Maine Religious Leaders' Statement

We are people of faith living in the beautiful State of Maine and drawn together by the implications of accelerated climate change. We are nourished by the gifts of the sea and land. We enjoy the blessings of creation which we witness on the coast and islands, the lakes, forests, hills and fields, and in the changing seasons. Our lives are inextricably joined with these treasures.

We are confronted by the news that accelerated climate change threatens our State of Maine and the whole world with destruction of habitat, species extinction, inundation of low-lying land by rising seas, and increasing weather extremes. We are concerned that the most vulnerable people - the poor, sick, elderly, children, and generations yet unborn - are disproportionately burdened by the impacts of accelerated global warming. Because all parts of creation are linked to and beloved of their Creator, the effects of accelerated climate change on people, plants, and animals cannot be minimized.

As leaders of faith communities we are compelled to search for effective ways to respond to this challenge. We pledge to study our sacred texts, weigh scientific findings, and prayerfully examine our lifestyles in order to discover pathways to a loving and healing relationship with creation which reverses the ravages of accelerated climate change.

We join together in establishing the Maine Interfaith Climate Change Initiative, and taking specific steps, individually and collectively, to reverse accelerated climate change. Each of us will have different ways to act on our resolve. We are eager to join in efforts to:

Distribute educational materials, offer messages, and convene study groups to help our congregations understand and embrace this challenge.

Take action to conserve energy and reduce use of fossil fuels.

Meet with our U.S. senators to urge their ratification of the equitable measures envisioned by 160 nations in the Kyoto Protocol and their support of domestic initiatives developed to reduce global warming.

Share these religious perspectives about climate change with representatives of key sectors in our state, seeking ways to work together.

As people of faith, we are called to discover how to live in harmony with the earth. We have a responsibility to speak and act on issues related to reversing accelerated change in our climate. We call upon all people who cherish Maine to act on behalf of the earth and all creation, and we urge our communities of faith to commit themselves to the Maine Interfaith Climate Change Initiative.