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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.

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....

Weekly Witness Ep.508 Pluralism and Faithful Dialogues with Almas Muscatwalla

This week, Scott was joined by Almas Muscatwalla, co-founder of Faith Forward Dallas at Thanksgiving Square. Almas provides leadership in a number of North Texas faith spaces and is a leader in encouraging pluralism and interfaith dialogue. Almas talked about her...

The 2026 sunset review of health and human services agencies is your opportunity to help keep our state well and healthy. Take a Survey Share your opinions about Texas health and human services programs: click the survey title to answer a few questions about that...

Weekly Witness Ep.507 Ramadan Reflections with Imaad Khan

This week, Scott was joined by Imaad Khan, a former policy analyst with Texas Impact who made numerous appearances back in the early days of the podcast. Imaad talked about his faith and advocacy journey pre-Texas Impact, including how his faith and family shaped his...

Weekly Witness Ep.506 Faithful Witness in Rural Texas with Rev. Trent Ormsbee-Hale

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Trent Ormsbee-Hale, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Weatherford, TX. For long-time listeners, that congregation might be familiar, because he served with and then followed Texas Impact’s past Board President, Rev. Franz...

Ministro Corpus

Ministro Corpus What is the purpose of Ministro Corpus?Ministro Corpus was created based upon the sudden surge in habeas corpus petitions being used to release detainees in Texas detention centers. Asylum cases have slowed down, and bonds are no longer being granted...

Weekly Witness Ep.505 “Are You With Us?” with Robert Rivera

This season on Weekly Witness, we are highlighting faith leaders who advocate for justice and equity. Our conversation this week is a great reminder that “faith leader” does not always mean “clergy.” As a lay-person, Robert Rivera has been a leading faith voice in the...

Weekly Witness Ep.504 Organizing in Texas with Rabbi Josh Fixler

This week, Scott welcomes Rabbi Josh Fixler, associate rabbi at Congregation Emanu El in Houston to the conversation. Josh is a friend of the program—so much so, in fact that we had trouble narrowing down the conversation because Rabbi Fixler has a wide-ranging...

Weekly Witness Ep.503 Showing Up with Rev. Mara Bim

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Mara Bim for a conversation about her faith journey and work in the immigration space. She is familiar to many in the Texas Impact audience as a longtime friend and advocate, and she was recently a featured speaker at the Texas...

Weekly Witness Ep.502 “Do Your Thing” with Regina Q. Banks

The Texas Impact team started the week with Bee and Rev. Dr. Becca discussing the scientific method and the idea that government officials can’t unilaterally repeal science following an announcement from the administration that they had "repealed a scientific...

Weekly Witness Ep. 501 Imagine Better with Rev. Phil Dieke

Weekly Witness is back with a new look and a new sound, as well as new content. The Texas Impact team recognizes that this is a unique moment in history, and we believe it is especially important for people of faith to lead and engage. So, we want to use the podcast...

Lesson One: Truth and ConsequencesEpisode One features diplomats, scientists, and others offering their thoughts on climate change; why it matters if we limit warming to 1.5C; and how climate affects people around the world. In this week’s video, you will hear about...

Changing by Choice Glossary

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Changing by Choice: a fresh look at climate and faith

CHANGING by CHOICE: a fresh look at climate and faitha new video series and discussion guide for small-group study from Texas Impact and friendsClimate change can be a challenging topic. It is natural for people of faith to feel deep empathy for people around the...

United Women in Faith 2026 Texas Legislative Event Keynote Speakers

Named one of the Time 100’s 2025 100 Most Influential People In The World, one of the Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, as well as one of The NonProfit Times’s Power & Influence Top 50 and their 2025 Influencer of the Year, Skye Perryman is the...

Weekly Witness Ep. 464: Year-End Policy Wrap-Up

We have finally made it to the end of 2025, or, at least the end of the 2025 Weekly Witness recording calendar. And, what a year it has been-from regular and special sessions with both good news and news that made us question those in power, the Texas Impact team has...

Weekly Witness Ep. 463 Bridge Over Troubled—What Now?

This week we continue our year-end series talking with the Texas Impact team about where we see public policy in 2025 as we prepare for a big year in 2026. Last week we talked to Membership Manager Kat Karbach about Texas Impact membership and this week we continue...

Weekly Witness Ep. 462 Members Equip Us for Action

This week we kick off our year-end series talking with the Texas Impact team about where we see public policy in 2025 as we prepare for a big year in 2026. Membership Manager Kat Karbach kicks us off to talk about Texas Impact membership. Many listeners have...

Weekly Witness Ep. 461 Implementation, Ethics, and Finance, Oh My!

This week, we continue coverage of the United Nations climate negotiations known as COP30 held this year in Belém, Brazil. Last week, we had the Texas Impact team reporting from Belém, and today, Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards joins the program soon after returning from the...

Weekly Witness Ep.460 … It Just Can’t Be a Loser

The Texas Impact team is on the ground and churning out great content from the  United Nations climate negotiations known as COP30 Belém, Brazil. Make sure you are following along on Texas Impact’s substack and YouTube as well as through Texas Impact’s media...

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.

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....

Weekly Witness Ep.508 Pluralism and Faithful Dialogues with Almas Muscatwalla

This week, Scott was joined by Almas Muscatwalla, co-founder of Faith Forward Dallas at Thanksgiving Square. Almas provides leadership in a number of North Texas faith spaces and is a leader in encouraging pluralism and interfaith dialogue. Almas talked about her...

The 2026 sunset review of health and human services agencies is your opportunity to help keep our state well and healthy. Take a Survey Share your opinions about Texas health and human services programs: click the survey title to answer a few questions about that...

Weekly Witness Ep.507 Ramadan Reflections with Imaad Khan

This week, Scott was joined by Imaad Khan, a former policy analyst with Texas Impact who made numerous appearances back in the early days of the podcast. Imaad talked about his faith and advocacy journey pre-Texas Impact, including how his faith and family shaped his...

Weekly Witness Ep.506 Faithful Witness in Rural Texas with Rev. Trent Ormsbee-Hale

This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Trent Ormsbee-Hale, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Weatherford, TX. For long-time listeners, that congregation might be familiar, because he served with and then followed Texas Impact’s past Board President, Rev. Franz...