A Strong UU Voice on Global Warming

The UUA General Assembly passed the Commission on Social Witness' (SOC) draft Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming, with some important amendments. It wasn't easy; perhaps it shouldn't be.

The SOC was the result of two years of study and the input from congregations around the country, the work of the commission compiling the many comments from the congregations and drafting the text, and the work of those congregations and organizations that continued to follow the process and comment on the various drafts. Going into the General Assembly, the draft SOC contained sections on science, faith, policy, and action. The action items detailed suggestions for individuals, congregations, and advocacy.

An ad hoc group of UUA affiliate organizations and congregations, including UUSC, working on the 7th Principle and global warming, came together to hammer out a series of amendments. The amendments proposed by this group, the "Earth Community" coalition were designed to support and strengthen the Statement of Concience by adding to the science, faith and action sections.

Among the most important amendments for UUSC's work are those made to the "Section on Faith." The draft SOC did not mention justice, including the importance of basic human rights, and gender, class and race. Nor did the draft statement point out how the negative effects of climate change fall disproportinately on many in our human community.

Now, the section on faith reads, "A matter of faith and justice." You can read the final statement online (pdf). It asks us to understand the interconnection between the 7th Principle and the UU principles as a whole, and to act from that understanding. The action statement now asks the denominational leaders to take part in implementing the SOC, for example, by adopting a socially responsible investment program that addresses climate change.

The Earth Community coalition - UU Ministry for Earth, UUSC, UU Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, the congregations of All Souls in Washington, D.C., Wilmington, Mt. Diablo, among many others, worked together in faith and right relations to amend the SOC. Overwhelmingly the General Assembly voted in favor of the amendments; the first to be adopted were those relating to human rights and social justice.

The UUA will have a stronger policy statement on climate change as a result of the hard work of the commission, the delegates at the Assembly, and the Earth Community coalition. It was a difficult and ultimately successful lesson in democracy.