EarthBeat Weekly: Faith-and-environment news that stood out in 2024

Faith-and-environment news that stood out in 2024   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change January 3, 2025 Rock formations seen at sunrise along Lake Powell in Page, Ariz., Nov. 23, 2024. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)   On Monday, I recapped the top news in 2024 here at EarthBeat, both in terms of the biggest news and what you, our readers, were drawn to most. In this week's newsletter, I wanted to supplement those lists by sharing some of the stories that stood out for me personally from the past year, be it their original reporting, importance or unique storytelling.   Make clean energy, not wars, faith activists tell world leaders at climate summit While in Baku, Azerbaijan, reporting on the COP29 climate change summit, Doreen Ajiambo, Africa and Middle East correspondent for Global Sisters Report, put in perspective the $1.3 trillion sum that developing countries sought to finance climate efforts by comparing countries' cumulative spending on clean energy ($70 billion in 2022) with annual budgets for war and defense ($2.44 trillion in 2023). Amazon synod reverberates through the Catholic Church five years later With the global Catholic Church focused much of the year on the finale of the two-year synod on synodality, freelancer Barbara Fraser (and former EarthBeat editor) revisited the special Synod on the Amazon as it reached its five-year anniversary in October. From her unique vantage point in Peru, Fraser provided a detailed look at how the church in South America has acted on the Amazon synod's recommendations — which go well beyond debates over married priests and women deacons that dominated much of U.S. press coverage five years ago. Whose land is this land? Sisters, Native tribes begin process of land justice In a joint report for EarthBeat and Global Sisters Report, GSR international correspondent Chris Herlinger spoke with women religious congregations who are discerning ways to protect their lands while wrestling with what justice means with properties that also happen to be the ancestral lands of Native American tribes. They are complex questions, and Herlinger deftly reports the nuance, issues and various perspectives. Catholics among key backers of SCOTUS ruling that threatens environmental rules NCR staff writer Katie Collins Scott dived into the Catholic judges, lobbyists and officials who were behind the U.S. Supreme Court's decision earlier this year to end a four-decade precedent known as the "Chevron deference" that provided leeway to federal agencies in interpreting laws as they issued rules and regulations relating to the environment, public health and more. It's an eye-opening piece of watchdog journalism. In Africa's Congo Basin, Indigenous peoples lose homes to conservation efforts Traveling to Cameroon, freelancer reporter Ngala Killian Chimtom met with members of the Indigenous Baka community who have been forced from their ancestral lands not just by mining and logging but also government-led conservation efforts. It's an important story that shines a light on the dark side of conservation and the clean energy revolution, highlighting injustices Catholic officials and others say must be avoided for a truly just transition. For Boston College public health expert, a treaty on plastics is a matter of morality Lastly, I'll leave you with the interview that resonated most with me this year. After countries fell short of reaching a first-ever treaty on plastic pollution (they agreed to reconvene some time this year), I spoke with Dr. Philip Landrigan, a renowned epidemiologist and head of Boston College's Global Observatory on Planetary Health. Lead author of the first comprehensive report on the health impacts of plastics, Landrigan's insights are well worth revisiting.   Read more: Revisiting EarthBeat's top and most-read news of 2024     What else is new on EarthBeat:   Christmas can bring a new life into politics by Mary Ellen Gondeck If we can see Christ in others and have compassion for their suffering, we can change how our nation and government functions. Read more here »   How to take climate change out of the culture wars by Kate Yoder, Grist Dislodging climate change from the culture wars might feel nearly impossible. But scientists have found ways to talk about the changing weather that resonate with conservative segments of the U.S. who have been skeptical of global warming.   Read more here »   Surviving 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami 'profoundly transformative,' deacon says by Ruby Thomas, OSV News Looking back, Deacon Ned Berghausen said he realizes God was present even in that time of great suffering. He reflects often, he said, on the date of the tsunami — the feast of St. Stephen, who was the first martyr and one of the first deacons of the early church. Read more here » What's happening in other climate news:   Trump readies Day One energy offensive —Robin Bravender for E&E News Biden to ban more offshore oil drilling before Trump arrives —Jennifer A. Dlouhy for Bloomberg News Biden to create two national monuments in California honoring tribes —Maxine Joselow for the Washington Post The bold environmental vision of President Jimmy Carter —Kai Bird for Mother Jones Undocumented people are among most vulnerable to climate-fueled disasters —Nate Perez for National Public Radio In Florida, officials and communities clash over where to build the nation's largest trash incinerator —Daniel Chang for KFF Health News     Power is restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after a major blackout —Amanda Pérez Pintado for the Associated Press Big Oil backtracks on renewables push as climate agenda falters —Ron Bousso for Reuters Final Beat:   When do you take down your Christmas tree?  For many, that move comes after the Epiphany, which this year arrives on Monday, Jan. 6.  Driving around my neighborhood today, I saw one tree already on the curb alongside the weekly trash pickup. Sending your tree to the dump is one of the least environmentally friendly methods of disposal, as longtime EarthBeat readers may recall from an early explainer in our Burning Questions series: What to do with your Christmas tree after the holidays? The article is worth revisiting for ideas on what you can do to keep your own tree away from landfills, where they are burned and release heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions like methane and carbon dioxide. Here in Kansas City, I have taken our tree to a local park that turns discarded trees into mulch for trails and habitats for fish in lakes and creeks. A local composting service is also collecting trees to use for, well, composting.  A quick online search may reveal similar options in your area. And our "What To Do With Your Christmas Tree?" explainer has other ideas, too. If you have a particularly creative or original option, we'd love to hear about it: drop us a note at earthbeat@ncronline.org.  Thanks for reading EarthBeat.   Brian Roewe Environment Correspondent National Catholic Reporter broewe@ncronline.org Instagram: @broewe_ncr     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement

