May News & Views
May 7 ‘Sacred Right to Vote’ panel: what faith leaders said
In his opening comments at Third Act Faith’s May 7 ‘Sacred Right to Vote’ panel, Rev. Jim Antal connected voting to the two prongs of Third Act’s work: climate and democracy. First, he said, for most of older Americans’ lives, we have taken for granted both a stable climate and a stable democracy. Second, acting on behalf of both are “the two most responsible ways for a person of faith to show their faithfulness.” Panelists Mubarak Elamin, Carol Devine, and Stephanie Kolin then expanded on the concepts. CLICK TO OUR WEBPAGE TO LEARN WHAT THEY SAID.
TAF to offer online contemplative sessions
Seeing both the election season and global temperatures heat up can make us anxious. To address the stress of working on these issues, Third Act Faith is offering monthly sessions of online contemplative practices.
On May 30, Stephen Posner, Ph.D., Director of Pathways to Planetary Health with the Garrison Institute will guide a session on Earth-based nature awareness in which we will engage with the practice of deep listening. On June 26, Jennifer Hellwarth, Professor Emerita of English at Allegheny College, will lead a lovingkindness meditation aimed at opening our hearts.
Each session will begin with a short introduction, followed by a meditation of about 20 minutes, with a short period to debrief. Most will last 35-40 minutes. Please note that these are live events and will not be recorded. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THESE AND OTHER SESSIONS OR TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENTS.
‘Summer of Heat on Wall Street’ nonviolent direct actions set
Climate organizations are joining hands to convene this year’s “Summer of Heat on Wall Street”, starting with city-wide action in New York City on June 10, 2024. This summer’s nonviolent direct actions are intended to turn up the heat on Wall Street’s bankrolling of the coal, oil and gas companies which are collectively burning our planet. Climate organizations involved in the actions include Stop the Money Pipeline (STOMP), Planet Over Profit, New York Communities for Change (NYCC), Climate Defenders and Climate Organizing Hub.
As a supporter of the “Summer of Heat”, Third Act is calling on all Third Actors to get ready to act in solidarity with these groups during Elders’ Day on June 13 and Elders Week, July 8-13. We’re being invited to organize actions of our own (remember the rocking chair rebellion of 3.21.23?) to help tell the world that old folks can turn up the heat too.
In addition to participating during Elders Week, Third Act Faith is reaching out to its members who are in or near the New York City area, and who are able and willing to host out-of-town activists during the time they’re in the city for Summer of Heat. If you or your church, synagogue, mosque, or seminary is interested in supporting the Summer of Heat in this manner, let us know at thirdactfaith@gmail.com, and we’ll connect you with the folks on the ground organizing lodging.
VISIT SUMMER OF HEAT, or click on Third Act’s Events page post to stay in the loop.
‘Black Churches Leading with Solar’ webinar May 29 to explain financing, incentives for ‘going solar’
Congregations that own church buildings can no longer afford to not “go solar,” now that the federal government will pay for at least 30% of the cost of installing solar (sometimes 40% to 50%), say organizers of the “Black Churches Leading with Solar” webinar slated for May 29 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET.
One of the benefits of installing solar technology is a lower electricity bill, which means an increase in church revenue, say organizers. “An increase in revenue is an increase in security and ministry. It is also a way to show good financial and environmental stewardship.”
Still, upfront costs of going solar can be a hurdle for congregations. In this free webinar you’ll learn about “advantageous financing,” and hear from experts on “everything one needs to know about government incentives and solar financing.” Leading the webinar are The Rev. Michael Malcom from the People’s Justice Council and the Rev. Dr. Ambrose F. Carroll from Green The Church, with panelists Dr. Anthony Kinslow II, CEO of Gemini Energy Solutions; Patricia Eggleston of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ; and Rebecca Perera, Chief Credit Officer of the Cornerstone Fund.
Everyone who registers for this informative May 29 webinar will receive a link to the recorded program, so register even if you can’t attend the live presentation.
