COP Resources for Faith Communities

Dec 2-14, 2018, the nations of the world are gathering for the annual United Nations climate negotiations. This year, the stakes couldn’t be higher: the delegates from the 175 nations that are parties to the Paris Agreement (including the U.S.) must agree to a rulebook for implementing the Agreement.

This is the 24th time that the nations of the world have met to negotiate strategies for reducing global warming, and the faith community has been there at every meeting. Faith leaders are not members of the official US negotiating team, but at the COP and in congregations back home, people of faith provide vital support to the process every year through education, political speech, and prayer.

The resources on this page are intended for use in congregations in the US and other places over the weekend of December 7-9…but you should feel free to use and adapt them for use any time.

Got a resource to share? Please email Erica@texasimpact.org and we will add it!

Sermon/Khutbah Starters

“Free, Safe, and Flourishing: A Faithful Agenda for Texas”

Texas Impact’s board of directors unanimously approved a legislative agenda for 2025-2026 following its biennial legislative retreat. The agenda reflects the shared social concerns of Texas Impact’s member faith traditions around four major policy themes: Economic Justice; Climate Justice: Human Rights; and Civic Participation.

Advocates To-Do List Template

EXAMPLE TEXT: The Fixing Emergency Management Act of 2025 is a bipartisan bill that would modernize federal disaster response by making FEMA an independent, cabinet level agency, speeding up aid delivery that finances recovery for Texas communities after disaster....

Weekly Witness Ep.524 Hard to Hear with Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz

This week, Scott is joined by Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz, a newly commissioned United Methodist Pastor serving as the lead pastor of Christ’s Foundry UMC in Dallas. Originally from Puerto Rico, Rosedanny is now a leader who the Texas Tribune describes as one of the Latina...

Weekly Witness Ep.523 Capitol Catch-up with Bee Moorhead and Beaman Floyd

This week, Scott is joined by Texas Impact’s Executive Director Bee Moorhead and Legislative Counsel Beaman Floyd. The Texas Impact staff recently lead Ready. Set. Go! events in Denton and Dallas and will soon travel to San Antonio and Houston to meet with Texans of...

Ready. Set. Go!

Register for upcoming Ready. Set. Go! eventsEVENT EVALUATIONPlease take a few minutes to complete our evaluation form. Texas Impact and our partner organizations use event evaluations and comments to improve future events. Your opinions and ideas matter!ACTION...

Weekly Witness Ep.522 It’s All Gospel with Rev. Jim Harrington

This week, Scott is joined by Rev. Jim Harrington, the legendary Texas civil rights attorney turned Episcopal priest. Jim spent decades as a leader in fighting for civil and human rights as founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, after previously working with Cesar...

Weekly Witness Episode 521: Making the World More Fair with Rabbi Eleanor Steinman

This week, Scott is joined by Rabbi Eleanor Steinman, senior rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Austin. They discuss the new Texas public education curriculum, as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy through the lens of confronting Christian Nationalism, which is a particularly hot...

[google-drive-embed url="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kK7dodqyfO9dqeBc5QEITR2_9j7fMx253G2bMzTzQuE/preview?usp=drivesdk" title="Current Action Alerts for Texas Advocates"...

The Fixing Emergency Management Act of 2025 is a bipartisan bill that would modernize federal disaster response by making FEMA an independent, cabinet level agency, speeding up aid delivery that finances recovery for Texas communities after disaster. Texas depends on...

Weekly Witness Ep.520 Radical Hope with Ilka Vega

This week, Scott is joined by former colleague Ilka Vega, who has traveled the world serving in various mission, justice, and advocacy roles and is currently serving as the Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith. The Texas Impact...

Weekly Witness Ep.518 Strengthening Community Through Religious Diversity with Hon. Manpreet Singh

This week, Scott was joined by Judge Manpreet Singh, the first Sikh judge elected in the state of Texas and first Sikh woman judge in the United States. Judge Singh talked with Scott about how the Sikh faith has called for equality for centuries and discussed how Sikh...

HOT TOPICSCOOL SPEAKERSThis summer, join Texas Impact and friends on Zoom for free seminars on the public policy topics at the top of everyone’s list.Hot Topic: Immigration[sb_youtube_feed feed_id="sby-16" _builder_version="4.27.6" _module_preset="default"...

