Faith and Climate News: Top Stories for the Week of December 23-30

Every Friday, we release our favorite faith and climate stories from the week. We highlight achievements in climate solutions and effective climate communicating to people of faith. We feature helpful tips and strategies for you to implement in your faith community and stories to share with your friends and family. We also let you know about upcoming events for the faith and climate community in the coming week, including a special glimpse into our weekly blog which publishes here every Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. (ET).

If you think we missed anything, email Ryan Smith, or comment your suggestions below.

Faith and Climate Leadership

• Why Delaware faith leaders can’t “live in a state of denial” about climate change. (Blessed Tomorrow)

• If Governor Hogan wants the Jewish vote, he'll need to address climate change (The Washington Post)

• The Diocese of Hamilton is encouraging all its churches to forego bottled water starting in 2017 (CBC Hamilton)

• Twin Cities' faith leaders are making solar the new norm, but some still need help affording them. (Twin Cities Pioneer Press)

Faith and Climate Communications

• Creation Care is Biblical, degradation is not. Robert A. Bryant demonstrates how "all life...is affected by human activity," and why followers of Jesus should be particularly aware of it. (Greenville Online)

• Katharine Hayhoe explains how the biggest misconception about climate change is that we have "to be a certain type of person to care." (Ecowatch)

• How we changed the concept of Jesus to avoid caring for creation, and how we can fix it. It's not a reimagining — it's a revival. (Delmarva Now)

Events Next Week

• New Year’s Day is World Day of Peace, for which Pope Francis will deliver a message, as every Pope has since 1967. Last year, Pope Francis' message focused on creation care, but did you know that Pope John Paul II was the first to highlighted this issue on World Day of Peace in 1990? Check out Pope Francis 2017 message early here. (Vatican)

Next Week's Blog

• From exile to climate leadership, Blessed Tomorrow's blog will examine how the history of the Bahá'ís Faith has enabled community leaders to influence United Nation climate policies since 1992. (Blessed Tomorrow)

Published on www.BlessedTomorrow.org/blog every Tuesday at 8 a.m. (ET).