Today, 35 diverse religious leaders joined together to welcome a Republican resolution on climate change, introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-6), and fourteen other Republican members of Congress.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emily Wirzba emily@fcnl.org
Direct: 202-903-2518
March 15^th, 2017, Washington, DC –
Today, 35 diverse religious leaders joined together to welcome a Republican resolution on climate change, introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-6), and fourteen other Republican members of Congress. Signatories of the letter, organized by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, include prominent voices from Evangelical, Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and other religious communities.
This resolution affirms the impacts of climate change, acknowledges that human activity has contributed to these changes, and calls on Congress to work constructively on solutions.
The letter states that “climate change is so great a challenge that it transcends political, faith, and social divides. As people of faith, we are rooted in the practice of emphasizing our common values in order to advance cooperation and overcome partisanship. All voices are needed to solve climate change, and the resolution provides a space for the House to join the dialogue.”
The religious community provides a unique space for members of Congress to dialogue about climate solutions. By seeking common ground and emphasizing shared values, people of faith feel called to pray and work to overcome divisions that have prevented climate action.
This letter illustrates the depth and breadth of support from the religious community for bipartisan action on climate change.
The full text of the letter reads:
Dear Member of Congress:
Our diverse faith traditions are guided by principles of compassion, justice, dialogue, and stewardship. We believe that it is the moral responsibility of our nation – and our sacred task as people of faith – to act to address climate change. We feel a special calling to pray and work to overcome the divisions and fears that have prevented action to address one of the greatest threats to current and future generations.
In this spirit, we welcome the resolution introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-6), and fourteen other Republican members of Congress on March 15^th^ that affirms the impacts of climate change, acknowledges that human activity has contributed to these changes, and calls on Congress to work constructively on solutions. We see this resolution as a much-needed step towards continuing bipartisan resolve for action within Congress. We encourage every member in the House of Representatives to co-sponsor this resolution.
Climate change is so great a challenge that it transcends political, faith, and social divides. As people of faith, we are rooted in the practice of emphasizing our common values in order to advance cooperation and overcome partisanship. All voices are needed to solve climate change, and the resolution provides a space for the House to join the dialogue.
We thank those members of Congress who are co-sponsoring the resolution. We ask that other members consider co-sponsoring this resolution as a statement of our shared moral obligation. We look forward to working with you in the coming months to foster a spirit of bipartisan dialogue within Congress so that together, we can create solutions to address climate change for the well-being of our common future.
Blessings,
Diane Randall
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Rev. Paula Dempsey
Director of Partnership Relations
Alliance of Baptists
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS
Executive Director
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Joan Marie Steadman, CSC
Executive Director
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Dr. Steve Timmermans
Executive Director
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
National Organizer and Spokesperson
Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
Jim Wallis
President and Founder
Sojourners
David Bernstein
President and CEO
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Director
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Reverend John L. McCullough
President and CEO
Church World Service
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb
Chair of the Board
The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Sister Patricia McDermott, RSM
President
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Irene Keim
Chair of the Board
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
J Ron Byler
Executive Director
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association
Stan Becker
Clerk
Quaker Earthcare Witness
Rev. Jimmie Ray Hawkins
Director
Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Rev. Sally Bingham
President and Founder
Interfaith Power and Light
Reverend Tim Mulroy, SSC
U.S. Regional Director
Missionary Society of St. Columban
Sharon E. Watkins*
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Rev. Fletcher Harper
Executive Director
GreenFaith
Shan Cretin
General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee
Josh Zinner
CEO
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Rebecca Linder Blachly
Director, Office of Government Relations
The Episcopal Church
The Rev. Amy E. Reumann
Director, Advocacy
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Sandy Sorensen
Director, Washington Office
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
Bishop W. Darin Moore
Presiding Prelate of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District
AME Zion Church
Marie Dennis
Co-President
Pax Christi International
Adin Strauss
General Director
Soka Gakkai International-USA Buddhist Association (SGI-USA)
Patrick Carolan
Executive Director
Franciscan Action Network
Colin Saxton*
General Secretary
Friends United Meeting
Gerry Lee
Executive Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Sr. Mary Ann Smith
Social Concerns
Eastern Region, USA
Maryknoll Sisters
Shantha Ready Alonso
Executive Director
Creation Justice Ministries
Very Reverend Kevin J. Mullen, O.F.M.
Provincial Minister
Holy Name Province - Franciscan Friars
*Affiliation listed for identification purposes only
The Friends Committee on National Legislation, the oldest registered religious lobby in Washington, is a nonpartisan Quaker lobby in the public interest. FCNL works with a nationwide network of tens of thousands of people from every state in the U.S. to advocate for social and economic justice, peace, and good government.
