Vote as a Voice for Creation

This Great Idea comes from Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, guest editor of Katharine Hayhoe’s Talking Climate blog.

By way of introduction, Hayhoe writes, ‘A few years ago, Ayana co-edited the best-selling anthology of women’s voices on climate change, All We Can Save (including yours truly) and this coming Tuesday, her important new book, What If We Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures, will be released.’

A key foci of Johnson’s work has been to multiply leaders in the work of climate change.

Watch her TED Talk here, urging people to find their joy in climate change work and leadership.

The upshot of this blog, though, was getting people to vote for the climate.

The statistics are startling: ‘Some 40 percent of young US voters across political affiliations say they will only support a candidate who prioritizes climate action.’

‘70 percent of 16- to 25-year-olds in ten countries said they were ‘”extremely worried” or “very worried” about climate change’.

‘Over 8 million environmental voters sat out the 2020 election in the United States. That’s people who were already registered to vote and already count climate as their top issue (no convincing needed), but who did not show up to cast their ballot. The environmental movement has a turnout problem.’

[Bold authors.]

Nearly every congregation with which I consult struggles to find and retain young people. They won’t show up. They won’t commit. They simply are not interested or engaged.

Here’s something young people are not only deeply anxious about – they are desperately looking for ways to be part of the solution and they are desperately seeking older adults who also care.

There are probably countless ways this data can be helpful to congregational / faith formation leaders. Here are a few:

  1. Study and discuss the Christian call to Creation Care. Find ideas and approaches in our:
    1. Creation Care Curricula
    2. Creation Care Multimedia
    3. Eco-Anxiety Toolkit
  2. Develop a Creation Care Action Plan and share it publicly.
  3. Publicly invite other local organizations to join you in taking action:
    1. Build a local Creation Care network.
    2. Let people know it exists and your congregation is a leader of it.
  4. Create a Climate Care Voter’s Team:
    1. Research local, regional, state-wide and national candidates and their stances and actions on climate.
    2. Publicize your findings.
    3. Offer learning sessions to familiarize your community with candidates and their positions:
      1. This is an opportunity to learn about all of the candidates and their positions on climate-related issues.
      2. This is not a time to tell people for whom they should vote.
    4. Encourage folx to:
      1. Register to vote.
      2. To vote.
      3. To vote for the full ballot:
        • Hopefully your learning sessions will equip folx and help them feel more informed and competent to vote for every position on the ballot.
        • Publicly post your research findings to inform and empower those unable to attend your sessions so they, too, can feel more confident in down-ballot voting.
        • Remind folx that every office/position matters.
    5. Support people in voting:
      1. early / mail-in ballots
      2. day-of transportation and/or accompaniment
    6. Pray for Climate Leaders throughout the election season – individual (in households) and in community gatherings and worship.
    7. Create opportunities for folx to be present in and with creation throughout the election season.
      1. Worship, study, and meet outside.
      2. Create events specific to exploring your local habitats.
      3. Develop creation awareness and encourage wonder and awe – in all ages – as a way to develop resilience and hope.

All age groups experience eco-anxiety in different ways. Voters of all ages – but particularly our youngest voters – are claiming climate as a primary concern. Support emotional and spiritual resilience as you engage all ages in the work of voting on behalf of the climate. The learning and community-building are restorative for human souls. The votes themselves can be healing. Electing leaders who share concerns about the climate is essential to the well-being of our souls and our planet. Congregations can be leaders – in electing creation care leaders!