So I see this page on UMC.org under “What We Believe” and “UMC Topics”  at http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/united-methodist-topics

I scan,  see no listing for Climate Change or even Environment.

So I click “Ask A Question” and submit this:

I am asking this questiuon from the page http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/united-methodist-topics

I want to know if “Climate Change” or “Climate Crisis” is ever going to make this list? It certainly belongs on this list and is much more wide-ranging in its possible consequences, especially if we Christians and UMethodists continue to relaegate it to the “every once in a while mention” status it is getting lately, which is BACKWARDS from what should be the case. BACKWARDS because we are learning ever more about how serious this matter has been getting as we continue on our merry way with business as usual. PLEEEZ, pay attention.

A little confrontive, you say?  You betcha.  This cannot be left unquestioned?  How is this NOT a “Church Topic”, “Huge Issue”, “Worthy of being ‘obsessed’ over”?

I go MUCH further than these rather obvious questions.  Why is this even relegated to “News” or “Topics” or “Issues”.  This needs to become a HUGE, Theology-shaping, Reformative issue for the very way we conceive of ourselves as a church in this time where the very issue of civilization and human survival is at stake?  It is APOCALYPTIC,  and yes,  in the truly Biblical sense.  It is literally to shape how we articulate our theology.  And this is NO HYBERBOLE.  Theologically, scientifically, or logically.  It’s the reality.

I want my present home denomination to wake up to this reality,  in a MUCH , MUCH bigger and obvious way.  The Reformation we need here is much larger than that “Protestant Reformation”.  This is something we can’t “Compartmentalize” and insist that the church is all about “Spiritual Things” ,  and by implication,  NOT Social or Political or “Environmental Issues”.  That is a most destructive version of Gnosticism.  The deepest disservice that Gnosticism does is to cordon God off into this “Spiritual reality” that does not intersect and interact and flow through the creation in which we find ourselves.  God is very much : “in, with, and permeates ALL” things.  God is best conceived as a holy dialogue back and forth between Pan-EN-Theism and the One.*

* I have begun a book “Ask The Beasts” by Elizabeth A. Johnson that will be diving into the concept of the “Word become flesh” and how the word for “Flesh” is Sarc(s),  which , contrary to the common conception,  is different from the anthropomorphic flesh,  but of “life substance”…not only human life,  but life in the cosmos; God became “part of creation” and that in which it all “holds together” (Col. 1:17) The Colossians reference is mine,  not Johnson’s (unless she happens to incorporate it.  I don’t know yet.  Haven’t gotten that far into it yet). Stay tuned for lots of postings here and on other social media as I read on.