I had the wonderful opportunity to attend (and participate in) the Community of Christ Peace Forum which took place at the Independence Temple on 16-18 October 2026. There were more than 400 registrants.
The theme for the event was “Seeds of Peace: Environmental Justice and Action.” This theme came from our focus, as a church, on the Enduring Principle of “Sacredness of Creation.” Additionally, the church has expressed its concern for the current (and ongoing) environmental crisis through resolutions approved in the past two World Conferences. Here is one such resolution, adopted June 5, 2025.
Resolved, that Community of Christ
a. join with others to call for an accelerated, just transition to renewable energy in a fair and inclusive manner that benefits all peoples instead of the few, while supporting countries and communities most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate emergency;
b. join with others and call for the expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure to cease and support a transition away from fossil-fuel-based energy production;
c. call upon its members, congregations, and jurisdictions to declare our intent to divest, when feasible, from fossil-fuel investments, following the process that the World Church is modeling: that is, to research, educate ourselves, and divest from companies that continue to invest in and promote fossil fuels;
d. declare its support for a just and responsible Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Moreover, in Doctrine and Covenants 163:4b we read:
The earth, lovingly created as an environment for life to flourish, shudders in distress because creation’s natural and living systems are becoming exhausted from carrying the burden of human greed and conflict. Humankind must awaken from its illusion of independence and unrestrained consumption without lasting consequences.
The Forum was the setting for three award presentations on the opening night.
Two Human Rights Awards were presented. They were received by Randie Cross Marsh (founder of Hand in Hand Kenya, supporting Maisha Girls Safe House), and Jimmy, Kathy, Jared, and Nancy Munson (Chattanooga urban ministry aiding disadvantaged and marginalized groups).
The International Peace Award was presented to Bill McKibben (American environmental author, activist, and founder of 350.org and Third Act, and a Methodist from Vermont) who then delivered the opening keynote address. He signed copies of his most recent book Here Comes the Sun after the service. Bill said that the pursuit of fossil fuels as an energy source was ill-conceived. The sun is our only hope for our descendants’ lives to remain viable, he said.
On Saturday Bill McKibben gave another stunning call to action on climate justice. The recording is available on the church’s website. I encourage your accessing it.
Thereafter there were two dozen parallel ‘breakout’ sessions. Participants could choose discussions on the theology that underpins environmental justice, or practices that strengthen daily capacity for acting for climate justice including upholding approaches that nurture communities. I led a session on food security and economic justice. I also listened to speakers from Africa, Central America and the Pacific Islands (including NZ) on their struggles and creative opportunities.
An evening worship service followed.
On Sunday morning, before the closing worship, there was a 90-minute period where a dozen ‘stations’ had been set up for people to drop in and participate in various tasks, like writing to representatives, or hearing stories of activism, or reviewing recycling initiatives. This initiative was clever and well attended.
President Stassi Cramm then delivered a powerful sermon wherein she expressed the view that the call to meet the environmental challenge of global warming today was not just a secular task but remains at the heart of our sacred duty. I encourage you to find the recording on the website and listen to the passion in Stassi’s voice.
The next Peace Forum is scheduled for 2029.
Rick Sarre, immediate past Team Leader of the World Church Peace and Justice Team