35 National Religious Leaders Applaud Republican Climate Resolution

The partisan narrative on climate change was disrupted today when 17 House Republicans re-introduced a resolution that affirms that climate change is real, human-caused, and needs to be addressed by Congress.

March 15th, 2017, Washington, DC –

Today, 35 diverse religious leaders joined together to welcome a Republican resolution on climate change, introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-6), and fourteen other Republican members of Congress. Signatories of the letter, organized by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, include prominent voices from Evangelical, Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and other religious communities.

This resolution affirms the impacts of climate change, acknowledges that human activity has contributed to these changes, and calls on Congress to work constructively on solutions.

The letter states that “climate change is so great a challenge that it transcends political, faith, and social divides. As people of faith, we are rooted in the practice of emphasizing our common values in order to advance cooperation and overcome partisanship. All voices are needed to solve climate change, and the resolution provides a space for the House to join the dialogue.”

The religious community provides a unique space for members of Congress to dialogue about climate solutions. By seeking common ground and emphasizing shared values, people of faith feel called to pray and work to overcome divisions that have prevented climate action.

This letter illustrates the depth and breadth of support from the religious community for bipartisan action on climate change.

The full text of the letter reads:

Dear Member of Congress:

Our diverse faith traditions are guided by principles of compassion, justice, dialogue, and stewardship. We believe that it is the moral responsibility of our nation – and our sacred task as people of faith – to act to address climate change. We feel a special calling to pray and work to overcome the divisions and fears that have prevented action to address one of the greatest threats to current and future generations.

In this spirit, we welcome the resolution introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-6), and fourteen other Republican members of Congress on March 15th that affirms the impacts of climate change, acknowledges that human activity has contributed to these changes, and calls on Congress to work constructively on solutions. We see this resolution as a much-needed step towards continuing bipartisan resolve for action within Congress. We encourage every member in the House of Representatives to co-sponsor this resolution.

Climate change is so great a challenge that it transcends political, faith, and social divides. As people of faith, we are rooted in the practice of emphasizing our common values in order to advance cooperation and overcome partisanship. All voices are needed to solve climate change, and the resolution provides a space for the House to join the dialogue.

We thank those members of Congress who are co-sponsoring the resolution. We ask that other members consider co-sponsoring this resolution as a statement of our shared moral obligation. We look forward to working with you in the coming months to foster a spirit of bipartisan dialogue within Congress so that together, we can create solutions to address climate change for the well-being of our common future.

Blessings,

Diane Randall
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Rev. Paula Dempsey
Director of Partnership Relations
Alliance of Baptists

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS
Executive Director 
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice 

Joan Marie Steadman, CSC
Executive Director
Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Dr. Steve Timmermans 
Executive Director 
Christian Reformed Church in North America

Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
National Organizer and Spokesperson
Young Evangelicals for Climate Action

Jim Wallis
President and Founder
Sojourners

David Bernstein
President and CEO
Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Director
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Reverend John L. McCullough
President and CEO
Church World Service

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb
Chair of the Board
The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life

Sister Patricia McDermott, RSM
President
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Irene Keim
Chair of the Board
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth

J Ron Byler
Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. 

Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association

Stan Becker
Clerk
Quaker Earthcare Witness

Rev. Jimmie Ray Hawkins 
Director
Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

Sally Bingham
President and Founder
Interfaith Power and Light

Reverend Tim Mulroy, SSC
U.S. Regional Director
Missionary Society of St. Columban

Sharon E. Watkins*
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The Rev. Fletcher Harper
Executive Director
GreenFaith

Shan Cretin
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee

Josh Zinner
CEO
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility

Rebecca Linder Blachly
Director, Office of Government Relations
The Episcopal Church

The Rev. Amy E. Reumann
Director, Advocacy
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Sandy Sorensen
Director, Washington Office
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

Bishop W. Darin Moore 
Presiding Prelate of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District
AME Zion Church 

Marie Dennis
Co-President
Pax Christi International

Adin Strauss
General Director
Soka Gakkai International-USA Buddhist Association (SGI-USA)

Patrick Carolan
Executive Director
Franciscan Action Network

Colin Saxton*
General Secretary
Friends United Meeting

Gerry Lee
Executive Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Sr. Mary Ann Smith
Social Concerns
Eastern Region, USA
Maryknoll Sisters

Shantha Ready Alonso
Executive Director
Creation Justice Ministries

Very Reverend Kevin J. Mullen, O.F.M.
Provincial Minister
Holy Name Province - Franciscan Friars

*Affiliation listed for identification purposes only

Thanks to our coalition partner, FCNL for language

Take Action for South Sudan!

