United Church of Christ Statement on Global Climate Change
Resolution: "Global Warming"
Whereas, General Synod has voted broad environmental
resolutions and the Integrity of Creation, Justice and Peace
(ICJP) priority in the distant past but these broad policies
do not give specific or timely policy guidance on current environmental
issues such as global warming;
Whereas, the Bible is clear in its call to us to be caretakers
("stewards," and "managers" in the NRSV)
of God's creation (Genesis 2:15), and in the covenant between
God and Noah and "every living creature" we are called
to care for God's creatures and to protect the means of creation
that we may "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 9:10);
Whereas, Psalms 24 declares, "the earth is the Lord's and
the fullness thereof," we human beings do not possess the
earth but are called to care for it as good stewards;
Whereas, the industrialized nations are the main producers of
gases that cause global warming and the United States, with only
4% of the world's population, still emits 22% of these gases;
Whereas, 2,500 scientists of the United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change have concluded that these human-made
gases are causing the earth's temperature to rise and these scientists
project an increase of 2-6 degrees Fahrenheit during our children's
lifetimes;
Whereas, such gases released into the atmosphere absorb some
of the out-going infrared radiation from the surface of the earth
causing the atmosphere to warm;
Whereas, such gases released into the atmosphere block the natural
reflection of the sun's radiation from the earth back into space
and thus cause a "greenhouse effect" just as our cars
heat up when left in the sun with windows closed;
Whereas, the continued release of greenhouse
gases will cause devastating effects on agricultural and natural
ecosystems, the
flooding of coastal regions and island nations, increased volatility
of weather patterns with severe heat waves and storms, migration
of tropical insects, diseases, deforestation, desertification
and displacement of human populations; and
Whereas, 160 nations agreed to a binding treaty to reduce greenhouse
gases in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Twenty-second General Synod
of the United Church of Christ:
recognizes the dangers of global warming and our biblical mandate
as stewards of God's creation to be diligent in our efforts to
decrease the emission of greenhouse gases;
affirms the greater responsibility of industrial nations and
especially the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
encourages local churches, Conferences and national agencies
to engage in efforts to educate and advocate for ratification
of the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty and to address their own lifestyles
(institutional and personal) to assure the minimum production
of wastes that threaten the environment;
urges all members of the United Church of Christ to contact their
U.S. Senators affirming the need to ratify this treaty as first
step in meeting the threat of global warming;
urges governmental representatives to support legislation that
regulates and reduces pollution and provides for alternatives
to the burning of fossil fuels; and
calls on the Office for Church in Society and the United Church
Board for World Ministries and its successors to keep the global
warming issue as a high priority in their educational and advocacy
efforts.
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