Rolling Stone has a great story profiling several Young Evangelicals for Climate Action fellows. Here’s a taste:

That conversation eventually led [William] Morris to spend a month doing volunteer work with a Christian conservation organization in Kenya, cataloging rare bird species, mapping mangrove forests, and collecting data on coral reefs. His meals and his free time were shared with other Christian environmentalists and scientists, most of whom were Kenyan and notably did not share his evangelical American hang-ups. He marveled at how their faith was not only integrated into their environmental pursuits but was in fact integral to them.

“That’s where I really felt a sense of purpose for the first time,” he says. “That dichotomy finally went away of science versus faith. It was just a huge sigh of relief feeling almost, like, vindicated. I was like, ‘See, I knew it. I’m not crazy. I’m not the only one who cares about all of these things.’ It was this very holistic view that I never had gotten anywhere else. And I had to go all the way to Kenya to get it.”

Morris also began to see this holistic view all over scripture: in Genesis, where the mandate to have dominion over creation did not seem to imply callous exploitation but rather a call to wise stewardship, and throughout the Gospels, where Jesus didn’t assuage people’s suffering with promises of the afterlife but actually tended to their physical needs in the here and now. So, Morris pondered, wouldn’t loving one’s neighbor mean protecting their habitat? Making sure they could grow food, have clean air and water, not be subjected to forced migration or the “threat multiplier” that he knew climate change to be?

In integrating his faith with his environmentalism, Morris came to have a new understanding of what that faith entailed, one that he actually felt was deeper and more authentic. Before the world could be healed by the church, he reasoned, maybe the church needed healing through its engagement with the world. He would go home and preach the message of environmentalism.

Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) has trained dozens of young climate leaders to be effective activitists and advocates since 2014. Applications are now open for their 2021-22 class – deadline is March 15.

Here’s the blurb:

We are looking for college students who are ready to take their activism to the next level through community building, civic engagement, and faithful advocacy. 

Applications close on March 15th. In addition to basic info, the application will ask for short personal essays, references, and a short video. Please review the application and plan for sufficient time to gather those materials.

Click here for more information and to apply.

With the coming of the new year, we’re seeing some changes in the creation care landscape in the US (besides the monumental shift in Washington DC). While these changes primarily affect our American readers, they will undoubtedly be of interest to the rest of you as well:

Changing of the guard at YECA: When an organization has “Young…” as the first word in its name, it faces a regular problem as its leaders keep getting…old(!). So it happens that Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action’s second “National Spokesperson” after the now elderly Ben Lowe, has announced he is handing things over to Tori Goebel. Kyle is hardly fading away, however; he has been named Vice President of the Evangelical Environmental Network. Here’s what Kyle has to say about his tenure and hopes for the future of YECA:

“I am prouder than I can say of what YECA has accomplished these last 4 and a half years,” says Kyle, “and Tori is the perfect leader to guide YECA toward even greater impact. Having had the privilege of working alongside Tori for the past 4 years, I can say with certainty that she has the vision, skill, and passion to help YECA flourish and grow for years to come.” (Read more here).

Climate Caretakers moves, merges with Climate Stewards: After many years as a ministry of Care of Creation, the Climate Caretakers program is moving over to A Rocha USA, and will become part of a new and expanded Climate Stewards program, managed by former Care of Creation staff member Brittany (Ederer) Michalski. (Note the new name; Brittany is married!) Climate Stewards becomes part of a suite of offerings from AR-USA, including Love Your Place and (soon!) Eco-Church. Here’s Brian’s take on the transition:

While it is difficult to let go of something I’ve poured so much of my life into, I am very excited about this new direction for Climate Caretakers.  I’m particularly grateful for the leadership and vision of Brittany Michalski and Mark Purcell, which have created the opportunity for this transition to take place.  I’ve long admired the work of A Rocha, and look forward to seeing Brittany’s leadership take Climate Caretakers/Climate Stewards to the next level. (More here)

Brian’s work at Houghton College is expanding, as can be seen in the new Climate course being offered this spring. (More details)

We recently noted considerable media attention given to this group in the weeks leading up to the US election. Some examples:

Fox News, “Who Are Young Voters Supporting in the 2020 Election?”: YECA Fellow Elsa Barron (Notre Dame), shares how her faith-informed values of protecting human life and honoring human dignity have informed her electoral choices this year.

The Wall Street Journal, “The Big Choice: Students Debate the Presidential Election”: YECA Fellow Elsa Barron (Notre Dame), argues that her faith commitments lead her to vote for Joe Biden this year (note: Elsa’s piece reflects her personal opinion. YECA does not endorse specific candidates).

BBC, “US election 2020: What the results will mean for climate change”: YECA Fellow Emily Robertson (Covenant College) talks about how climate change has become a voting priority for her. 

Kal Penn Approves this Message, “Young Evangelicals on Climate Change”: YECA Fellows Elsa Barron (Notre Dame), Sarah Harding (Indiana Wesleyan University), and Emma Vande Brake (Gordon College) were interviewed about engaging religious communities around climate action.

The Gordon College Tartan, “We Forget the Earth”: YECA Fellow Emma Vande Brake (Gordon College), reflects on generosity and indigenous wisdom in our relationships with creation. 

And here’s even more media hits we’ve generated in the last month!

God $ Green: An Unholy Alliance: YECA National Organizer and Spokesperson Kyle Meyaard-Schaap features in this short documentary about environmental injustice in today’s religious and political landscape (viewing password: RRD2020).

Morning Consult, “For Decades, the GOP Has Fought Against Climate Action. ‘Eco-Right’ Groups Are Working to Change the Conversation”: Kyle shares about YECA’s work to depoliticize climate change in the church.

Christianity Today, “Creation Care Movement Takes Action with Solar Panels and Petition”. Kyle shares some of his personal journey to creation care and about how YECA’s work is bearing fruit across the country.

For those of you watching the evangelical environmental space in the US, all is not lost! (But keep praying!)