The Rev. Anna Shine recently received word that she will be part of the delegation to COP27, the decision-making forum of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), taking place this year in Egypt. Anna will join global leaders virtually Nov. 6–18 to address the problem of climate change.
A word from Anna:
Hildegard of Bingen once said, “We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion.” As members of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement, we have a moral duty to live out our faith in relationship with God’s creation. This stems from a biblical ethic to care for creation and baptismal vows which call us to “strive for justice and peace,” to “respect the dignity of every human being,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” – which in my definition of neighbor, includes our whole planet (BCP 405). As someone shaped and formed by these Appalachian Mountains - the soil, the water, the trees, and the air - I feel it is my duty and honor, as well as part of my baptismal vows, that I should return that hospitality and speak out and speak up for the land on which I live and the creatures with whom I live.
Anna serves as the Missioner to Creation Care and Social Justice at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone.