WCC News: In wake of floods in Brazil, WCC expresses concern and solidarity

In the wake of severe flooding in the Taquari Valley, Brazil, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed sorrow and concern for the people affected. Photo: Agora no Vale 09 September 2023 “As tens of thousands of people cope with the aftermath of the flooding, we want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers,” wrote Pillay in a solidarity letter to the leadership of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB). Thousands were forced from their homes by the storms, which started on 4 September. Hail and more than 300 millimeters of rain were dumped on the state of Rio Grande do Sul in less than 24 hours, triggering floods and landslides. The death toll from the cyclone has risen to 41, authorities said on 8 September. 46 people continue to be missing. State governor Eduardo Leite said the death toll is the highest the state had ever seen due to a climate-related event.  The storm, which was classified as an extratropical cyclone, hit over 80 municipalities in all, affecting more than 135.00 people, authorities said. It has left more than 3,046 people homeless and over 7,700 displaced.  The Rio Grande do Sul floods are just the latest recent natural disasters in Brazil. More than 50 people were killed in Sao Paulo state this year after massive downpours caused landslides and flooding. Rev. Dr Mauro de Souza, second vice president of the IECLB, and member of the WCC central committee said: “Climate change severely affects the entire planet. Large amounts of unexpected rain catch communities by surprise, causing death and destruction, pain and suffering. The IECLB calls on the entire church to unite in prayer and actions of solidarity, so that suffering can be alleviated. God of life, hear our cry.” Archbishop Jaime Spengler, president of the Roman Catholic Episcopal Conference of Brazil, said: "These tragedies are reminding us, once again, of the importance of caring for the climate and our common home, which is sending signals that alert us to the need to respect and cultivate what is necessary so that mother nature can continue to offer what we all need. we need: living conditions.” Pillay prayed for the region’s continued strength. “Please accept our condolences and our hopes for healing and renewal,” he said. “We stand with you as you face the pain of lost loved ones, destroyed homes, and disrupted lives.” Pillay also noted that extreme weather events have been affecting states and regions worldwide these last years. “Unfortunately, it’s clear that the impacts of climate change are leading to more extreme - and more regular - situations like these,” he said. “Unless we work together to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change then we have no hope of improving and protecting the Earth and all its inhabitants in future. “ The IECLB Synod of Taquari River is coordinating a solidarity campaign to raise funds to help the victims. More information on the IECLB solidarity campaign Read the full text of the WCC solidarity letter The IECLB temple in the town of Roca Sales was one of the many affected by the floods in the region of the Taquari Valley, South Brazil. Photo: Sinodo Vale do Taquari See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: No peace without justice: Peacebuilding and human rights training equips young ecumenical leaders

With a focus on peacebuilding and human rights protection, The United Evangelical Mission’s International Summer School 2023, organized in cooperation with the World Council of Churches and other partners, took place in August and September in Hofgeismar, Germany. Participants of the United Evangelical Mission’s International Summer School 2023 on Peacebuilding and human rights protection came from 11 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Photo: UEM 08 September 2023 Participants coming from areas affected by conflict in 11 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America were trained for conflict resolution, mediation, and human rights protection in the context of shrinking spaces for civil society and churches. “I think the most valuable part of the seminar was the opportunity to share regional agendas with participants from Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Rwanda etc.), Asia (Indonesia-Papua, East Timor, Korea) and Latin America (El Salvador),” says Rev. Min Ji Kim, program executive for the department of international relations of the National Council of Churches in Korea, one of the participants of the training. “It was also very valuable that activists from civil society and ecumenical communities working on issues as civil wars, genocide, racism, hatred, and ideological conflicts, were able to come together for two weeks and form a peace and human rights network that can build deep companionship and help our future work together,” shares Kim. She appreciated the opportunity to share at the seminar the fact that the Korean Peninsula has been under an armistice for 70 years, and is still in dire need of a peace agreement to end the war and move towards peace. “This seminar was a meaningful way to help more people become involved in the work of achieving a just peace on the Korean Peninsula. Keep hope alive!” said Kim. James Ibrahim, who works on Trauma Healing at the Christian Council of Nigeria, says his understanding was broadened by exploring the relationship between peace and justice. “In the possible tensions between human rights-based and peace-based approaches to conflict resolution, the principle of “do no harm” must be applied, weighing the option of justice before peace.”  Human rights violations or abuses are potential causes of trauma, shares Ibrahim. “If we don’t transform trauma, we will transmit trauma—perpetrators today were once ignored victims of human right violations. It is difficult to have genuine reconciliation until total healing is guaranteed—trauma can be responsible for a circle of violence.” The training also explored the human rights advocacy using the Biblical and the UN human rights context. “The Bible is categorically clear about humans’ equality before God. And that is reflected in the UN human rights principles—being right to freedom of religion, freedom of expression, right to life, and many others,” says James Ibrahim, adding that peacebuilding must be accompanied with justice and advocacy to respect human rights of all forms. WCC shares greetings with United Evangelical Mission International Summer School (WCC news release, 18 August 2023) Learn more about the United Evangelical Mission See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata reflects on “Hope in a fragile world” at diakonia conference in Germany

