Have you heard about the People's Climate Movement March on April 29? Thousands of people are heading to Washington DC to stand up for community and climate.
Among the crowds of people going to the People's Climate March are several members of the CRC. Keep reading to discover the personal stories behind each of their decisions to march.
“I am marching because I am scared. I am scared that my nephew and children will never be able to see the world as I did growing up, swimming through coral reefs and breathing in the vibrancy of jungles. And I am scared that these changes are nominal in comparison to what marginalized groups are faced with. Fear can often paralyze us into inaction, but the hope that we are afforded through Christ gives us motivation that change is possible. I am marching one step at a time because of this hope.”
- Josiah Kinney
“I am marching because the gospel requires me to be about the business of restoration in Jesus' name and that includes this world—which our good God created and declared to be good. Travelling to Washington D.C. and marching is a way for me (and others) to declare that our world belongs to God!”
- Phillip Leo
"I am marching because my grandchildren deserve better!" Like David Letterman, I want to be able to tell them I did something about Climate Change when they ask me, "Grandpa, what did you do when you knew how important climate change was?" I asked them what messages to put on my signs for the march. Together we came up with, "GLACIERS MATTER" and "POLAR BEARS MATTER."
- Rick Kruis
“My wife and I are marching because we love God's creation. We need to do all that we can to encourage wise use of the resources that God has placed in our world.”
- Larry and Mary Masselink
"For years I've studied and taught this issue in my chemistry classes. I've come to the place where I believe that climate change denial is akin to believing the earth is flat! I'm going to Washington DC this weekend as a Christian following God's mandate to mankind to care for His creation. I also go for my children, my grandchildren and my students, past and present, who must live and deal with decisions that are being made TODAY!"
- Barry Meyer
“I'm marching because policy changes are needed to stop global warming and give hundreds of millions of threatened people a sustainable future. I'm marching because I believe my Christian discipleship includes caring for creation as an expression of my love for God and neighbor.”
- Dale Hulst
"There is a perception out there that evangelical Christians are apathetic or antagonistic toward climate change. The truth is that most evangelicals do care, but many feel as if there is no place at the table for their voice. Young evangelicals, in particular, are reasserting their place in the national conversation, and they are doing it precisely because of their evangelical faith, not in spite of it. Acting on climate is an opportunity for Christians to deepen in our discipleship by loving God’s good world and by loving our global neighbors who are already being impacted by the effects of climate change. Why wouldn’t we march?”
- Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
Comments
Be careful who you march with. The website for this event shows disrespect for the president of the United States and suggests that he is out to harm the people of America. As Christians who are taught to respect our leaders, the president of the United States should not be addressed as “Trump”.
The average temperature of the earth’s surface has always been slowly changing. The reasons for this are immensely complex, and I believe still not well understood. One example of sources of confusion is in applying the term “greenhouse effect” to one of the causes of global warming. Greenhouses become warmer inside primarily by preventing convection; our atmosphere can become warmer when, primarily infrared light is impeded as it radiates into space. Do man’s activities such as creating carbon dioxide, water vapour, heat, and dust, to name a few, affect the average temperature of the earth? Probably, but to what extent?
If you want to march for Jobs, Justice, and Climate, then would you also please march to protest the persecution and murder of the Assyrians, Copts, and other of our brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Middle East? Are you also marching to protect the unborn? Whichever march you go on please carpool or take a bus to minimize your contribution to man-made emissions.
Peter Davis
Thanks, everyone, for sharing. Love hearing the personal reasons behind why you're marching. Also, Rick, the "Polar Bears Matter" line is awesome!
The church as organization has no business getting involved or supporting or not supporting this type of action. Members can make up their own minds whether or not to participate.
I see nothing in the mandate of the CRCNA to get involved in this either way. Surely those who work in the CRCNA office have other things to do.
Hi Harry,
CRC synod spoke on the issue of climate change recently. In 2010, the synod of the CRC instructed that a task force be formed to study and present a Reformed perspective of creation stewardship, including the issue of climate change. In 2012, the Creation Stewardship Task Force presented its findings in the Creation Stewardship Task Force Report (read the summary here). Synod 2012 responded by affirming its findings and adopting its recommendations, thereby becoming one of the first evangelical denominations in the United States to affirm the scientific consensus on climate change, calling it a "moral, religious, and social justice issue," and calling its denominational bodies, congregations, and individual members to private and public action.
You can read the statement by Synod 2012 here, along with its recommendations to churches.
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