Abundant Health: Environment
4/14/2021
By Rev. Lynette Moran for the Abundant Health Team
Every April 22nd we celebrate Earth Day around the globe. Your Abundant Health Team wants to remind you that our health interlocks with the environment around us. After being cooped up for a year in tight quarters, we all know that the place we are in can impact our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Environmental health can also involve safe drinking water, air quality, and other factors that lead to life-long health.
In this month’s blog post, we invite you to learn more about the UMC’s commitment to all of God’s creation, suggestions to acknowledge Earth Day at your church, and resources if you’d like to get more involved with others in faith-based initiatives related to creation care.
United Methodists Care About Environmental Health
In 2009 the UM Council of Bishops published a pastoral letter entitled
God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action. They noted that “while we are not experts on global issues, we are experts on the moral and ethical life that strengthens and supports God’s intentions for creation... We cannot help the world until we change our way of being in it.”
This supports other efforts within our UM polity like our Social Principles on
the natural world and our sustained commitment to
creation care based upon God’s call for us in Genesis 1: 26-31. God’s covenant with all of creation begins in Genesis, continues in covenant (Genesis 9:9-10), through the ministry of Jesus Christ, and his death and resurrection (Colossians 1:15-20).
Earth Day is Almost Here!
This year we celebrate the 51
st Earth Day with over 190 countries around the world from April 20 – 22. Participation can be official through the
Earth Day Network and their Earth events and activities. You can also participate on your own or through local organizations and events, including community clean-up days.
Resources for worship are available online, including videos from
GBGM. Incorporate an article into your next church newsletter or taking up leadership on a specific project based on your community’s need.
Get Involved with Environmental Health
If you’re interested in working with like-minded Methodists here in Western PA as we assess the environmental health of our conference, reach out to Rev. Lynette Moran.
- United Methodist Women are committed and active in addressing climate injustice. Visit their site or reach out to your congregation’s UMW to learn more.
- If you already have a project in mind, consider becoming a GBGM Earthkeeper. The next training will occur (online) in May. Deadline April 19.
- Learn more about the World Methodist Council’s Climate Justice for All Initiative.
- Join Interfaith Power and Light for their 25th annual Faith Climate Action Week, April 16 – 25. Access information, participate in activities, and more.
