Climate change threatens to drown the homeland of a General Synod international guest

Calling attention to the problem of climate change is a critical mission for an international guest at General Synod. The Rev. Tafue Lusama is speaking out to ensure the future of his homeland, so that his people, and his nation continue to exist. Rev. Lusama comes from the island nation of Tuvalu, a series of low-lying islands in the South Pacific about midway between Hawaii and Australia, which form the fourth smallest country in the world. His nation and his neighbors, a population of more than 10,000 people, are facing the threat of being drowned by rising sea levels.

In a compelling conversation with a group of young people Sunday night Rev. Lusama talked about the anxiety in his homeland, the fear of disappearing in a losing battle to save the planet.  His church, the Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu, just became a Global Ministries partner.

“One of his highest priorities is to tell the international community about the critical importance of climate change to island nations such as Tuvalu,” said Derek Duncan, Global Ministries executive for East Asia and the Pacific. “From here he goes to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Assembly to share his story, and from the U.S. to India.” He’s also spoken to the World Council of Churches and the United Nations.