Events to address climate change implications for faith communities

Kim Morrow will present "What's Love Got to Do with It? The Faith Response to Climate Change" at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Sheridan Lutheran Church, 6955 Old Cheney Road in Lincoln.

The lecture is free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested at http://go.unl.edu/climatechange.

Morrow is director of Nebraska Interfaith Power and Light, a nonprofit whose mission is to facilitate the faith community's response to climate change. She is also a climate change resource specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In July, she was recognized at the White House for her work with faith communities on climate change.

"Climate change is the most pressing moral issue of our time," Morrow said. "The faith community is concerned not only for the fate of species and habitat, but for human beings. Changing weather patterns threaten to wreak havoc on people's lives and property, on our communities and on our infrastructure. The more we understand and act now, the more we can mitigate suffering in the future."

A roundtable discussion for faith leaders will take place at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 18 at Sheridan Lutheran Church. Ordained and lay pastoral leaders from all faiths are invited.

"As the effects of climate change worsen in coming decades, members of congregations across the state are likely to experience economic losses, emotional strain, changes to their livelihoods and a disorientation to the natural world they have known," Morrow said. "These changes will likely lead to great pastoral needs. Effective pastoral leaders will anticipate these changes and prepare to best respond to congregational needs."

The roundtable agenda includes: presentations by Morrow and Don Wilhite, UNL professor of applied climate science; lunch; and breakout sessions in the afternoon that will solicit perspectives about the faith community's response to climate change. Email kmorrow2@unl.edu to register. Advanced registration is required.

"The purpose of the meeting is to bring together faith leaders from a range of backgrounds and traditions to discuss the implications of climate change for Nebraska's people," Morrow said. "The goal of this meeting will be the generation of substantive next steps faith communities can take to continue the response to our changing climate."

These events are jointly sponsored by UNL and Nebraska Interfaith Power and Light. They are the first in a series of climate change-related events that will take place throughout the fall. For more information, visit http://go.unl.edu/climatechange.

Writer: Mekita Rivas, School of Natural Resources