For several years Community United Church of Christ has been working to educate people about the risks of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a technique for extracting fossil fuels. We have invited experts to speak at Sunday morning's Adult Forum and at special events throughout the week. That educational work has led to a commitment to encourage our legislators to oppose allowing fracking in North Carolina. Members of CUCC are involved in a variety of ways, some spending many hours working with North Carolina organizations, others writing personal notes to legislators, and still others signing petitions after worship on Sunday. We work in coalition with groups throughout North Carolina, especially Clean Water for North Carolina (to whom we made a large donation in 2012 for a special project in their grassroots campaign) and FrackFreeNC. Both the Social Justice Ministry and the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force, in collaboration, lead the congregation in this work.
Read more about hydraulic fracturing
In May 2013, the Social Justice Ministry of CUCC sent John and Adrienne Little to the United Church of Christ's Southern Conference's Annual Meeting asking them to pass a resolution to "petition members of the NC General Assembly and its political appointees to work against any further actions that promote or allow the development and employment of hydraulic fracturing in our state but rather to support and encourage the development of renewable and healthy sources of energy now and for the future." That resolution passed at Southern Conference.
In May 2014, the congregation urged the Southern Conference at its Annual Meeting to pass a resolution which would ask the General Synod of the United Church of Christ to work against hydraulic fracturing, study, monitor, and report to the churches on justice issues related to fracking, and encourage local congregations to learn more about fracking. John and Adrienne Little are taking that resolution to the 2014 meeting of the Southern Conference in June. The congregation also voted to place anti-fracking signs on the church lawn so that those driving on Wade Avenue (including North Carolina legislators on their way to the General Assembly) are encouraged to oppose fracking.
If you are interested in learning more about the church's work to protect people and the environment by opposing fracking in North Carolina, talk to any member of the Social Justice Ministry.
