We know that “crisis” is probably a weaker word than we really need when we talk about the “climate crisis.” The fact that we’re in a crisis doesn’t change the additional fact that, as people of faith, we have climate hope. Now, imagine working with other United Church of Christ people – and maybe people from other denominations and faith traditions – in a local group that is networked with other United Church of Christ affiliates to build climate hope and action across the country. Who are the people who can help make this a reality?
I have volunteered to help launch a Climate Hope Affiliate here in East Bay. The purpose of the Climate Hope Affiliates program is to create the political will to address the twin, intertwined crises of climate change and societal injustice by building relationships with politicians, reporters, and other social activists – supported and empowered by our faith.
The first step in building a local Climate Hope Affiliate is to identify and invite people to come to an organizing meeting. And it takes an “Inviting Team” to extend those invitations. So that’s who I’m recruiting now: the Inviting Team. I’m working to identify people who will come to an Inviting Team Training on Monday, March 24, 7:30-9:00 p.m., at Niles Discovery Church, 36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont.
I want to know who to invite to this meeting. It might be you. It might be someone from your church. Let me know who to invite!
The meeting will be led by the Rev. Brooks Berndt, the United Church of Christ’s Environmental Justice Minister. Brooks will talk about the program in more detail, answer our questions, and see who is excited about helping to launch a Climate Hope Affiliate here in the East Bay. We will ask the people who attend this meeting and are enthusiastic about what they hear to join me in inviting others to the East Bay Climate Hope Affiliate launch in late April (the date of the Affiliate launch will be set soon).
You can send names and contact info (email addresses and phone numbers) of the people I should invite to this “Inviting Team” meeting to me at jeff@nilesdiscoverychurch.org.
Rev. Jeff Spencer
Niles Discovery Church
