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.
Register for these upcoming Climate Resilience Workshops:
Policy Solutions for Climate Resilience: Opportunities in the Biden Administration and 117th Congress
After a year of devastating climate impacts across the country, 2021 presents an opportunity to
pass federal policy solutions for climate resilience. As our churches seek to become resilience hubs, weathering the physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis, it is imperative we engage in the work of policy advocacy for just, equitable, and resilient climate solutions.
Join us for this virtual workshop to hear from the Biden transition team and members of the 117th Congress. We will learn about legislative and executive opportunities for strengthening community climate resilience and advocacy opportunities for your congregation.
Speakers include:
Representative Donald McEachin (VA-4)
Thursday, January 21
6pm-7pm ET
Register Here
After a year of devastating climate impacts across the country, 2021 presents an opportunity to
pass federal policy solutions for climate resilience. As our churches seek to become resilience hubs, weathering the physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis, it is imperative we engage in the work of policy advocacy for just, equitable, and resilient climate solutions.
Join us for this virtual workshop to hear from the Biden transition team and members of the 117th Congress. We will learn about legislative and executive opportunities for strengthening community climate resilience and advocacy opportunities for your congregation.
Speakers include:
Representative Donald McEachin (VA-4)
Thursday, January 21
6pm-7pm ET
Register Here
ResiLENT Worship: Preaching Our Way to Climate Resilience
This work of climate resilience begins in the church. The structure of our communal life lies in the heart of Christian worship. The ways we structure our worship life resonates beyond the walls of the sanctuary. Incorporating elements of climate education and worship of God through Creation can develop norms that support God’s people and Creation in the midst of the climate crisis.
As Lent begins, join us for this virtual workshop to learn about building climate resilience into your worship. Hear three mini-sermons on climate resilience, listen to worship music for the era of climate change, and gain tools for incorporating climate-resilient worship in your community.
Speakers include:
Rev. Melanie Mullen, Director of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation Care, The Episcopal Church
Bishop Staccato Powell, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Thursday, February 18
6pm-7:00pm ET
Register Here
This work of climate resilience begins in the church. The structure of our communal life lies in the heart of Christian worship. The ways we structure our worship life resonates beyond the walls of the sanctuary. Incorporating elements of climate education and worship of God through Creation can develop norms that support God’s people and Creation in the midst of the climate crisis.
As Lent begins, join us for this virtual workshop to learn about building climate resilience into your worship. Hear three mini-sermons on climate resilience, listen to worship music for the era of climate change, and gain tools for incorporating climate-resilient worship in your community.
Speakers include:
Rev. Melanie Mullen, Director of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation Care, The Episcopal Church
Bishop Staccato Powell, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Thursday, February 18
6pm-7:00pm ET
Register Here
Climate Justice on Sacred Ground: The Role of Church Lands in Resilience and Adaptation
Thursday, March 25
6pm-7pm ET
Register Here
Thursday, March 25
6pm-7pm ET
Register Here
View Previous Resilience Virtual Workshops on YouTube!
Faith Communities & Climate Resilience Summit
How to Become a Climate-Resilient Church
Climate Resilience & Faithful Democracy
Trauma, Spirituality, and Climate Resilience
Faith Communities & Climate Resilience Summit
How to Become a Climate-Resilient Church
Climate Resilience & Faithful Democracy
Trauma, Spirituality, and Climate Resilience
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 orange 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 orange 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
