Joy, Love, and Climate Action: A Church Draws from Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

At First Congregational Church, UCC, in Colorado Springs, CO, our Climate Justice Leadership Team worked with individuals to help them identify their deep sense of purpose to help them align with like-minded groups and causes, both inside the church and beyond, so they can make meaningful contributions toward combating climate change.

Reaching into the scientific community for models of a process, we found Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, and writer who focuses on climate solutions in her work.  She articulates the specific steps individuals can take to move from guilt, paralysis, and feeling overwhelmed in the face of climate problems to understanding concrete ways to move forward. Johnson’s believes that we must be motivated by love to avoid burnout and guilt.

The Climate Justice Team began by showing Johnson’s Ted Talk entitled, “How to Find Joy in Climate Action.” We then led some 25 participants to draw a Johnson-inspired Venn diagram that asked them to list “what brings you joy, what are you good at, and what needs doing.”  Next, they linked their core interests to specific climate solutions included in Project Drawdown’s Table of Solutions.

Participants in the workshop went home with a better sense of how to bridge the gap between the things they love and enjoy and the larger issues they want to have an impact on. Our Leadership Team envisions returning to this work in the coming months to help members of the congregation join with one another in church-wide affinity groups, important in themselves, and facilitating our efforts outside the church. 

Other resources related to Ayana Elizabeth Johnson:

Krista Tippett’s interview with Ayana Elizabeth Johnson entitled “What If We Get This Right?”

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson edited the book All We Can Save.

New York Times Interview with Ayana Elizabeth Johnson