Earlier this week the sixth assessment report (AR6) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is a well researched and carefully documented report coming in at nearly 4,000 pages. While I haven’t finished reading the full report yet, the message is crystal clear. Now is the time… in fact we’re behind the 8-ball.
“Is it too late?” That’s one of the themes the report seeks to tease.
The report walks through the five most likely Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). If you care about people, community, and your neighborhood than I encourage you to take a serious and prayerful look.
I urge you help your people become heroes, or at least active participants in the redemptive story of their respective places. You can come alongside and reframe the climate change narrative in a way that resonates with your people in your place. No one knows your people like you. If you are an influencer or leader in a faith community please build a sermon series on God’s creation in which you help narrate for your community the role humans missionally play in God’s Shalomic salvation plan for a new heaven an new earth.
Christian mission has always been understood as joining God’s work of redeeming all in and through Jesus the Christ… that includes God’s earth. Host a dialogue with your leadership team about how to shift the conversation within your faith community. Consider empowering a climate crisis coordinator to your ministry team if you don’t already have one; encourage small groups to forecast how climate change may impact your neighborhood and its people, and begin to imagine ways of becoming Good News to your parish. I would love to come alongside you as shift the conversation within your community.
I really appreciated the introductory explanation of the report offered by “Just Have a Think,” have a listen:
Peace, dwight
