Faith communities seek more climate participation
Published 1:30 am Friday, November 18, 2022
Early this year a group of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap residents belonging to various faith traditions began the Interfaith Council Climate Circle. Its focus is to promote awareness of individual and shared climate programs for mitigating and adapting to climate change and promoting climate conversations to encourage engagement and action as effective tools for overcoming mounting eco-anxiety.
Among the programs are: 1) developing an online resource directory; 2) promoting the use of Climate Smart Bainbridge tools; and 3) offering assistance with Climate Conversations in various faith communities, including collaboration with facilitated Climate Cafe events.
The IFC Climate Circle was founded within the BI North Kitsap Interfaith Council with its more than 20 member communities. The council believes faith communities have a critical role to play in responding to climate change, one of the greatest threats to humanity and to all life on this planet. The council is committed to a renewed reverence for all of life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.
Our region’s residents have varied personal stories, traditions and understandings of the wonder and awe of nature and reality. Most would likely agree that the unfolding climate crisis is not merely an economic and technical problem. Climate change is also a deeply emotional, ethical and spiritual issue.
As we as humans are inextricably bound with all living elements of the world, seen and unseen, we are called to compassionate action, joining our hearts, minds and hands with our neighbors to speak and act for eco and economic justice considering the disruptions unfolding.
We believe that there can be no enduring resolution to the challenge of climate change unless a critical mass of people, in a concerted and collective way, accept our personal and socially shared responsibility and accountability and act in solidarity and service.
Our Interfaith Council Climate Circle invites and welcomes all people in our region to join us in our eco-response to mutually work for the common good within the broad spectrum of paths and perceptions that make up the richness of the human family in our region and the world. We are in this together without exception and ask you to join in this life-affirming effort by acting on any and all ideas that fit your vision for climate action.
Whoever you are, we invite you to begin to engage climate change in your life through resources at www.bainbridgewa.gov/1359/Climate-Smart-Bainbridge or with other groups in your area.
If your faith community is wanting to learn more about the BINK Interfaith Council Climate Circle, please write to climatecircle@BINKinterfaith.org.
Michael Cox is part of the Interfaith Council Climate Circle.
