Advocacy
Join Others in Advocacy Work
How to Find Joy in Climate Action (Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, 10 min TED talk, April 2022)
Whether you are a seasoned activist or a beginner, please take 10 minutes to listen to this TED talk. Johnson changes the question from “What can I do?” to “What can we do together?”, and she transforms the possibilities. Informative, practical, inspiring!
Local Church Level:
- Provide opportunities for children, youth and adults to experience the wonders of nature: nature walks, stream hikes, camping, canoeing, field trips to farms, urban gardens and nature preserves.
- Seek out the stories of people and communities who have been negatively affected by policies and practices which polluted their air, or nearby land or water.
- Develop educational presentations and/or utilize existing ones for mid week programs, Vacation Bible School and day camps, adult and youth Sunday School classes, United Methodist Women and Men’s programs, retreats, youth mission and adult mission trips.
- Create community events by inviting outside speakers to your church (soil and water conservation, native plants, gardening, urban recycling updates, food waste, college and university sustainability programs, transportation and vehicle trends, sources of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy production, future job markets and transitions, current justice or legislative campaigns, etc).
- Develop a cooperative creation care ministry of neighboring area churches, staying connected to the conference creation care ministry team for support and exchange of ideas. ([email protected]).
- Share your expertise with others (extended family, church family, creation care team, community organizations): raising food locally, cooking with local and seasonal food, composting, energy efficiency and facility maintenance knowledge, organizing experience, small group leadership skills, scientific background, etc.)
Broader Community:
- Join and support organizational networks of your choosing (regional and/or national level)
- Bring your faith perspectives to this community work
- Seek out the stories of others, learn from them, and find inspiration
- Build relationships with local, state and national leaders
- Become part of faith based coalitions – as an individual or congregation
- Stay informed
- Consider public speaking and group presentations
- Direct action responses to legislative initiatives and justice campaigns
- Mostly, bring your strengths and expertise!
Public Policy Strategies/ Action Alerts
1) All of us have the right to contact our legislators by writing letters, by making appointments to speak directly with them, and by calling their offices. Learning to do these things well greatly increases their effectiveness.
2) Action Alerts from a multitude of organizations can fill up our email inboxes and social media accounts and begin to feel overwhelming. If you decide to support a specific call to action via this mechanism, know the organization that is doing the asking, and choose the one(s) that you want to engage with, based on your areas of interest and knowledge/expertise.
State Level Advocacy (UM Creation Justice webinar (February 2021)
Speak Up! Letter Writing Campaign (West End UMC Creation Care Team webinar and related power point/ download. 19 min)
Guiding Principles for Public Policy Advocacy (United Methodist Creation Justice Coordinating Team, 2021)
Our Ministry Partners
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Ministries:
Mental Health and Well-Being Ministry, Native American Ministry, Anti-Racism Coalition, Disaster Response Team, and Camping & Retreat Ministries
United Methodist Creation Justice Movement
The Creation Justice Movement is emerging at this kairos moment to connect
and support groups within the United Methodist Church and beyond for the work of creation care, justice and regeneration.
[It’s] website hub has been created to build connections within and partnerships outside the United Methodist Church, to facilitate communication for the sharing of best practices and resources, to increase power through collaborative action, and ultimately to grow the number and impact of Christians engaged in ministries of creation care, renewal, and justice.
Their monthly newsletters focus on a central theme and include articles, blogs, news from around the United Methodist connection, Action Alerts (federal level), as well as upcoming educational and justice-related events.
Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light
Mission Statement : The mission of the Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light is to spiritually respond to the challenges of the climate crisis through upholding the
sacredness of all life, protecting vulnerable communities, and caring for the Earth.
We manifest our spiritual values by reducing our carbon footprint within our daily lives, releasing the spiritual power of our faith communities, and advocating for
transformative climate protection and justice policies.
Board of Global Ministries Earthkeepers
Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training program that equips US-based United Methodists to launch and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, anti-racism, community organizing, and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training.