Truth and Action Roundup 1.03.25

View this email in your browser Welcome to the Truth and Action Roundup, a reliable source of information, inspiration, and action for the post-election period. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to continue receiving it. Today is Friday, Jan. 3, 17 days before Inauguration Day. Happy New Year to you and yours! In today’s Truth and Action Roundup, we report on President-elect Donald Trump’s dangerous and misleading anti-immigrant rhetoric in the wake of the deadly truck attack in New Orleans, provide an update on the incoming Congress, and cover some encouraging news on prescription drug costs for seniors. We share an invitation to join an upcoming organizing call with faith leaders focused on tools for demanding that senators properly scrutinize Trump’s cabinet nominees, as well as one last reminder about the vigil for democracy this Sunday. Finally, we offer our “Deep Breaths” spiritual resources to equip you for the days ahead. — the Truth and Action Roundup production team In the News Here’s what we know at the time of writing: 1) After 15 people were killed and at least 30 injured in the early hours of New Year’s Day when a man drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, La., Trump made false claims that the attack was linked to migrant people and security at the U.S.-Mexico border. These falsehoods, which Trump broadcasted on social media following a later-retracted Fox News report, continue his longstanding practice of creating and amplifying hateful and false rhetoric about migrant people — often attempting to make them scapegoats for a wide range of societal problems. Trump later posted on his Truth Social platform in the third person, proclaiming: “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!” 2) The new Congress will be sworn in today, with Republicans holding an extraordinarily slim 220-215 majority in the House of Representatives and 53 seats in the Senate. The first item on the House’s agenda is electing a speaker, which must be done before members are even sworn in. Allies of the current speaker Mike Johnson are trying to convince Republicans to put aside their differences and vote for him so as not to delay the official certification of Trump’s victory scheduled for January 6. Meanwhile, House Democrats have decried a proposed change to House rules that would allow only members of the majority party to force a vote on removing the speaker. 3) Starting this month, Medicare beneficiaries will for the first time ever have a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs obtained at a pharmacy or via mail order, due to a provision in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. AARP estimates that 3 to 4 million Medicare enrollees will benefit from this provision, with 40% of those beneficiaries saving $1,000 or more annually. Take Action Don’t Obey in Advance: Faith-Based Call to Action to Save Democracy. On Jan. 6, the fourth anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, join faith leaders at 8 p.m. EST for an organizing call on how faith communities can ensure that all cabinet nominees are highly qualified to perform their duties and are committed to upholding the Constitution. The call will also feature spiritual grounding as we prepare for activism in the years ahead. Sojourners is one of several organizations co-sponsoring this call. Final reminder! Join us at the fourth annual “Faith in Democracy” Interfaith Prayer Vigil streaming and in person on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday Jan. 5 at 3:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by Sojourners, the Franciscan Action Network, and Faith in Peace Concerts, this vigil will feature faith leaders sharing why their faith compels them to pursue democracy, peace, and justice at this critical time in our nation. For more information, to register to attend, or to watch the stream for this event, click here. Deep Breaths A Reflection on Kwanzaa Kwanzaa, celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, is a unique and beautiful holiday that honors African American and Pan-African culture, heritage, and history. Created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, it is rooted in the Nguzo Saba — seven principles that offer timeless lessons for building stronger, more compassionate, and equitable communities. Importantly, Kwanzaa does not replace religious or faith traditions but is instead a cultural celebration that invites us to reflect on shared values and collective progress. These principles — Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith — remind us of the power of community, the importance of honoring our past, and the responsibility to work together for a better future. Kwanzaa invites us all, no matter our background, to celebrate resilience, creativity, and hope. As we reflect on these principles, consider how you can embody them in your own life. Whether it’s supporting a local Black-owned business (Ujamaa), fostering unity in your community (Umoja), or using your creativity to uplift others (Kuumba), each of us has the power to make a difference. Let the spirit of Kwanzaa inspire you to take a step toward building a more just, united, and purposeful world. — Rev. Moya Harris, Director of Racial Justice, Sojourners The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff: President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor Director of Racial Justice: Rev. Moya Harris Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson Senior Adviser and Director to the President’s Office: Elizabeth Denlinger Reaves Senior Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing: Sandy Ovalle Martínez Director of Congregational Outreach & Education: Rev. Andrea Saccoccio Digital Communications Associate: Lexi Schnaser Senior Director of Marketing: Sandra Sims Donate Subscribe Unsubscribe or update email preferences Copyright © 2025 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Sojourners | 408 C St. NE | Washington, DC 20002 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

