Overview

Religious leaders should reach deep into their memberships to communicate the scale of the problem and the vital moral imperative of addressing it.

Participants | Objectives | Related InitiativesÂ

Objectives

  • Hearing from the faithful. It is important that religious people hear about climate change from one another (including religious scientists who present themselves as such) and their religious leaders. Hearing from them will hold much more persuasive and
    motivational power than attempts by non-religious messengers to influence them.
  • A day to preach on climate change. Religious leaders should use sermons, youth groups and other educational venues to educate and motivate their members on climate change. Establish a day when churches are encouraged to preach from their pulpits about climate change.
  • Be visual. They should harness visual media as well as traditional written and oral media.
  • Supply model sermons.Religious leaders should be provided with model sermons and other statements that they can use to provide accurate information on the issue, but also the morally and religiously appropriate context.
  • PrayerA call to action should include an emphasis on prayer, and on asking for the strength to act in furtherance of God’s will, but not to absolve human responsibility.
  • Word choices matter.Language choices should be carefully attended to as each religious leader tailors messages to their own constituency. For example, one leader might be more comfortable talking about the “social justice” element of climate change, while another might prefer referring to the poor as “the least of these.”
  • Don’t just preach . . . listen.Leaders should ask their memberships
    what can be done about the climate change issue.

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