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This week, Texas voters approved all 17 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot—the most in any year since 2003. As Rebecca writes, since 1876, the legislature has proposed 714 constitutional amendments, of which 530 have been approved by the electorate.
Rebecca also points out that Tuesday’s election brought near record-breaking voter turnout for an off-year election. That’s great news, and it is strong evidence that the work of civic mobilizers—like congregations—is having an impact. Well done, y’all!
Also this week, Texas Impact staff and partners started arriving in Belém, Brazil, for the United Nations climate negotiations known as COP30. This is a crucial year for the climate policy process.
Many US denominational bodies have long-standing observer status at the United Nations, including observer status to the UN bodies such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change—the UNFCCC. These denominations typically take delegations of lay and ordained faith leaders to the COP.
In recent years, more US faith groups have begun participating in the COP process, mirroring a global trend toward increasing “civil society” participation. Globally, many faith groups participate in the COP, including indigenous groups.
The US faith community’s participation in the COP has never been more important. At a time when the US is officially withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and working to undermine the UN, it’s crucial that American civil society present a united voice of continued support for global climate policy
Faith communities, like other civil society COP observers, are not negotiators. Instead, our representatives at the COP are there to influence the work of negotiators, and to ensure that our members are kept informed about the process, especially parts that might impact their daily lives.
Texas Impact is the only state-level, faith-based advocacy organization in the US with NGO Observer accreditation at the COP. Texas Impact has been participating in the COP process since 2015’s Paris COP.
Since 2019, Texas Impact has had a media partnership with the Austin Chronicle to help us ensure info from the COP is getting to American faith communities. This year, we’ve added more outlets, including the Baptist News Global, and United Methodist Insight. We also are working with secular colleagues to amplify the US faith community’s participation in the process.
In 2020, Texas Impact released a 4-part video-based study, “The Path of Hope,” using content from COP25. This year, we are planning a 5-part Lenten study scheduled for release in January 2026.
We will be publishing content several times a day during the COP, which runs Nov 10-21. Each day, we will post videos on our YouTube channel and the Austin Chronicle website and publish posts on Substack. Throughout the COP, faith-based participants will be participating in several special events, including panel discussions and an interfaith worship service on November 16. We anticipate meeting with members of Congress, as well as interacting with US subnational elected officials including governors, mayors, and others.
We know there is a lot going on in Texas and the US right now—we encourage you to consider that just like “what starts here, changes the world,” it’s also true that what happens across the world, changes Texas. Political turmoil, health challenges, food scarcity, and natural disasters in other regions have ripple effects here, just as our challenges have implications for others. And likewise, advances in energy, technology, governance, and culture around the globe benefit us all.
We are excited to share what we learn and experience with you. Stay tuned!
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