United Women in Faith Just Energy 4 All
United Women in Faith is re-introducing this mission focus. Utilize their free monthly webinars for learning, group program resources, and as a opportunitiy to contact those who are decision makers in our society. Subscribe to their newletter, or go a step further and join a just energy focus group. Newsletters, monthly webinars, and focus work groups. Get involved!
National Organizations
We are the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, the world’s oldest, largest,and most influential grassroots environmental organization.
In a critical time of accelerating climate and biodiversity crises, we envision improved ecological balance and safe, equitable access to clean water, air, and land to ensure that all wildlife, people, and ecosystems thrive. Achieving our mission is now our mutual, unwavering goal.
We are a community of one million moms and dads united against air pollution – including the urgent crisis of our changing climate — to protect our children’s health.
The Nature Conservancy/ Tennessee
Since 1978, we have helped conserve over 450,000 acres across Tennessee. Discover how The Nature Conservancy is working with partners across the state to preserve and protect our incredible natural areas for generations to come.
Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
We believe in a safe climate and a better future — a just, prosperous and equitable world built with the power of ordinary people. We are standing up to the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil and gas projects and build a clean energy future for all.
Project Drawdown: Solutions for Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Since our beginning, we’ve championed 100% renewable energy for 100% of people. First, through connecting science, culture, and business. Then, through focusing on local communities. They’re the ones most impacted by climate change. They’re the ones leading and finding solutions. And they’re the ones who inspire us to do what we do.
We are the climate revolution.
At Earthjustice, we’re a nonprofit in the business of building a better future. Since 1971, we have been the legal backbone for the environmental movement. We represent our clients free of charge.
Our ministry prevents more than 30 million pounds of food going to waste each year. Society of St. Andrew food salvage programs have a positive impact on the environment by reducing landfill waste by as much as 30 million pounds a year. Instead of harming the environment, this food instead feeds hungry Americans.
Yale Climate Connections is a nonpartisan, multimedia service providing daily broadcast radio programming and original web-based reporting, commentary, and analysis on the issue of climate change….
Through articles, radio stories, videos and webinars we “connect the dots” between climate change and energy, extreme weather, public health, food and water, jobs and the economy, national security, the creative arts, and religious and moral values, among other themes.
National Resource Defense Council
NRDC works to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.
State/ Regional Entities
Clean Energy. org / Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Together, since 1985 we’ve been a leading voice for equitably transforming the way we produce and consume energy in the southeast.
The Cumberland River Basin, one of the most biodiverse regions in the country, encompasses cities, farms, schools, factories, and neighborhoods. We work on the root causes of water pollution, both urban and rural. (rain gardens, depaving)
Since 1999, the Harpeth Conservancy’s mission is to restore and protect clean water and healthy ecosystems for rivers in Tennessee. Their mission includes clean water protection, river restoration and protecting our rural lands
Tennessee Environmental Council
Our vision is a Tennessee where people and nature thrive in harmony. Help us achieve thriving habitats, a circular economy and climate balance in Tennessee! (large scale community recycling, pollinator gardens, tree planting)
Wild Ones (Tennessee Valley Chapter)
Our Wild Ones chapter is dedicated to educating and advocating for biodiversity in the Tennessee Valley. We offer a variety of programs and events throughout the year that teach sustainable landscaping practices using plants that are native to our region.
Stones River Watershed Association
Since its founding, the SRWA has concentrated on building partnerships with public agencies and related non-profit organizations that share a commitment to water resource protection, fostering public interest in recreational use of our rivers, collaborating with schools and teachers in delivering quality environmental education, developing expertise in the assessment and restoration of river corridors, and networking with sister organizations in other watersheds.
Leading the local charge to move our region toward a 100% renewable energy economy, reduced pollution, and improved community health.
EarthKeeper & UMC Ambassador Training Opportunities
Seek out further training to enhance your leadership in creation care ministry:
1) Global Ministries EarthKeeper Training
(Project focused training)
Fall 2025 Training Event: October 2-5, 2025; Seattle, Washington
For details and application, click here.
2) UMC Climate Ambassador Training
This a free, comprehensive, self-paced training. This course is your gateway to gaining essential knowledge, practical experience, and the tools you need to effectively communicate on climate change and take meaningful climate action.