World Council of Churches (WCC) progamme director for Public Witness and Diakonia Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata offered a keynote address at a conference for the Diakonia Region Africa-Europe of the World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities. Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC progamme director for Public Witness and Diakonia delivering a keynote address at a conference of the World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities. Photo: DRAE 08 September 2023 Being held 6-10 September in Neuendettelsau, Germany, the conference is exploring the theme “Hope in a fragile world.” In his address, Mtata spoke about how diakonia or service of the church can align itself with God’s plan to give hope and a future to all people. “How can ecumenical diakonia be a source of hope in a world characterized by fragility?” he asked. “Is the world in a state of fragility?” Different life forms are in serious fragility, he said. “This fragility is not only exposure to vulnerability caused by violence but also caused by all forms of deprivation and neglect that diminish the quality of life or access to abundant life for all people,” he explained. “Unfortunately, this fragility is not equitably distributed.” It is structural, he added. “Some parts of the world are more fragile than others,” he said. “Some sectors of society are more fragile than others.” Fragility is a justice issue, Mtata said. “If ecumenical diakonia is going to give hope to a fragile world, it must address the violence, the neglect, and the justice aspects that deny all people of hope,” he said. "This fragility is manifest in many areas but particularly in the economy, society, governance, and environment.” Economic fragility is a system of violent relations in which one part of the world has a parasitic relationship with the other, Mtata continued. “If ecumenical diakonia is going to give hope to the world, it must not only address the immediate economic needs of those suffering such economic violence, it must also address the structural injustices that perpetuate such suffering and fragility,” he said.  He also addressed social fragility, governance fragility, and environmental fragility. “Today social fragility is also deeply experienced where social polarization on the basis of different forms of identity politics create service disparities in such areas as health and education,” he said. “One biggest cause of fragility today is failing governance in many parts of the world where there is a growing disregard for democracy and respect for human dignity,” he said. “Even in countries that used to pride themselves as champions of democracy, we can see many signs of strain.” To respond to these types of fragility, Mtata said, the church must recover a theology of caring communities. "This theology of care and compassion while addressing the present need must also attend to the structural conditions that cause the pain,” he said. “Theology of diakonia that seeks to give hope to the fragile world must orient itself, not only to bandaging the wound, but also stopping the injury.” Keynote address by Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata: Diakonia of Hope in a fragile world Learn more about Diakonia and ecumenical solidarity See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

EarthBeat Weekly: Inflation Reduction Act is good, but not enough to solve climate crisis, say politicians

