Faith Leaders Initiate Gorundbreaking Ecumencial Creation Care Collaboration
In many ways, climate change has become the great unifier of faiths. Bridging gaps and rekindling old friendships, this paramount moral issue has fostered ecumenical collaborations enabling faith leaders to guide America toward long-lasting climate resolutions.
Breaking new ground, Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas will begin serving both the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ as the volunteer Missioner for Creation Care. Welcomed by MACUCC President, and Blessed Tomorrow leader, Rev. Jim Antal, the joint effort is truly extraordinary.
Rev. Antal shared his excitement over the collaboration, “Climate change teaches us that we’re all in this together. This first of its kind sharing of a staff person between the UCC and the Episcopal Church echoes this reality."
Blessed Tomorrow is very excited over this promising relationship and wishes great success to this exceptional leadership initiative!
Conference to share Missioner for Creation Care with Western Mass. Episcopal Diocese
Effective today, the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas will begin serving both the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ as the volunteer Missioner for Creation Care.
What may possibly be the first joint appointment of this kind between the two churches represents the effort to strengthen ecumenical collaboration, communication and Christian witness around the critical issue of climate change, according to The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Conference Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ.
“Climate change teaches us that we’re all in this together. This first of its kind sharing of a staff person between the UCC and the Episcopal Church echoes this reality. By focusing on the greatest moral challenge humanity has ever faced, this partnership of the two largest Protestant denominations in the Commonwealth will amplify the essential role people of faith must play to restore the Eden into which we were born,” Antal said.
Addressing environmental degradation from a Christian vantage point became Margaret’s central ministry in January of 2014 when she accepted the call to serve as Missioner for Creation Care for the Episcopal Diocese at the request of Bishop Doug Fisher. Since that time, she has been active in organizing public witness, communicating the most current information, and representing people of faith in the conversation to preserve, protect and cherish the earth. Margaret seeks to inspire and support a wave of religious activism to address the climate crisis, deepen reverence for God’s creation, and create a more just and sustainable society.
Bishop Fisher, who has been deeply engaged in deepening the shared ministry of the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, is very excited about Margaret’s appointment in the United Church of Christ:
"Climate change threatens the future of nothing less than God's creation on this planet," he said. "Of course religious denominations and faith traditions should come together in common cause to work for the gift of life God has given us. With great gratitude for my friends, Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and Jim Antal, I rejoice in this mission of collaboration and embrace the hope that we will inspire our society to care for the generations that follow us."