SojoMail - We elected an authoritarian. What role did religion play?

View this email in your browser This week: An interview with Katherine Stewart, remembering Jimmy Carter’s legacy, and staying grounded during a second Trump term. Why We Elected an Authoritarian. What Role Did Religion Play? We’re starting the new year by featuring the cover story from our latest issue of Sojourners magazine in this week’s SojoMail. Decades of investment in a larger anti-democratic movement would not have dissolved even if they had been defeated at the ballot box in this election cycle: In November, the United States joined Argentina (Javier Milei), India (Narendra Modi), and Hungary (Viktor Orbán), among other countries, when it elected an authoritarian as its chief executive. In the case of Donald J. Trump, examples of these far-right tendencies include plans for mass deportations, promises to replace nonpartisan government employees with loyalists, and threats to put political critics on trial. How did we get here? And what do we need to know to mitigate harm, save what and who we can, and work toward a more free and equitable future? Some of us may feel weary and defeated, but journalist Katherine Stewart, who has investigated the authoritarian movement for more than 15 years, encourages curiosity: “We can’t address our problems unless we know what they are.” Those problems include “decades of investment in a larger anti-democratic movement that would not have dissolved even if they had been defeated at the ballot box in this election cycle.” In her forthcoming book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, Stewart explores a network of strange bedfellows who drive a broad authoritarian movement both in the United States and abroad. The players in this network have different motivations: Ultra-rich funders aim to destroy the regulatory state to gain even more wealth, funneling resources to groups that further their aims. “New Right” academics and proto-academics pursue the ascendance of their pet ideologies. Veteran political operatives find new partners in the hunt for power. Many of the funders and power players within this movement are not Christian or religious in any tradition – but Christian symbols, pastors, and churches have played a key role. Read the full article Advertisement Our Latest Stories Jimmy Carter, ‘Born-Again’ President, Humanitarian, Dead at 100 (by Mitchell Atencio) Carter made his Baptist faith central, whether teaching Sunday School, building homes for the poor, or sitting in the Oval Office. Read more Israeli Official Criticizes Pope’s Call to Study ‘Genocide’ in Gaza (by Joshua McElwee, Reuters) The pope has called for an assessment of whether Israel’s military action in Gaza constituted a genocide. Read more In ‘Wicked’ and the Bible, Prophets Are Scorned for Truth-Telling (by Olivia Bardo) Both Elijah and Elphaba are empowered by their strong conviction of what is right and just, even when it ostracizes them. Read more From the Magazine: 10 Ways To Stay Grounded During Trump’s Second Term (by Daniel Hunter) For us to be of any use during the next four years, we must resist the temptation to cower in fear, isolation, and exhaustion.  Read more Advertisements Are you brave enough to talk about money? Faith and Money Network’s study groups meet via video conference to study and discuss faith-driven approaches to daily life’s money choices. New groups forming now! Shop Sojourners' Top Books of 2024 Visit Sojourners’ Bookshop page to read our favorite books about faith and justice from 2024. Sojourners earns a small commission and Bookshop.org sends a matching commission to independent bookstores. Donate Subscribe Unsubscribe or update email preferences Copyright © 2024 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Sojourners | 408 C St. NE | Washington, DC 20002 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

MLP Jaunary 2025 Newsletter!

In This Issue *Staff Update: Welcome our new intern! *Staff Update: A note from Claudia and Jesy *Upcoming Events *A word from our partners *MLP Merch! *Donate Today

Staff Update!

Teddy Brock was raised in Decatur, Georgia by their mom, an ordained minister, and in Guntersville/Fort Payne/Auburn, Alabama by their dad, an ordained minister. Though Teddy grew up in church, a member and elder of Oakhurst Presbyterian, their relationship with faith faded in their latter teen years. They are currently in their final year at Long Island University (LIU) - Post, where they have been studying theater. While at school they explored their queerness and found a direct correlation to a reconnection with their faith. Their foundation in the church inspired and equipped them to create accepting spaces for queer community, as well as educate people not in the community about queer culture and experiences. These discoveries led them to found Rainbow Coalition, the LGBTQIA+ club at LIU, and share their experience at Montreat Youth Conference as a keynoter. Teddy now is exploring how to artistically tell stories of queer experience through poetry, theater, and writing.   Teddy will join the MLP staff as an intern from January through April!