The United Nations and the Government of South Sudan have declared a state of famine in several parts of the fledgling country.   A formal famine declaration means people have already started dying of hunger.

United Nations agencies working on the ground in South Sudan say that the situation is “the worst hunger catastrophe” since fighting erupted more than three years ago.   It is estimated that by July nearly 5.5 million people – almost half the population of South Sudan -  will face life threatening hunger. 

According to the UNICEF Representative in South Sudan, more than one million children are currently estimated to be acutely malnourished across South Sudan, and over a quarter of a million children are already severely malnourished. If aid does not reach these children soon, many of them will die.

Click here to send a message in support of South Sudan today!

The UN has appealed to the international community for $1.6 billion in additional funds to cope with the crisis.  Please contact your members of congress and the administration and urge them to ensure that the funding request for famine relief for South Sudan is met.

The famine in South Sudan is a direct result of the civil war and is a man made famine.  The multi-sided conflict with the collapse of rule-of-law and destruction and looting in large portions of the country has produced this food crisis. The US State department recently issued a statement on the famine saying that, “This crisis is man-made, the direct consequence of a conflict prolonged by South Sudanese leaders who are unwilling to put aside political ambitions for the good of their people.”

In order to reduce the threat of famine, the international community must do more to bring political stability to the war-torn country.  Please urge your members of congress and the administration to work with the international community to put increased pressure on the armed actors to halt the conflict, provide humanitarian access, and bring stability back to South Sudan.  The longer the conflict drags on, the harder it will be to stop.

Click here to send a message in support of South Sudan today!

If you would like to give funds to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and its work in South Sudan please click here. Funds will go toward humanitarian assistance and/or trauma care for families affected by the conflict and civil strife.

Heads of Washington Faith Offices Meet with Congressional Black Caucus Members On Matters of Justice

Monday, March 13, 2017

Washington D.C.- On Thursday morning, leaders in the faith community gathered with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and their staffers to discuss matters of common concern.  The meeting was called by Office of Public Witness Director Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, who when asked about the urgency of such an event said, “the premature and unwise actions of the Trump administration in the first months of his administration have become a rallying cry of protest for many of us. We hope to discuss opportunities to partner together in resisting many of the political actions which will bring harm to the poor and disadvantaged.” The meeting took place at 10 AM in the office of CBC Chair, North Carolina 1^st District Representative G. K. Butterfield. Also in attendance were Heads of Office from a broad range of religious traditions including the ELCA, The Religious Action Center for Reformed Judaism, and the National Council of Churches.

Legislative Assistant to Rep. Butterfield, Edward Hill fielded questions and concerns from faith leaders on topics ranging from public benefits to immigration. He encouraged faith leaders to reach out to their representatives and provide them with moral arguments for preventing increased military spending and preserving safety net and education programs. Chief of Staff to Rep. Butterfield, Troy G. Clair stressed the importance of continuing to mobilize the faith community to show up, disrupt, and be a moral voice for justice at town halls, particularly those hosted by Members of Congress who are making decisions that will cause many Americans to fall below the poverty line and lose healthcare.

Texas 18^th District Representative Sheila Jackson Lee also made remarks at this meeting and spoke on the current political climate from her vantage point. She recounted how the social safety net is being attacked from all fronts, from efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act to the recently announced cuts to the Housing and Urban Development budget. She discussed how these actions would devastate the lives of people across this nation, many of them congregants of the faith groups represented in the room. She encouraged faith leaders to heed the command, “get up and walk,” stating that this is the time for faith groups to hold their own town halls and advocacy meetings. She said that more than ever before, it is necessary for faith groups to be a prophetic voice for justice in a time when the most vulnerable in our society are being actively marginalized.

Faith leaders expressed interest in a continued dialogue with CBC members and staff, and will continue to explore opportunities to co-create a justice agenda in 2017 and beyond.   

 

Priorities for a Faithful Healthcare System

The Office of Public Witness joins 40 Faith Organizations in signing a letter urging that any change, repeal or repair of the ACA must be comprehensive and meet our 10 priorities for a faithful healthcare system.

These principles include preserving the coverage gains made by the ACA, upholding the purpose of Medicaid by refraining from structural funding changes, maintaining the essential health benefits currently provided by the ACA, and preventing insurance companies from discrimination against women, the elderly, and people in poverty. The letter can be viewed in full online.

