Faith Panel Discusses Issues at MOV Climate Action Meeting

Faith panel discusses issues at Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action meeting

Sep 22, 2018

From staff reports

editoral@newsandsentinel.com

PARKERSBURG — Five local faith leaders described their denominations’ call for responsible stewardship of the earth 15 days after Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolinas at a meeting Thursday of Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action.

The pastors and lay leaders said they were called by God to be stewards of creation, and to protect and preserve the web of life.

The Rev. Shauna Hyde of the United Methodist Church said Methodists offer a sermon series, the “Seasons of Creation,” and that almost all church renovations result in greater energy efficiency and resource conservation.

Mike Bailey of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta created the Green Sanctuary Committee at the church when he read the church’s Statement of Conscience in 2006.

“We started small, becoming aware of what we ate, what we drove, and encouraged everyone to make the steps they could to reduce extreme global climate change,” he said.

The church leaders and Climate Action plan to work together to help people find ways to understand the issues and act together to protect the environment.

Also participating in the panel were the Rev. Rich Johnson of Beechwood Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Janice Hill of the Disciples of Christ and the Rev. Jerrie Green of the United Methodist Church.

MOV Climate Action hosts a public meeting on a variety of related topics at 7 p.m. on the third Thursdays of the month at the Disciples of Christ, Latrobe Street and Washington Avenue, Parkersburg. The public is invited.