Prophetic Witness & the Environment
One of Jim Antal's major areas of concern is the environment.
For a list of environmental resources, please click here.
To read environmental sermons, please click here.
Jim Antal preached at an Ecumenical Vigil for the Tragedy in the Gulf sponsored by the Masssachusetts Council of Churches at Old South Curch in Boston on July 7. To read Jim's sermon from the Vigil for the Gulf, please click here.
May 4, 2010
Message from MACUCC Minister and President Jim Antal
I’m about to head out to the Day of Covenant gathering in the western part of the Conference. I only have a half an hour. But the state of the earth compels me to reach out with this brief message.
40 years ago, the first Earth Day was prompted by the gigantic oil spill off the beautiful coastline of Santa Barbara. As awareness and momentum grew and gas prices rose, our country began to take seriously the related issues of environment and energy. Funding for basic research in renewable energy skyrocketed. President Carter installed solar panels on the White House. We led the world in environmental development.
Today – this morning – there is an extraordinary concentration of good news: millions of us can now safely drink water from the tap; the terrorist who tried to set off a bomb in NYC has been arrested; and our three professional sports teams all won.
But the other headline is unimaginably horrific. A river of oil pouring from one of the 90 drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico continues to flow. Those who believe technology can fix all environmental and energy problems are silent as they watch crews use many of the same inadequate clean-up responses used when a finite amount of oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez in Alaska. The 2010 environmental catastrophe has no end in sight. Neither BP, nor the entire oil industry, has enough money to set it right. And as every Gulf fisherman now knows, it was 20 years before Exxon paid any reparations to Alaskan fishermen.
We don’t work for BP. We don’t fish for a living. Only a few of us regard the shoreline of the Gulf as our favorite place on earth.
But our behavior is part of the reason – each day – the U.S. takes the risk to pump 1,700,000 barrels of oil out of the Gulf of Mexico (not to mention elsewhere).
What will each of us preach about on Sunday?
With our leadership, people of faith can recognize that just as the Civil Rights movement adopted new behaviors as a Holy expression of covenant with the future, so can we. We can reduce our personal carbon footprint by engaging in new behaviors of shopping, eating, driving, sharing, spending, flying, using energy, recycling, and more – and we can recognize that in today’s world, these new behaviors are spiritual practices every bit as much as prayer. We can green our churches – and many of you already are.
In addition, we can follow the church-led Civil Rights movement in another way. We can work to change the laws.
And one more thing. As religious leaders, we can lead this generation to value:
- resilience in place of growth;
- integrity in place of consumption;
- wisdom in place of progress;
- vision in place of convenience;
- accountability in place of disregard;
- balance in place of addiction.
Without a vision, the people perish. Leadership – faithful and faith-filled leadership – is needed. God is calling us to be the change we long to see.
Jim Antal
Minister and President
Climate Change Resolution
On October 17, 2009, the Annual Meeting of the Mass Conference passed a resolution which connects our theological and moral commitments on climate change to the science of 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as the sustainable limit. To read the resolution, please click HERE.
The World Council of Churches also supports the 350ppm movement:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/statement-on-eco-justice.html.
They have also endorsed the 350 rings campaign. To read the endorsement, please click here.
Jim Antal and Pastor Debbie Clark are quoted in the MetroWest Daily News, speaking about the environment and faith. Read it here:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1866329785/MetroWest-churches-plan-environmental-events
A Faithful Response to Climate Change: 9 Opportunities to Help Save the Planet!
Message from Minister & President Jim Antal September 9, 2009
Jim Antal addresses the UCC General Synod on the importance of the 350.org campaign.
You can now show your support for the environment and the Massachusetts Conference through purchasing and wearing a 350.org/God is still speaking tee shirt.
Click here to order yours today! (Other designs, colors and styles are also available.)
Ask me what 350 rings sound like! 
Minister and President Jim Antal spoke at the Statehouse on January 29th at The Massachusetts Interfaith Climate Action Network Day of Prayer and Advocacy.
News coverage:
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 Minister and President Jim Antal was recently featured in a news story on Good Morning America. Watch the clip here.
Watch a video of the Step it Up Boston 2 climate rescue event featuring Jim Antal
Stewardship
Read Jim's address at "Stewardship University '09 " on Changing the Culture Around Money.
Science and Religion
Are the two compatible? Jim Antal recommends this article from Science & Spirit
sexuality
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