From Director of Engagement: Claudia Aguilar Rubaclava

2024 was an exciting year for MLP and I couldn’t be more grateful. To every person who emailed us asking: how do I come out? How can we support our children transitioning? How can I help today? To every church that reached out with questions: How do we embrace difference? How do we ask for forgiveness? Where do we start? Thank you. I have learned much during my time at More Light, but I can certainly say that learning how to fail has been the most important lesson I have learned so far. Justice work is rarely a one-and-done deal. I have been many times in situations where I have to say: “I don’t know,” “This is new to me, tell me more about it,” or “I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I want to learn more so I can support you.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. I have grown to appreciate churches and people who come with curiosity and willingness to learn even if they mess up. 2025 brings new challenges but I am hopeful because we have a network of individuals, churches, and campus ministries that are ready to jump in when we need to work together. I am hopeful because, when we asked for officiants for LGBQTIA+ weddings, more than 500 people showed up. I am hopeful because, when we asked you to advocate with your local representative, it took minutes to get pictures and notifications of people writing to their Congressperson.  Being part of More Light is more than a cute cup sticker on your bulletin. It is a call to practice compassion, justice, and love. Will we mess up occasionally? Certainly so. But that’s why it’s a practice. We’ll get better at it if we keep practicing.

From Director of Operations: Jesy Littlejohn

It's hard to believe today marks 1 year of me being on staff with More Light Presbyterians! I am so thankful for the Board, Claudia (and Zoë!) for all the support they have offered as I learned how to navigate this role!  More Light Presbyterians, in many ways, is why I was able to trust having a relationship with God, and especially the church, again. I will spare you the details of my church trauma, but know that if it weren't for MLP I wouldn't have found my home church (shoutout to Oaklands Presbyterian Church in Laurel,MD), I wouldn't have been invited to speak, to participate, to learn, to grow, to become ordained as a ruling elder, to lead, to serve, or so many other things that I can trace back to my happening upon MLP's website. Being apart of this organization, as a staff member, was a dream come true and I take none of this experience for granted.  I don't know what 2025 has in store for MLP, but I know that God is guiding us towards justice, love, and liberation for all of God's people. I hope you will join us.

Today: let’s celebrate Jesy’s first anniversary as our director of operations!!!!!!! January 2-5: College Conference. Join our brand-new intern Teddy Brock (they/them) and board member Avery Arden (they/them) in fun conversations at the exhibit hall or at Avery’s workshop.  January 12: Join director of engagement, Rev. Claudia Aguilar, in worship at Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church in Mesa, AZ.  January 23-26: Q Christian Conference in Atlanta, GA. Come visit director of engagement Claudia Aguilar and board member Bethany Peerbolte (she/her) at the exhibit hall. Email claudia@mlp.org if you want to have coffee with us. .

kin·dom camp is an opportunity for LBGTQIA+ youth ages 12-17 to feel safe and free to show up as their full selves. Campers have the chance to experience all the fun that camp has to offer in a week filled with affirmation, community, and celebration. This camp is affirming – full stop. It affirms all genders, sexualities, identities, abilities, and varieties of belief. The only thing we expect is a commitment to welcoming and celebrating everyone where they are, as they are. Our 2025 camp dates are June 15-20 in Illinois and July 20-25 in Nevada and Texas. Keep up with us @kindomcommunity on Facebook and Instagram for camp registration information and other news!

Our collective wisdom and knowledge can take us farther than what we can do on our own. You can help us this month in a few ways: *In light of recent political developments, the number of LGBTQIA+ couples seeking to get married has increased. More Light Presbyterians is compiling a list of queer and queer-affirming clergy willing to officiate wedding ceremonies and preach at MLP congregations on short notice. Please spread the word widely within your networks. If you are in need of an officiant, please contact us at hello@mlp.org indicating your location and the date of the ceremony.  *Do you have Pride pictures? Keep them coming! Please email them to hello@mlp.org  *We are trying to collect a list of all of our former board members to create an MLP alumni group. Have you served on our board or do you know someone who has served on our board? Send us an email or fill out this form and someone will be in touch soon. *Has your congregation paid dues this year? If not, you may submit them here.Your dues help us do this work.

GET YOUR MLP MERCH!

Celebrate the new year with new More Light merch!   Visit the MLP shop today!

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Our Contact Information More Light Presbyterians P.O. Box 735764 Chicago, IL 60673 (720) 288-0838 http://www.mlp.org