Last year, the Lutheran Disaster Response-US (LDR) network discussed climate change – what it is and why we care. We were inspired by the stories of the communities we accompany and driven to action by the questions that were asked. The network asked us, “What does this mean for our work?” We heard their question and happy to announce the 2019 LDR Consultation: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. The event will be held October 14-17 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
LDR recognizes that our ministry is more impactful when the whole church participates in the response. This year, along with our network of affiliates, we invited synods and identified congregational leadership to participate in this consultation as we continue to explore opportunities and best practices of working collaboratively as LDR, synods, congregations, and social ministry organizations in disaster and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The consultation is designed to move beyond the initial data and science around climate change and to explore strategies and tools for mitigating and adapting to it. In addition, the consultation will enable participants to discuss how climate change affects our communities and to plan how, in our varied roles, we might address these impacts as church — together.
During the event, participants will be able to share current practices and explore context-specific (i.e., regional) concerns and strategies, emphasizing pre-disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and community resilience. Through dynamic speakers and engaging sessions, conversations will be grounded in the church’s commitment to environmental justice, emphasizing the impact of climate change on marginalized communities, and will focus on the structural and systemic barriers and opportunities as we try to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
We hope that leaders will leave with greater confidence and a commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation tools and best practices. We also hope to create a more connected network of leaders across the various ministries of our church — exploring the roles of LDR, social ministry organizations, synods, and congregations — that can work closely to address context-specific impacts in communities.
Be a part of the response:
Pray
Continue to pray for all those impacted by climate change and disaster.
Give
Thanks to generous, undesignated donations, Lutheran Disaster Response is able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters around the globe. Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used where there is the greatest need.
Connect
To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:
