In a 2016 Resolution the Vestry of All Saints Church has declared human-caused climate change to be one of the greatest moral issues of our time. The recent hurricanes and wildfires amply illustrate the power of weather events to unleash human misery, and there is overwhelming consensus among scientists that climate change has exacerbated the frequency and severity of these events. As bad as they are, these recent events are only a foretaste of the devastation we can expect if climate change continues unabated.
But why is this a moral crisis? Scientists have concluded that human activities – those that generate greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels – are the cause of climate change. Ironically, people in the industrialized countries where most of the greenhouse gasses are generated are likely to suffer the least from climate change, while people in developing countries will suffer most. Thus we are stealing their future, perpetrating a clear economic injustice on our brethren.
As with so many other peace and justice issues, the time has come for people of good will to “move beyond the shrug”, and stop contributing to climate change. To help us all make these changes together, All Saints has the audacious goal of making its parishioners carbon neutral in their homes by Easter of 2020.
To help kick off this important campaign, All Saints is hosting an event on the morning of Saturday, November 18th. We are delighted to announce that Katharine Jefferts Schori has agreed to deliver the keynote address at this event.
Most Episcopalians will recall that Bishop Jefferts Schori is the former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in America. Time Magazine recently recognized her in its series, “Firsts: Women Who Are Changing the World” for being the first woman prelate in the Anglican Communion. What many people may not know is that Bishop Schori also has a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Oregon State University, so she is well-versed in both the science and the moral implications of human-caused climate change. Bishop Jefferts Schori speaks passionately and eloquently on this topic, and those who attend the conference are sure to have an inspirational experience.
In addition to Bishop Jefferts Schori the November 18th event will offer the opportunity for attendees to calculate their family carbon footprint. This information will be gathered into an aggregated database, and serve as a baseline so that we can monitor the progress of our Parish as we move toward our goal. The calculation uses a simple online tool, and volunteers will be on hand to help everyone through the process.
This is a also great opportunity for All Saints families to discuss this important peace and justice issue with their children. Childcare will be provided as during the event.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
8:30 am – 12:30 p.m. at All Saints Church in the Forum
Continental breakfast will be provided.
Register online here.
If you can’t join us in person, the keynote presentation will be live streamed and archived on our YouTube Channel.
For more information contact Ada Ramirez at 626.583.2734 or aramirez@allsaints-pas.org
