Here are three things I hope our sermons will do: Restore reverence for the Earth; restore the feminine face of God; and restore agency and hope. I’ll take them one by one. (1) When it comes to restoring reverence for the Earth, we know that our global economic system treats the living Earth as nothing more than inert material, as resources to be wantonly extracted, exploited, polluted, and thrown away …
Before I tell the story, here come three clusters of reflection questions. Under what conditions would you consider being trained in the principles and practices of peaceful civil disobedience? Under what conditions would you consider supporting people who were risking arrest? Under what conditions would you risk arrest yourself? Who are the people who inspire you to do more than you thought possible? With whom do you hold hands, literally …
This campaign is organized by Blessed Tomorrow, the faith arm of ecoAmerica, a network of major institutions and thought leaders in five sectors — faith, health, communities, higher education and business — who have inspired millions of Americans on climate change in counties and communities nationwide. The One Home One Future campaign springs from the conviction that people of faith have a moral imperative to safeguard children, communities, and future generations. …
Massachusetts and New England just marked the warmest January on record, and our region is nearing the end of what is likely one of its warmest winters yet. Given the relentless pace of climate change – the ongoing news of extreme weather events, record floods and storms, unpredictable seasons, and vanishing species, with 18 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events across the U.S. in just the last year alone …
This article by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas first appeared in the Volume 44 (2022) issue of Buddhist-Christian Studies, published by the University of Hawai‘i Press, pp. 69-83. You can download a .pdf copy of the article here. Tenderness brings moments – maybe this is one of them – when we allow ourselves to feel our emotional response to what we have lost and are losing as climate change accelerates and as governments …
On October 3, 2021, I helped to lead a multifaith service of prayer, celebration, and resolve at Old South Church in downtown Boston. Organized by Rev. Fred Small, Policy Director of Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, “Love. Earth. Justice.” brought together representatives of indigenous, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Protestant, and Roman Catholic communities. Near the beginning of the service, I spoke about climate grief; at the end, I offered a …
Climate Change, Addiction, and Spiritual Liberation This article by Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas was published by Religions on 1 September 2021 as part of a special issue, “Spirituality and Addiction.” 1. An Addict’s World The addict looks away. The addict sees but does not see. She does not want to see. There is nothing to see here. Change the subject. The addict is empty. She does not have enough. She …
This article by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas was published in Anglican Theological Review (Spring, 2021, Vol. 103, 2), pp. 208–219. I have preached countless sermons in countless settings about the urgent Gospel call to care for God’s Creation. Nevertheless, when I step into a literal or virtual pulpit to preach about the climate crisis, I still feel a flash of fear: This will be a disaster. Preaching on any topic is inherently …
A piece that Margaret wrote was published by The Center for Action and Contemplation in its Daily Meditations by Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, in a series entitled “The Contemplative Call to Nature.” Love and grief go hand in hand. Sometimes it is the deep grief we feel during loss that awakens us to the depth and sincerity of our love. As we witness the many ways the earth has been …
At the request of Chautauqua Institution, I wrote a devotional prayer for a time of pandemic: Jesus, you are my friend and Savior. You know me through and through, and you are with me in every part of my life: in my sadness, anger, and fear, and in my gratefulness and joy. Gracious Jesus, on the day of your resurrection you came to your frightened disciples and breathed the …
