Wisconsin Interfaith Climate Change Campaign

c/o Wisconsin Interfaith IMPACT

750 WINDSOR STREET, SUITE 301

SUN PRAIRIE, WI 53590-2149

Phone: 1-608-837-3108

Fax: 1-608-837-3038

wcoc@wichurches.org

INTERFAITH GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE CAMPAIGNS

WISCONSIN

Coordinator: Dave Steffenson

P.O. Box 21
Columbus, WI 53925-0021
home: 920-623-4360
work: 608-837-3108
fax: 920-623-2798
email: dsteffe@internetwis.com

A Faith Statement on Global Warming & Climate Change

To our brothers and sisters,
the people of Wisconsin:We as members and leaders of Wisconsin faith communities believe that God calls us to the responsible use of resources and technology for the sake of the human family and all life on earth.

It is with great awe and humility that we accept our stewardship responsibility for the natural world. God created and sustains the whole world, together with ourselves and all creatures. Humans have been gifted with great intelligence and creativity. We often misuse these gifts, abusing one another and the earth, but we also have the gift to faithfully respond to our human calling to preserve and cherish God’s creation.

Earth has been blessed with a relatively stable climate. Now, leading scientists warn that our continued and increasing use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and pollution are contributing to a change in the global climate that could dramatically and negatively alter the conditions of life on earth. Our faith communities cannot ignore these ominous warnings. Too much is at stake, and the evidence is too compelling. We cannot risk disaster by failing to act.

Accelerated climate change threatens to violate God's good creation. Projected consequences include:

health problems from heat stress, declining air quality, and the spread of disease;

drought in some areas and flooding in others;

inundated coastlines and port cities, and erosion of beaches and coastal wetlands;

loss of species and degradation of ecosystems;

regional losses in agricultural productivity.

God’s justice calls us to consider who bears the most responsibility for global climate change, and who will bear its heaviest burdens. Our nation, with some 4% of the world's population, produces almost 25% of the "greenhouse gases" accelerating climate change. Those who will suffer most are the poor, sick, elderly, future generations, and those living in countries with large populations and fragile, poor economies.

Yet, alongside these dangers, there is also hope. The required changes in our way of life are opportunities to bring our lives into line with our deepest values. Facing up to the threat of accelerated climate change can help us to renew our gratitude for the gifts of creation, and to recover deep religious values of humility, restraint, stewardship, compassion, justice, and community. Accepting our responsibility, we can learn to better care for our neighbors, future generations, and God's earth.

Reduction in fossil fuel consumption can bring many environmental, health, economic, and political benefits. At the same time, we must ensure that policies to reduce climate change take into account the needs of the poor and those whose livelihoods will be most affected by the necessary changes.

Scientific consensus on the evidence for accelerated climate change imposes on us the moral responsibility to join with all persons of good will to act to reduce greenhouse emissions well below their 1990 levels. We invite all persons to faithfully and prayerfully consider the opportunities open to them and their communities. Action can and must be taken at all levels: from individual choices to businesses and congregations to national policy to international. Each of us will have different ways to act on our resolve.

We who have signed this statement pledge to:

Pray and study scripture for the wisdom and courage to address global climate change as a faith issue.

Teach and learn by distributing educational materials, offering sermons, convening study groups, and affirming ministries that promote the just and responsible use of resources.

Work with our congregations and judicatories to conserve energy, reduce pollution and adopt life style changes which reflect our commitment to a hospitable and healthy environment for all.

Share our faith perspective on global climate change with key people in our state – labor, business, government, agriculture, education and environmental leaders, striving always to work together for the common good in God’s name.

Reach out to others in the Wisconsin faith community, that we might join hands, hearts and minds to care for God’s earth and its creatures.

We speak not as members of an "environmental movement", but as people of faith giving thanks to God for the blessings of creation by working to preserve them for present and future generations.

Wisconsin religious leaders who have signed this statement to date:

Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader, Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church

The Rev. Dr. Fred Trost, Wisconsin Conference Minister, United Church of Christ

The Rev. Dave Moyer, Northwest Association Minister, United Church of Christ

The Rev. Robert Mutton, Southwest Association Minister, United Church of Christ

Bishop Roger White, Diocese of Milwaukee, The Episcopal Church, USA

The Rev. Gail O’Neal, Wisconsin Associate Conference Minister, United Church of Christ

Mr. Kevin Graunke, Christian Science Committee on Publication for Wisconsin

The Rev. Jerry Folk, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council of Churches

The Rev. Gretchen Lord Anderson, Associate Director, Wisconsin Council of Churches

Bishop Jon S. Enslin, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Hal Murray, Executive Presbyter, John Knox Presbytery, The Presbyterian Church USA

Bishop April Ulring Larson, LaCrosse Area Synod of Wisconsin, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Bishop Peter Rogness, Greater Milwaukee Synod of Wisconsin, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Michael H. Crosby, OFMCap., Milwaukee, Coordinator,

Steering Committee, Campaign ExxonMobil (a faith-based environmental corporate responsibility campaign.)

Sr. Michelle Balek, OSF, Milwaukee, North American Region Coordinator, Franciscans International.

Sr. Sally Ann Brickner, OSF, President, Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Green Bay, WI

Sr. Marilyn Kesler, SSND, Provincial Leader, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Elm Grove, WI

Ms. Kathleen Plunkett-Black for the Friends in Unity With Nature Committee of the Northern Yearly Meeting (WI & MN), Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Abbot E. Thomas DeWane, O. Praem, St Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI

Sr. Toni Harris, OP, Prioress, Sinsanawa Dominicans, Sinsanawa, WI

Bishop James A. Justman, Wisconsin East Central Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Lawrence R. Christianson, President, Western District, The Moravian Church, Sun Prairie, WI

Dr. Steve Hayner, Advisory Council, Evangelical Environmental Network;

Advisory Council, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Madison, WI

Mr. Terry Morrison, Evangelical Environmental Network, Advisory Council,

National Staff, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Madison, WI

Listings of organizations and positions held are for identification purposes only.

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