The Black Church and Climate Justice

OAKLAND, Calif. - PrZen -- Green The Church California (GTC) (based in Oakland, CA) and the Center For Food, Faith & Justice will present a Climate Revival titled "Growing Healthy Communities From Soil To The Soul" at McGee Ave. Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St, Berkeley, CA, on April 20, 2024.

The day will be filled with inspiring talks, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and a special Food Sovereignty and Global Food Resilience panel. The keynote speaker is Rev. Dante R. Quick, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, since May 2021. Rev. Quick is well known in the Bay Area, as he served for more than ten years as the pastor of Friendship MBC in Vallejo, CA.

The Black Church continues to be a trusted ally in the fight against climate change and the pursuit of environmental justice. With its deep roots in the African American community and its commitment to social justice, the Black Church has become an essential advocate for sustainable practices and policies.

Environmental justice has long been a pressing concern for communities of color who bear the brunt of pollution and ecological degradation. Climate change exacerbates these issues, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities. Recognizing this urgency, Black Churches across the country are taking action.

Over the past ten years, in collaboration with significant environmental, sustainability, food security, faith, and community-based non-profit organizations, GTC has created a cadre of Black churches engaging in the environmental justice, climate, and sustainability movement. GTC presently works with over 1,000 pastors and congregations in eight US states and groups in the Bahamas, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UK.

The partnership between environmental justice advocates and the Black Church extends beyond individual congregations. National organizations such as Green The Church have emerged to provide resources and support for faith communities wishing to address climate change and promote environmental justice. Through collaborations, initiatives such as energy efficiency programs, solar installations, and environmental education have been implemented in black churches nationwide. These efforts reduce the carbon footprint and save money on energy bills, benefiting the congregations and their communities.

Green The Church, founded in 2010 by Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll, Sr., helps galvanize Black churches and their local communities and leaders to address issues specific to populations historically disengaged from conversations around pollution and health, climate change, and sustainability and energy efficiency. The organization collaborates with major environmental, sustainability, food security, faith, and community-based non-profit organizations, and everyone is committed to "creation justice"—care and justice for God's people and the planet—and building the beloved community. To learn more, visit: www.greenthechurch.org