More than 50 religious leaders in Iowa have signed an appeal for “responsible precautionary action to limit global climate change.” I’ve posted below the full statement below with all the signatories, including Catholic Bishops Martin Amos and Richard Pates, United Methodist Bishop Julius Trimble, Lutheran Bishops Michael Burk and Michael Last, and Episcopal Bishop Alan Scarfe.

The faith leaders mention a recent warning to Iowa legislators from 44 scientists representing 28 Iowa colleges and universities. Unfortunately, even when Democrats controlled the state House and Senate, lawmakers did almost nothing to implement the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council’s recommendations (pdf).

I enclose below State Senator Rob Hogg’s comments on the religious leaders’ statement. He is of the Iowa legislature’s strongest advocates of policies to combat climate change.

On a related note, the 2011 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll indicated that 68 percent of Iowa farmers believe climate change is happening, 5 percent do not believe it is happening, and 28 percent are not sure. About 45 percent of that survey’s respondents said human activities are partly or mostly responsible for changing climate patterns.

From the Iowa Interfaith Power and Light website (pdf):

A Statement by Religious Leaders in Iowa on Global Climate Change

April 2012

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing our world today, and as religious leaders representing diverse faith traditions we are called to reaffirm our commitment to be responsible stewards of Earth’s resources and to act in love toward our neighbors both locally and globally.

Scientists, including those representing 28 Iowa colleges and universities who recently released a statement, have warned us that changes in global climate patterns are bringing more extreme weather events to Iowa, the United States, and our world. These events include droughts, extreme temperatures, floods, storm surges, and wildfires. These changes threaten our environment, our health and safety, our economy, our agriculture, and our security. They also raise fundamental questions of justice and fairness, as those who are least able to adapt to climate change and who contribute least to the problem are likely to suffer the worst consequences.

As people of faith, we are called to take responsible precautionary action to limit global climate change to the extent possible and to prepare now for the climate impacts that are unavoidable. There are many actions that can be taken by individuals, families, congregations, businesses, local communities, and the state to reduce the threat of global climate change, such as reducing energy use in our homes and vehicles and using renewable energy sources. We urge Iowans to take such actions.

The global nature of the problem, however, means that effective action requires leadership at the local, state, and national levels to form policies and strategies that address responsible energy use to ensure that we protect Earth and its most vulnerable populations from the significant threats posed by global climate change. We call upon people of faith to provide leadership on this issue and act in the interest of the common good.

Signed,

Bishop Martin Amos

Bishop of Davenport Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport

Rev. Michael Burk, Ph.D.

Bishop, Southeastern Iowa Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Tim Button-Harrison

North Plains District Church of the Brethren

Bishop Michael Last

Bishop, Western Iowa Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Larry M. McGuire

Quorum Four President of Seventy Community of Christ

Bishop Richard Pates

Bishop of Des Moines Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines

Rev. Dr. Rich Pleva

Iowa Conference Minister United Church of Christ

Bishop Alan Scarfe

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

Rev. William Spangler-Dunning

Regional Minister and President for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest

Rev. Anna Blaedel

Grace United Methodist Church Des Moines

Rev. John M. Caldwell

First United Methodist Church Decorah

Rev. Brian Carter

Simpson United Methodist Church Des Moines

Sister Janice Cebula, OSF

President Sisters of St. Francis Clinton

Rev. Dick Clark

Walnut Hills United Methodist Church Urbandale

Rev. Kathleen Clark

United Methodist Clergy, Retired Des Moines

Jim Cottingham, Clerk

West Branch Monthly Meeting of Friends (Conservative)

Rev. Robert Dean

Broadway United Methodist Church Council Bluffs

Rabbi Steven Edelman-Blank

Tifereth Israel Synagogue Des Moines

Rev. David Glenn-Burns

UNI Wesley Foundation Cedar Falls

Rev. Chet Guinn

United Methodist Clergy, Retired Des Moines

Rev. Eric Guy

Leadership Development Minister The United Methodist Church in Iowa

Rev. Susan Guy

Executive Director Iowa Interfaith Power & Light

Rev. Marilyn Henrichs

United Methodist Clergy, Retired Des Moines

Rev. Dr. Steven M. Jacobsen

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Retired

Dick Janson

Unitarian Universalist Decorah

Jeanette Kopel, CHM

Catholic Sister Davenport

Ellen B. Macdonald

Chair, Board of Trustees Northeast Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Rev. Dr. James B. Martin-Schramm

Professor of Religion, Luther College Board Chair, Iowa Interfaith Power & Light

Rev. Diane McClanahan

Trinity United Methodist Church Des Moines

Rev. Jack L. Mithelman

Redeemer Lutheran Church (ELCA) Indianola

Rev. Liane Nichols

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Cedar Falls

Rev. Gary Nims

Immanuel United Methodist Church Des Moines

Rev. Jonathan C. Page

Ames United Church of Christ

Joy Peterson, PBVM

Promoter of Peace and Justice Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Dubuque

Mary Rehmann, CHM

President Congregation of the Humility of Mary Davenport

Rev. Dr. Sarah Rohret

Calvary UMC Arnolds Park

Rev. Lisa Ross Thedens

Co-moderator of Peacemaking Task Force East Iowa Presbytery

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Schlachter

Episcopal Priest, Retired Iowa City

The Rev. Mel Schlachter

Trinity Episcopal Church Iowa City

Sister Nancy Schreck, OSF

Sisters of St. Francis Dubuque

Cantor Linda Shivers

Tifereth Israel Synagogue Des Moines

Rev. David R. Shogren

Aldersgate United Methodist Church Urbandale

Kent Simmonds, Clerk

Decorah Friends Meeting Decorah

Sisters of the Presentation Leadership Team Dubuque

Pastor Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler

Minister of Church Community Life First Mennonite Church

Rev. Hugh Stone

Polk City United Methodist Church Polk City

Rev. Dr. David G. Swinton

Grace United Methodist Church Des Moines

Rev. Gail Thiessen

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Marshalltown

David Vásquez

Campus Pastor, Luther College Decorah

Rev. Benjamin Webb

Episcopal Priest and Director Center for Regenerative Society

The Rev. Margaret Weiner

Episcopal Diocese of Iowa Retired

Rev. Amy Zalk Larson

Campus Pastor, Luther College Decorah

Sister Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM, President Sister Mira Mosle, BVM, Vice-president Sister Teri Hadro, BVM, Vice-president

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dubuque

*The listing of faith community names is for identification purposes only.

April 19 press release from Democratic State Senator Rob Hogg:

DES MOINES – State Senator Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids) applauded the 56 religious leaders who issued a statement on climate change in advance of Earth Day this Sunday, April 22.

“I applaud Iowa’s religious leaders who are calling for Iowans to take climate action this year to reduce our energy use and prepare for future climate change,” Hogg said in a point of personal privilege today in the Iowa Senate.  “Our religious leaders know that we need to think globally and inter-generationally to meet our obligations to future generations.”

The statement, which was signed by Catholic Bishops Martin Amos and Richard Pates, United Methodist Bishop Julius Trimble, Lutheran Bishops Michael Burk and Michael Last, Episcopal Bishop Alan Scarfe, and 50 other religious leaders, calls on Iowans to take action to reduce energy use and provide leadership to protect people who are vulnerable to the “worst consequences” of climate change.

A copy of the statement with all 56 signers is attached and is available at www.iowaipl.org under the “resources” link then “spiritual resources.”