Christian Leaders Fly to Washington DC to Advocate for Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Reduction Standard

United Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopal advocates from Arizona, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee go to Washington to stand up for energy ethics, and a fair share for taxpayers

One of the most important recent accomplishments of the US government which most people have never heard of is the Bureau of Land Management Methane Waste Reduction Standard. While regulations often fail to catch the attention of everyday people of faith, this one is projected to cut millions of dollars of waste, and channel that money to public goods such as public schools, roads, and libraries.
When companies extract oil and natural gas from public and tribal lands, the Bureau of Land Management collects revenues on this production on behalf of taxpayers. However, when these public resources are wasted due to outdated technology or shoddy industry practices, taxpayers are cheated of this revenue.
This new Standard was strongly supported by religious communities because of our moral commitment to stewardship. We organized for stakeholder meetings and engaged with the Administration to get it done. Download a fact sheet (PDF) (DOC) to learn more about the the Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Rule.
Now, the time has come to defend this common-sense Standard from being rolled back.  It has been reported that the 115th Congress will take up a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to block rules issued by the Bureau of Land Management to limit natural gas waste from the oil and gas sector at the oil lobby’s behest. Our leaders in Washington should not sell out their constituents to special interests by giving the oil and gas industry an indefinite free pass to waste energy and taxpayer resources. The CRA is a reckless and blunt tool that, if successful, would prevent any “substantially similar” rule from being issued – allowing the oil and natural gas industry to continue to waste hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of taxpayer owned resources every year, and continue using outdated, wasteful practices and technologies. 
Meet the advocates who are traveling all the way to Washington, DC to urge their elected leaders to defend the energy stewardship values we hold as people of faith.

Reverend Dr. James Blassingame serves as President of the Baptist E&M Convention of South Carolina. He is traveling to DC representing his Baptist Convention as well as the South Carolina Christian Action Council, where he serves on the board. He is a native of Seneca S.C. Reverend Blassingame is licensed by Richland Baptist Church, Seneca, SC and ordained by Seneca River Missionary Baptist Association. He is the former Pastor of Thomas Heights Baptist Church, Seneca SC and New Olive Grove Baptist Church, Central, SC. Reverend Blassingame has pastored Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Sumter, SC since 1984.
 
Reverend Blassingame is a member of the following boards: Morris College, Sumter, SC; Benedict College, Columbia, SC; Friendship College, Rock Hill, SC; National Baptist Convention, USA. Inc. (Executive Committee); SC Schools Improvement Council; Bank of Clarendon Sumter Advisory Board; Sumter Senior Services, Inc., and Covenant Place of Sumter, Inc. He also serves on the School Improvement Council of Lemira Elementary School, Sumter, SC and the Pee Dee Citizens Committee on Judicial Qualifications. (appointed by the SC State Senate)
Read Rev. Dr. Blassingame’s full bio.

Rev. Dr.
James Blassingame
SOUTH CAROLINA

Support Rev. Dr. James Blassingame's efforts to represent South Carolinian people of faith in Washington, DC this Wednesday, Feb. 1. Call for responsible energy stewardship by calling Senator Graham’s office at (202) 224-5972.
Here’s what you might say:
“Hello, my name is ____ and I’m from ____ (faith community, organization, city). Wednesday, Rev. Dr. James Blassingame is traveling to Washington DC to represent our faith commitment to responsible energy stewardship, and to call for a fair return for taxpayers. Every year, oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands waste millions of dollars worth of methane. I stand with Dr. Blassingame in urging the Senator to please uphold the Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Rule, which will stop needless methane waste.”

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Rev. Charles Maynard
TENNESSEE

Charles W. Maynard, is a United Methodist minister, storyteller, and author. A graduate of Emory & Henry College in Virginia and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, he has served in the United Methodist Church for over 30 years. He is currently the Maryville District Superintendent in the Holston Conference. He has authored or co-authored 30 books, including 21 children’s books. He has also written numerous magazine and newspaper articles. He currently serves as the Chair of the Southeast Regional Advisory Committee for the National Parks Conservation Association.
 
For his writing in, The Blue Ridge—Ancient and Majestic, Charles received the Reed Environmental Writing Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center. Charles worked as the founding executive director of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He was honored as one of the One Hundred Most Influential People in the History of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016, the National Park Service’s Centennial Year. Charles served on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s board for six years. He also worked on the National Park Overflight Working Group and later the National Overflight Advisory Board to help National Parks create Overflight Management Plans. Charles continues to speak, write, and work to protect special parts of the Creation.

 To support Rev. Maynard's advocacy, please call Senator Alexander’s office at (202) 224-4944.
Here’s what you might say:
“Hello, my name is ____ and I’m from ____ (faith community, organization, city) in Tennessee. Wednesday, Rev. Charles Maynard is traveling to Washington, DC to represent our community’s faith commitment to responsible energy stewardship, and to call for a fair return for taxpayers. Every year, oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands waste millions of dollars worth of methane. I support Rev. Maynard’s leadership and stand with him in urging the Senator to please uphold the Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Rule, which will stop needless methane waste.”

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Sarah King has chaired the Arizona Faith Network Earth Care Commission for the past 3 years. Prior to that, she held the same position for the Arizona Ecumenical Council.  Ms. King has also been a Board member of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light, and headed the Earth Care Task Force of the United Methodist Church Desert Southwest Conference Board of Church and Society.  She has been a pulpit guest at many Arizona churches speaking on the topic of earth stewardship.  This past summer she led classes in Environmental Justice in both Las Vegas, Nevada and Scottsdale, Arizona for the United Methodist Women’s Mission U.  She is currently busy fulfilling her final project and public speaking requirements as a member of the GreenFaith Fellowship class of 2016. 
Sarah earned her Master’s Degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago in 1976.  She resides in Flagstaff with her husband, Charles.

Sarah King
ARIZONA

To support Sarah's advocacy effort, please call Senator McCain’s office at (202) 224-2235 and tell them something like this:
“Hello, my name is ____ and I’m from ____ (faith community, organization, city) in Arizona. Wednesday, Sarah King is traveling to Washington, DC to represent our community’s faith commitment to responsible energy stewardship, and a fair share for taxpayers. Every year, oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands waste millions of dollars worth of methane. I support Sarah King’s leadership and I join her in urging the Senator to please uphold the Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Rule, which will stop needless methane waste.”

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Deacon Mike Margerum
NEVADA

Deacon Mike Margerum serves at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Sparks, Nevada. He is making the trip to Washington, DC at the request of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada.
He has been a Deacon for 30 years, and all of his time in ministry has been in the Reno/Sparks area. His ministry focus has been with the Kairos prison ministry. He has served on the Religious Alliance in Nevada (RAIN) board, which regularly advocated at the State Legislature. His big focus for the last several months is helping 4 Episcopal churches in Northern Nevada sponsor Refugees. He is married and has one child, who lives in Denmark.  He is an avid gardener who loves to watch birds.

If you or someone you know lives in Nevada, please help us send calls to Senator Heller’s office at 202-224-6244 to support his advocacy. Here’s what a caller might say:
“Hello, my name is ____ and I’m from ____ (faith community, organization, city). Wednesday, Deacon Mike Margerum is travelng to Washington DC to show his faith commitment to responsible energy stewardship, and to call for a fair return for taxpayers. Every year, oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands waste millions of dollars worth of methane. I stand with Deacon Mike in urging the Senator to please uphold the Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Rule, which will stop needless methane waste.”