SugarCalendar Events List

Weekly Witness Ep.516 Growing Love into Justice with Rev. Dr. Jim Rigby

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Dr. Jim Rigby, who has served as the pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin for 40 years. Rev. Rigby has garnered attention over the decades for his commitment to justice and a progressive brand of Christianity, and he...

Weekly Witness Ep.515 Reason and Compassion with Dylan Corbett

This week, Scott was joined by Dylan Corbett, founder and executive director of Hope Border Institute in El Paso. Dylan is a leader in the immigration space, working with and advocating for immigrants in communities across the globe before he landed in Texas. Dylan is...

Weekly Witness Ep.514 Nurturing Hope with Rev. Tamika Nelson

This week, Scott was joined by Rev Tamika Nelson, executive director of United Campus Ministries of Greater Houston. Rev. Nelson was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); has served a United Methodist Church; and now works in a campus ministry...

Weekly Witness Ep.513 Healthy Faith Language with Rev. Becky Fox

This week, Scott was joined by The Rev Becky Fox, pastor and head of staff at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Lubbock. Covenant has a long history of engaging in justice ministries and advocacy in Lubbock and beyond. Scott and Becky discussed the important role...

Weekly Witness Ep.512 Noise with a Purpose with Sister Denise LaRock

This week, Scott was joined by Sister Denise LaRock, a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who has been working in the San Antonio area in ministries related to immigration for the last decade. Sr. Denise discussed her religious order and their focus on...

Weekly Witness Ep.511 Homecoming with Rev. Brooke Dooley

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Brooke Dooley, associate pastor of youth and young adults at Friends Congregational Church in College Station. Brooke also serves as the youth director for the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ. Brooke...

Weekly Witness Ep.510 A Journey in Faith with Rev. Jody Harrison

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Jody Harrison, a Baptist minister, member of the Baptist Women in Ministry Board, and a former chaplain and Capitol staffer. Jody is a member of several Texas Impact teams as well as a veteran of numerous political campaigns. Jody...

Weekly Witness Ep.509 A Life of Faithful Advocacy with Mel Caraway

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Mel Caraway, a retired United Methodist pastor and long-time Texas Impact Board Member. Mel is a leader in the faith-based climate advocacy space at the denominational level and international level as a long-time COP attendee. Rev....

Prayers

“Free, Safe, and Flourishing: A Faithful Agenda for Texas”

Texas Impact’s board of directors unanimously approved a legislative agenda for 2025-2026 following its biennial legislative retreat. The agenda reflects the shared social concerns of Texas Impact’s member faith traditions around four major policy themes: Economic Justice; Climate Justice: Human Rights; and Civic Participation.

Advocates To-Do List Template

EXAMPLE TEXT: The Fixing Emergency Management Act of 2025 is a bipartisan bill that would modernize federal disaster response by making FEMA an independent, cabinet level agency, speeding up aid delivery that finances recovery for Texas communities after disaster....

Weekly Witness Ep.524 Hard to Hear with Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz

This week, Scott is joined by Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz, a newly commissioned United Methodist Pastor serving as the lead pastor of Christ’s Foundry UMC in Dallas. Originally from Puerto Rico, Rosedanny is now a leader who the Texas Tribune describes as one of the Latina...

Weekly Witness Ep.523 Capitol Catch-up with Bee Moorhead and Beaman Floyd

This week, Scott is joined by Texas Impact’s Executive Director Bee Moorhead and Legislative Counsel Beaman Floyd. The Texas Impact staff recently lead Ready. Set. Go! events in Denton and Dallas and will soon travel to San Antonio and Houston to meet with Texans of...

Ready. Set. Go!

Register for upcoming Ready. Set. Go! eventsEVENT EVALUATIONPlease take a few minutes to complete our evaluation form. Texas Impact and our partner organizations use event evaluations and comments to improve future events. Your opinions and ideas matter!ACTION...

Weekly Witness Ep.522 It’s All Gospel with Rev. Jim Harrington

This week, Scott is joined by Rev. Jim Harrington, the legendary Texas civil rights attorney turned Episcopal priest. Jim spent decades as a leader in fighting for civil and human rights as founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, after previously working with Cesar...