Justice and Creation Care in the Black Church

The Black Church has long taken up the charge to protect God's creation and God's people and has outlined a need to address environmental justice and environmental racism. From black church summits, leadership consultations, advocacy with elected officials and statements on climate change and public lands, the black church has lent its considerable voice to the faith and environmental movement.
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Climate Change Educational Resources for Black Churches 

Numerous educational resources exist to help Black churches learn more about climate change and its impacts.

• ​The National Council of Churches put together a curriculum to engage adult education groups on the issue of climate change. This curriculum, written specifically for those in the Black church, aims to engage Black communities in climate justice.
• Creation Justice Ministries produced a film, Faithful Resilience: Stories from North Carolina, on church resilience in the face of climate impacts. ​

Taking Climate Action

Black church leaders have repeatedly voiced the need to address climate change. Grounded in a call for justice, Black church leaders urged policymakers to take action on climate.

• More than 15,000 clergy and senior leaders released a statement calling for climate action. Click here to view the ad.
  
• Click here to see the climate resolution passed by the AME church.
  
• Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Arizona black church leader letters on climate.
  
• Black pastors in Minnesota, Georgia and Pennsylvania sent letter to EPA and DOT on the need for clean cars.

Public Lands and Equity

Public lands are important because of their health and recreation benefits. But, these lands are also important because they hold Black history narratives that are often underheard. 

• On the 100th anniversary of the National Parks, Black bishops and clergy across the United States signed a petition calling for public lands to emphasize diversity and inclusion and for federal lands to tell the stories of all Americans. The petition was signed by more than 20,000 black leaders.
  
• In September 2022, NRPE produced a report, Stories on the Land, detailing Black church leader public land perspectives and priorities.