their message. Transcending the intense lobbying from special interest groups, the faith community is calling on lawmakers to honor the values of caring both for our neighbors and for God’s creation.

“As religious leaders from across the Commonwealth, we are writing to express our alarm at the state of environmental stewardship here in Virginia and nationwide,” the letter states. “For us as people of faith, this is an issue of basic fairness and justice; not only because we are called to care for Creation, but because of who will be harmed most by inaction: the poor and voiceless.”

The clergy who joined this effort reflect religious and geographical diversity. They are speaking out from five religious traditions: Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism and seven denominations of Christianity.

The letter effort was convened jointly by the Virginia and Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light programs. It was circulated initially by five clergy: Bishop Charlene Kammerer, United Methodist, Richmond; Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Muslim, Falls Church; the Rev. Dr. Morris Hudgins, Unitarian Universalist, Charlottesville; the Rev. Dr. Janet Parker, United Church of Christ, Arlington; and Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe (Jewish, Falls Church).

The letter is signed by the Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, and the Rev. Dr. G. Wilson Gunn Jr., General Presbyter of the National Capital Presbytery, which includes Northern Virginia.

"The Creation, all of it, not just our own little part, is meant to be lived in full community," said the Rev. Mochel Morris, a United Methodist pastor in Falls Church. "We who are stewards must care for all of it, especially for the 'least of these' who have little or no voice: people, creatures, plants, all of it."

The Creation, all of it, not just our own little part, is meant to be lived in full community.

“Our senators might get the impression from recent headlines that the basic science of climate change remains controversial in our state,” said Joseph Stanley III, director of the Virginia Interfaith Center’s Interfaith Power & Light program. “But the fact that more than 100 local leaders of sacred communities are acting together speaks volumes.”

For these faith leaders, the facts are in, according to Stanley. “They see what’s happening to our world,” he said. “Climate change is real, and they feel called as people of faith to respond.”

Joelle Novey, director of Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light, which works with congregations across Northern Virginia, said the issue is much bigger than politics. “We are calling on Senators Webb and Warner to pass comprehensive climate legislation out of a sense of moral responsibility to care for our neighbors and for Creation,” she said. “And we are asking that any legislation do right by the poor around the world, and close to home.”

To see the full text of the letter and list of signatories, go to Climate Change Legislation.