Bishop Steven Charleston, president and dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., issued a call to action at Seattle's Green Festival Sunday for people of all faiths to join together to stop global warming.
“Never before in the history of the human race have we faced a need as great as this,” Charleston said, “to stop global warming and in doing so to begin an international movement to address all environmental and ecological problems that threaten the planet and the future of our children and our children’s children.”
We are the ones to do it, now is the time, and the way to do it is for religious communities to cooperate, he said.
Charleston cautioned against getting distracted from solving environmental challenges by the endless destruction of warfare based on religious differences and fear.
He called for a revolutionary movement where people of faith can move forward together. “We can do something wonderful and dramatic.”
Charleston and other religious leaders have formed the Genesis Covenant, a group different than other environmental organizations.
People who join the Genesis Covenant work through their religious communities on issues related to global warming. The communities can take a pledge to reduce greenhouse emissions 50 percent or more in 10 years.
Educators, writers, communicators, scientists, and others can use their skills to help reduce global warming, working with members of their faith community, he said.
“This is our moment, people of faith,” Charleston said. “This is our time for leadership. Do not sit by idly by as if your faith is a comfortable cushion. Stand up and put your faith to work.”
Tomorrow's post on Unlocking The Power of Your Money will offer information on green Web sites to help you green your life.