Inflation Reduction Act is good, but not enough to solve climate crisis, say politicians Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change September 8, 2023   Rep. Summer Lee speaks during an event on a moral response to air pollution held Aug. 29 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Also pictured are, from left, Dan Scheid, Scalabrinian Fr. Bill Christy and Sister of St. Joseph Kari Pohl. (In Solidarity)  At the TED Countdown Summit in Detroit, Michigan from July 11-14 this year, former Vice President Al Gore delivered an impassioned speech about what he sees as the two leading obstacles to solving the climate crisis: the political and financial opposition mounted by the fossil fuel industry. Gore spends the majority of the presentation detailing how the fossil fuel industry has infiltrated global discussions on climate solutions with its lobbyists, placated the public with empty promises to reduce or capture greenhouse gas emissions and develop new renewable technologies, and profited from subsidies and investments at the expense of public health and progress.  Still, he starts off the 25-minute talk by saying, "I'm convinced we are going to solve the climate crisis," and listing measurable steps toward that goal from countries across the globe in the last year, including the United States, Australia, Brazil and the European Union. The recording of the speech was recently released and you can watch it here. In the U.S., Gore says, President Biden and Congress "have passed the best, biggest climate legislation in all of history" with the Inflation Reduction Act. But in spite of this and other signs of progress, emissions are still going up. And that continuing rise in greenhouse gas emissions has negative effects not just on the scale of global warming, but also on local frontline communities. For example, during an Aug. 29 meeting between Catholic leaders in Pittsburgh and their newly elected U.S. House Rep. Summer Lee, participants said that the air quality in the nation's city ranked 14th worst for annual soot pollution — which is caused primarily by fossil fuel combustion — is "better than it used to be," but still not great, reported NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe. Lee said the Inflation Reduction Act injected a "historic level of funding" for climate justice, including $60 million for environmental justice initiatives, but it's not enough.  Lee has helped secure funding for Pennslvyania's 12th District through the Inflation Reduction Act for air quality monitors and brownfield site remediation. Meanwhile, fracking and petrochemical facilities in the area continue to expand, threatening human health and the health of the local ecosystems. Read more: US Rep. and Catholic leaders in Pittsburgh say solutions to pollution intersect with other justice issues   What else is new on EarthBeat: At African climate summit, faith leaders join demands for climate justice by Frederick Nzwili, Religion News Service At the close of an inaugural summit on climate change, some activists  rejected the declaration issued Sept. 6 by the political and corporate leaders in attendance.  Pakistani women still impacted by 2022 floods, says CRS staffer by Barb Fraze, OSV News A year after floods submerged one-third of Pakistan, "women in particular are (still) being impacted," said Gul Wali Khan, the head of programming for CRS in Pakistan. Nigerian Catholic Church launches campaign to plant 5.5 million trees by Valentine Benjamin Catholics in Nigeria are working to prevent future floods. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria on Feb. 15 launched a tree-planting campaign in partnership with Caritas Nigeria. Revisit Laudato Si' to prepare for Pope Francis' new document on ecology by Daniel P. Horan On Oct. 4, Pope Francis is scheduled to release a new apostolic exhortation on the environment. In the meantime, writes Fr. Dan Horan, we would all do well to revisit the teachings of Laudato Si'. How some US Catholic dioceses are heeding the papal call for a 'green revolution' by Kimberley Heatherington, OSV News Catholics are heeding the call to explore and implement alternatives to fossil fuels. Here's what some dioceses and organizations are doing to become better caretakers of the earth. Catholic sisters continue to revise and refine how they invest to help the world by Dan Stockman In recent decades congregations began moving investments into companies and funds that make a positive impact on the world. Some are using their money to change the investing landscape. Africa fund focused on helping farmers wins Hilton Humanitarian Prize by Chris Herlinger The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation said its 2023 Humanitarian Prize will be awarded to the One Acre Fund, which reaches a network of 4 million farm families across nine African countries. 2023 Season of Creation: Creature Features by NCR Staff EarthBeat will recirculate nine essays and reports on different animals through a twice-weekly newsletter with an original illustration of the day's creature by graphic designer and illustrator Ryan McQuade. What's happening in other climate news: Biden administration cancels remaining oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic Refuge —Becky Bohrer and Matthew Daly for The Associated Press After a year and a half, negotiators finally have a draft of the global plastics treaty —Joseph Winters for Grist Home insurers cut natural disasters from policies as climate risks grow —Jacob Bogage for The Washington Post Hundreds of academics call for 100% plant-based meals at UK universities —Damian Carrington for The Guardian In historic legal win, Montana teens see an end to climate change denial —Devin Dwyer and Sarah Herndon for ABC News Final Beat: In an essay to mark the start of the Season of Creation (Sept. 1 - Oct. 4), Marquette professors Heidi Bostic and Stephen Pluháček draw connections between Pope Francis 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home," and the celebration of the Eucharist. Referring to humans' relationships with God, with each other and with the earth, they say:  "Our challenge is to live in ways that simultaneously care for all three of the relationships that ground our lives — not as separate or distinct concerns, but as concerns that are intimately interwoven with one another. … In other words, we must learn to live eucharistically — to lovingly lift up one another and all of creation in thanksgiving to God in all that we do." You can read their full essay at Marquette Today here. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr

SojoMail - Who would Jesus cut from Medicaid?

Who Would Jesus Cut From Medicaid? Lauren W. Reliford writes in this week's SojoMail that kicking millions of people out of their health care program is a failure of Christian imagination: When I teach people how to advocate on Capitol Hill, I say that the best way to appeal to legislators is to build a common vision for humanity rooted in shared values. Early in my political advocacy career, I assumed that as a Christian, I’d have an easier time of this since more than 87 percent of Congress claims to share my Christian faith. For me, this faith has always been rooted in Jesus’ lived example of how we are to be unapologetic in our support for each other. And when Jesus says, “love thy neighbor as thyself,” I imagined this meant, well, help thy neighbor, assist thy neighbor, care for thy neighbor, nurture thy neighbor — all without condition or justification, just as Jesus did. But since then, I’ve learned a serious lesson about the limitations of the Christian imagination in politics. Despite our shared faith, many lawmakers in this country don’t seem to envision a country where we actually put these values into practice. My latest disappointment? Millions of people losing Medicaid coverage — our nation’s primary public health system that provides health care and support for folks with low income and/or disabilities — because states refuse to do the right thing. READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward Share

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Our Latest When Kids Need More Than the Church Can Give (by Bekah McNeel) While the church often helps children with medical complexities in acute ways, advocates say more must be done to address the systemic burdens placed on families. There’s a Mental Health Crisis Among Youth. The Church Can Help (by Michael Paul Cartledge) And no, the answer isn't to tell young people to pray more. Jesus, Labor Agitator (by Michael Woolf) The worker from Nazareth ‘Stirreth up the people!’ and made himself an enemy of the rich and powerful. What Families With Disabled Kids Need From the Church (by Bekah McNeel) Too often, the burden to assimilate into church life falls on disabled people, those with medical complexities, and their families.

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From the Magazine How Racism Reaches the Womb (by Melanie Springer Mock) Pregnant While Black considers how and why Black mothers in the U.S. are dying.

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