The draft House bill revealed yesterday, entitled the American Health Care Act will substantially reduce the Affordable Care Act subsidies that helped millions afford health insurance and end the Medicaid expansion that extended health coverage to millions more. It also ends Medicaid as people in America now know it, saddling states with new health care costs by creating per-capita caps[2].

The proposal also defunds Planned Parenthood. It must be noted that it is illegal for government money to be used for abortions. Therefore, arguments on Capitol Hill, state legislatures and local municipalities are morally based rather than directly related to the utilization of government funds for abortions. At the center of the debate is discontinuing government contracts for Planned Parenthood as a service provider for poor people.

Furthermore, all of ACA’s taxes are repealed, which amounts to an enormous tax cut for the wealthy — at least $346 billion over 10 years with every cent going to taxpayers earning more than $200,000 ($250,000 for couples). It also will exacerbate the fiscal problems of Medicare, by hastening the exhaustion of the program’s trust fund by four years, to 2025.[3]

Isaiah speaks God’s word to say “No more shall there be … an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime” (Isa. 65:20a).

We, as Reformed Christians, bear witness to Jesus Christ in word, but also in deed.

As followers of our Great Physician Jesus, we have a moral imperative to work to assure that everyone has full access to health care[1].

The call for people of faith to care and provide for those whose lives are scarred by poverty and illness is a mandatory call. Christians are called to feed the hungry and provide for the sick. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan wherein a stranger, an enemy of the injured man, provided for his care out of his personal resources. Muslims are called to visit the sick as a part of their healing. The Jewish faith has a scriptural mandate to provide hospitality and care for the sick required of both laity and clergy.

We are faced with a repeal based upon reasons which are not moral, ethical nor right; rather strictly political. The American Health Care Act is an unnecessary replacement for a law that has increased by over 20 million those who have health care coverage. What we have before us is a refusal to do what is best for millions who are having to make difficult choices when deciding whether to feed their family or health care. We stand and speak in support of the Affordable Care Act as a sign of our witness to the love of God for all people, especially those struggling under the crushing weight of poverty.

[1] On Supporting Single Payer Universal Healthcare Reform

Approved by the 218^th General Assembly (2008)

[2] http://familiesusa.org/press-release/2017/house-aca-replacement-plan-revealed-would-slash-coverage-and-ration-care-millions

[3] http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-obamacare-repeal-20170306-story.html

A Response from the Office of Public Witness to Acts of Religious Bigotry

March 2, 2017 

The Office of Public Witness stands firmly with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters against targeted destruction of ancestral Jewish grave sites, the burning of Mosques and all acts of religious bigotry. We echo the words of Stated Clerk Rev. Dr. J Herbert Nelson: “In the face of our current realities, where hatred and prejudice have become all too evident, it is imperative that we, the people, be able to look to our leaders to bear witness to the best that is in us, to lift up the promise of our Statue of Liberty that all are welcome, and to speak in ways that unite us rather than divide us.”

We require strong condemnation of all religious intolerance from our elected leaders at the highest levels, and find their response insufficient thus far. In the immediate aftermath of Election Day, a wave of hate crimes and lesser hate incidents swept the country — 1,094 bias incidents in the first 34 days, according to a count by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).  The highest count came on the first day after the election, with the numbers diminishing steadily after that. The number of hate groups operating in the country in 2016 remained at near-historic highs, rising from 892 in 2015 to 917 last year, according to the latest count by the SPLC.

We call upon the Trump administration to address and root out anti Semitism, anti Muslim bigotry and religious intolerance in all its forms, including those found in its own communications.

The Office of Public Witness is deeply inspired by the solidarity of Muslim-American leaders Linda Sarsour and Tarik El-Messidi, who raised over $100,000 to help repair the gravestones in St. Louis, and are now directing extra funds from that effort to Philadelphia.

Through decades of policy, Presbyterians have demanded humane treatment of people of all nationalities and faiths who find themselves within our borders.

“Many neighborhoods and communities across the United States are welcoming of greater religious and cultural pluralism. Many are not. People from non-Christian, non-white, non-Western backgrounds often experience discrimination due to religiocultural bias. Note especially the rise in Islamophobia. Religiously based violence has risen throughout the United States. This violence divides communities and discourages the neighborliness advocated in Scripture and modeled in the life of Jesus Christ.” (The Interreligious Stance of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as approved by the 221^st General Assembly.

In Faith We Share, 

Rev. Jimmie Hawkins