Photo by Paul Jeffrey. Used by permission.
I’m grateful to be working with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement (including Fossil Free UMC and the California-Nevada Climate Justice Ministries Task Force), doing what we can and calling the United Methodist Church to urgent and meaningful climate action. Our most recent effort was to write an open letter to the United Methodist Council of Bishops, calling on them to make clear the existential threat of the climate crisis, and the urgent need for action, especially phasing out fossil fuels. The bishops have affirmed the letter and we are moving forward in our communications with them. See the article from United Methodist Insight here. -Sharon
The storms of our times are manifold. The Trump Administration is dismantling government agencies and programs that serve the common good, supercharging the militarization of society, and pledging vengeance against all who oppose its cruel policies. Those of us who keep track of climate reports know that the literal storms that come from an overheating planet are already upon us in the form of heat waves, droughts, fires, superstorms, floods, and more. We find ourselves in the “perfect storm” of accelerating climate change compounded by energy policies focused on “drill, baby, drill,” exacerbated by authoritarianism, and compounded by social, economic, political, and military upheaval. To make matters worse, there is pervasive distortion of the good news of Jesus by the false gospel of Christian Nationalism.
So here we are. We are all in this boat together—human beings and the community of all creation are going through this turmoil as the seas rise in the midst of this storm. How can we find comfort and the “peace that passes understanding” that Jesus promises in this situation?
In Mark 6: 47-52, when Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water, the disciples are “straining at the oars against an adverse wind,” fighting the storm. That’s sure how it feels sometimes in this journey of climate action, rowing upstream, going against the (rising) tide. The disciples are terrified when they see him, but Jesus immediate says “Take heart, it is I: do not be afraid.” Then, when he gets into the boat with them, the wind ceases. (My thanks to Richenda Fairhurst for showing the parallel between the storm in this Bible story and the literal storms we face with Climate Change.)
I find comfort in this story. I find comfort in being part of a group of people who know what’s at stake and are working together to weather the storm and alert others. It’s a bit like organizing lifeboats when it’s clear that a ship could go down. The storms we face are fearsome. We all need each other. I urge you to connect with others in your church or community if you haven’t already to share, pray, study, and respond to the challenges of climate change together. Connect with us as the UM Creation Justice Movement and Fossil Free UMC for resources, ideas, and supportive community.
I choose to trust in the God of love at this time of creation’s extremity, and in that way my energy is released for the work. I find comfort in trusting that when two or three are gathered in the name and Spirit of Jesus, he is right here in the boat with us. My companions in the journey help to boost my trust in God as well as my hope for transformation, since together we can do so much more than any of us can do alone. And I trust that the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us and for all creation with sighs too deep for words, will continue to guide us to right action as we seek to follow the way of Jesus in our work, for the sake of all creation, including human beings.
Sharon Delgado is Convener of Fossil Free UMC and a member of the coordinating team of the UM Creation Justice Movement. A revised version of her 2017 book, Love in a Time of Climate Change: Honoring Creation, Establishing Justice, will be released by Fortress Press in January, 2026.
FossilFreeUMC 