‘Black Churches Leading with Solar’ is co-hosted by the United Church of Christ, Green The Church, the People’s Justice Council, and Alabama Interfaith Power & Light. Third Act Faith is pleased to co-sponsor this event, along with Blessed Tomorrow, Creation Justice Ministries, Green Chalice of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Interfaith Power & Light, Unitarian Universalist Association, and United Black Christians. CLICK TO REGISTER.
Sign the GreenFaith Multi-Faith Climate Finance Pledge
GreenFaith is asking all of us to sign their Multi-Faith Climate Finance Pledge, calling on banks and asset managers to “finance the future, not destroy it” by
• committing to phase out financing for fossil fuel projects and to
• accelerating investments in equitable climate solutions.
“Avoiding climate disaster requires an immediate end to new fossil fuel development, but the world’s banks and asset managers continue to funnel trillions into new coal, oil, and gas projects, creating humanitarian and ecological devastation,” says GreenFaith. “Religious institutions’ financial assets are in the trillions of dollars. They have an ethical duty to align these holdings with their commitment to protect people and the planet.”
When you sign the pledge, you are telling banks and asset managers to “measurably align their portfolios with a 1.5 degree future and universal access to clean energy by 2030, making clear progress before then,” or pledging to “move our funds to institutions aligned with our values.”
If you represent a religious institution, sign the pledge here. Individuals should sign the pledge here.
Questions? Email amy@greenfaith.org
In Climate News This Month…
• May 7, 2024 —Oceans are getting much hotter than expected. “The dominoes are starting to fall.” Glaciers are melting. We’re losing Arctic sea ice, likely causing the North Atlantic current — the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC —to collapse. This “could change just about everything we know about life on Earth.” Transcript here - you may have to have a subs to read it but you can watch the free 27-minute podcast here.
• A test of the controversial climate technology called “solar geoengineering" was halted in Alameda, Calif in mid-May by officials citing health concerns. Inside Climate News explains this emerging technique and its unknown risks.
• May 7, 2024 — In the last century, Ethiopia lost 90% of its forests. The only native forests left are those surrounding Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church buildings. The Ethiopian Orthodox church is protecting forests, which they consider sacred. Here are a satellite view of the forests dotting the Ethiopian landscape and a 2021 story from The Guardian. Sacred natural places are all over the Earth — “the oldest form of habitat protection in human history,” says Piero Zannini of the University of Bologna. More about these places. Watch restoration work in Ethiopia.
• May 5, 2024 — Audio collected with underwater microphones suggests blue whale populations are becoming “stable” again, after “centuries of industrial whaling left only a few hundred alive,” says a story in The Guardian.
‘Finding Balance’
In her May ‘Going Deeper’ essay, Jane Ellen Nickell, TAF Communications and Membership Chair, writes, “Like many older adults, I have balance problems that have led to several recent falls. Because of an inner ear issue, I struggle to find the equilibrium…” In her essay, Jane Ellen explains how “achieving balance also impacts our spiritual lives.” CLICK TO READ ESSAY.
Upcoming Events
These are online virtual events. Click on the link to register for these free events.
May 30: Contemplative Practice: Nature Awareness with Stephen Posner (Zoom), 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET. REGISTER HERE.
June 3: Welcome to Third Act: Let’s Get Started (Zoom), 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET. REGISTER HERE.
June 11: Hope & Joy Series: Reflections Of Life (Zoom), 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. REGISTER HERE.
June 12: Stand And Deliver: The Nuts And Bolts Of PUC Intervention (Part 3) (Zoom), 3:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM ET. REGISTER HERE.
June 17: Welcome to Third Act: Let’s Get Started (Zoom), 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET. REGISTER HERE.
Send us your photos and stories
Please send us news items, reflections, story ideas and photos that we can use on our web pages and include in our monthly email. Send the submissions to thirdactfaith@gmail.com.
