An Open Letter by Rev Nancy Leckerling, IREJN Board of Directors, Chairperson
As the United States approaches the 2024 Presidential election in November, we face a pivotal moment in our democracy and in our care of Creation. A robust democracy relies on free and fair elections, adherence to the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights, including voting access, absence of corruption, enhanced voter participation, and the separation of Church and State. Erosion of public trust in our democracy by people who feel disillusioned with the political process or disconnected from their representatives can lead to both lower environmentally concerned voter turnout and less engagement in environmental advocacy for justice and freedom for all. We need energetic measures, such as faith leaders urging their congregants to vote, to address these threats; the path to a strong democracy and a healthy planet requires collective effort and vigilance.
Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN), the Connecticut affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light, has a proud history of advocating for peace, for the disenfranchised, for the poor, for the marginalized, for Creation care, and for environmental justice. Many of its programs and advocacy initiatives have influenced state laws and demonstrate the organization’s commitment to its core values. And faith leaders play a crucial role in guiding their congregations based on similar values. But do faith leaders realize what an even more important part they and their congregants can play in safeguarding democratic principles?
Currently, voices from certain religious sectors promote “truths” that conflict with IREJN’s inclusive mission, environmental goals, and democratic principles. This moment presents an opportunity for the faithful to bring their beliefs to the public square as well. Our democracy as well as our environment are both in a crisis, but these crises simultaneously offer a chance for religious organizations to demonstrate how Scriptural truths can address contemporary issues. This is a “kairos” moment, a time for faith leaders to speak up and offer a shifting worldview which recognizes that our living systems and our faith tenets (salvation, care of the Earth, justice for all, mercy, etc.) are best understood not as merely individualistic but in terms of relationship and based on Biblical truths like love of God and neighbor (Deut. 6:4-7; Matthew 7:12), care for God’s Creation (Genesis 2:15), (Quran 2:60; 25:63), kindness and justice (Micah 6:8; Amos 5:24).
For people of faith, love of God and love and care of Creation, including our neighbor, the sea, the sky, the air, and animals, drive our faithful cultural behavior. The 18th century drive to dominate Nature has encouraged us to exploit the “web of life” that we are part of, as if it were separate from ourselves. This has led to widespread environmental degradation and social alienation. Indigenous wisdom reminds us that we are a part of this web of life, that we are connected to Nature. As example, we would benefit from embracing some of the indigenous wisdom Robin Wall Kimmerer presents in her book Braiding Sweetgrass. Sadly, the consequences of our historic “disconnection” narrative promote alienation from self and others and Nature, with the result that society, politics, and religion become polarized.
In this fragmented context, with global warming and climate threats looming, we need a new paradigm. People of faith must extend their faith into the public sphere. Yes, clergy of all faiths need to use their platforms to promote radical love, empathy, justice, love of Nature, and hope. But we also need them to broaden their discourse and to model advocacy as a spiritual discipline to motivate collective action for the good. In an election year, one way they can help bring forth a world rooted in justice is to preach sermons that emphasize voting is a civic duty intertwined with faith and that advocacy for Creation is just as important as prayer, worship, Bible study and service to the needy. And we must ask ourselves how we can exercise collective agency to impact society on a significant scale. If we, people of faith, don’t begin this shifting paradigm, this “spiritual revolution”, a movement to touch human hearts with radical love for all humankind, diverse plants and animals, with hope and imagination for a better democracy and healthier planet, who will?
Our faith is spiritual and private but it’s also communal and political. Yahweh, Allah, Jesus, Buddha and other deities call us to speak out to the principalities, to care for the poor, as they did. Some religious paradigms have placed a lot of emphasis on the next life and personal sin and salvation. We, in this time of climate change, environmental injustice, and fragile democracy, need to address corporate sin and corporate salvation, on saving us all in this life, by advocating for a clean planet and caring for the communities of all creatures on the Earth.
May we soon see spiritual leaders guide their faith communities toward greater voter engagement and environmental advocacy: by encouraging members to join a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) organization, such as Environmental Voter Project or Indivisible, or an environmental advocacy group such IREJN/Interfaith Power and Light (IPL), Save the Sound, CT League of Conservation Voters, 350.org., Third Act, or Sierra Club; by preaching about preservation of biodiversity in all life-forms and the abolition of environmental injustices that harm low-income, vulnerable communities; and by leading their members in marches/demonstrations to advocate for clean, renewable energy economy and climate justice. Workshops on how to engage in climate advocacy, how to write op-eds, or how to contact Legislative representatives could be held after worship. The good news is, with 13 days until the election, we still have time to research candidates committed to safeguarding democracy and addressing climate change. Then, we can vote for candidates based on our faith values. Our actions in November will influence both the future of our democracy and our nation’s ability to manage climate change.
