90% Agree – So Talk about It!
Thanks to evangelical Christian and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, for writing this Great Idea.
Hayhoe entitled a recent Talking Climate blog post, ‘90% of Christian leaders agree that the climate is changing… but most aren’t talking about it.’
Read the full post here.
In the post she highlights several congregations and diocese/synods that are making big efforts – and having big impacts – in their areas.
And she affirms that, ‘a new study found that the vast majority of Christian leaders in the United States – nearly 90 percent, in fact – agree that humans are changing the climate. That’s good news! What’s not so good, however, is most of them are not talking about it…
This silence has consequences. “Because of leadership’s silence on the matter, rank-and-file Christians think most of their leaders do not believe,” says author Gregg Sparkman from Boston College. The researchers also found that if churchgoers were informed about the consensus among religious leaders on the reality of climate change, they were more likely to agree with the statement that “taking action to reduce climate change” aligned with their church’s values.’
She sums up this section writing, “If religious leaders start talking bout climate change, they have the ‘ability to correct widespread misperceptions, foster dialogue and encourage action in ways that secular authorities may struggle to achieve.”
…The first step to climate action is so simple we often overlook it. Talking about it affects how we see ourselves, what others around us think, whether we think there’s anything we can do about it.’
She then offers her TED talk about the power of a simple conversation (here).
She also provides a list of resources in response to the question – which she is asked all the time – ‘My church wants to act on climate. Where should we start?’
Find her list here.
The Ministry Lab has created a variety of Toolkits to jump-start Climate Care Conversations in your congregation, as well. Check out:
