Coastal Churches and Climate Resilience
The climate crisis has arrived. Faith communities must not only react, but also prepare.
Over the last decade, hurricanes have intensified, wildfires have burnt stronger, and heat waves have baked our cities. These events can only be expected to get worse in the next decades. Most of our faith communities are not ready for these climate-driven disasters. Yet, the communities who will be most threatened by climate change also have an opportunity to play a pivotal role in building resilience in their towns and cities. Whether a church community has a large facility, land, social capital, or something else, those assets can be channeled into building climate resilience in preparation for the coming physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis.
Over the last decade, hurricanes have intensified, wildfires have burnt stronger, and heat waves have baked our cities. These events can only be expected to get worse in the next decades. Most of our faith communities are not ready for these climate-driven disasters. Yet, the communities who will be most threatened by climate change also have an opportunity to play a pivotal role in building resilience in their towns and cities. Whether a church community has a large facility, land, social capital, or something else, those assets can be channeled into building climate resilience in preparation for the coming physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis.
Mapping the Climate-Church Crisis
According to the National Climate Assessment, seas could rise by more than one foot by 2050 and up to eight feet by 2100. Meanwhile, hurricanes will continue to intensify, bringing stronger winds and more rain ashore.
Use the map below to see how churches along the coast will be affected by sea level rise and hurricane storm surge. Search for your own home or congregation by typing the address in the search bar.
Use the map below to see how churches along the coast will be affected by sea level rise and hurricane storm surge. Search for your own home or congregation by typing the address in the search bar.
How to use this map:
To see various scenarios of sea level rise, select from Current MHHW (Mean Higher High Water), 1 ft, 3 ft, and 6 ft of Sea Level Rise from the legend on the left.
To view the name and information for a specific church, click on the dot.
To search for your home or church, type the address into the search bar in the top right.
Congregation data compiled by Avery Davis Lamb from various sources.
Sea Level Rise data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hurricane Center.
To see various scenarios of sea level rise, select from Current MHHW (Mean Higher High Water), 1 ft, 3 ft, and 6 ft of Sea Level Rise from the legend on the left.
To view the name and information for a specific church, click on the dot.
To search for your home or church, type the address into the search bar in the top right.
Congregation data compiled by Avery Davis Lamb from various sources.
Sea Level Rise data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hurricane Center.
Resilience in Your Church
Download the Faithful Resilience series for a guide to integrating teaching and action on climate resilience into your congregation. This 6-part guide will equip you with theological reflections for sermons or bible study, questions for reflection or conversation, action steps for your church, and examples of churches who are building resilience in their community.
The series features six parts:
The series features six parts:
- Part 1: The Land We Inhabit
- Part 2: The Fierce Urgency of Now
- Part 3: Resilience and Restoration
- Part 4: Climate Migration
- Part 5: Building Resilience
- Part 6: Resilient Worship
