Episode #99 - COP26 and Climate Justice with Pastor Ray Minniecon, Jarrod McKenna, and Dr. Byron Smith

On today's episode we're discussing the topic of Climate Justice in the wake of the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31 through November 13 of 2021 (the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties). We are joined by three guests from Australia: Pastor Ray Minniecon, Jarrod McKenna, and Dr. Byron Smith. Over the course of our conversation we talk about the severity of the problem of climate change and how it impacts indigenous communities, and the theological necessity to engage ourselves with the work of climate justice as an embodied expression of hope in the resurrection.

Pastor Ray Minniecon is an Australian indigenous leader and a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation, the Gureng Gureng nation of South-East Queensland, and also the South Sea Islander people with deep connections to the people of Ambrym Island. He holds many roles, including as executive member of the Indigenous People’s Organization, Director of Bunji Consultancies, and Honorary Indigenous Minister for Scarred Tree Indigenous Ministries, St. John’s Anglican Church, Glebe. Pastor Ray also recently attended COP26.

Jarrod McKenna is the co-host of the Inverse Podcast, the Founder of First Home Project for refugees, was the founding CEO of Common Grace (a Christian advocacy organisation), an initiator of LoveMakesAWay.org.au (a movement for refugees which has become the largest faith based civil disobedience movement in Australia’s history), and was World Vision Australia’s National Advisor for Faith and Activism and a Nonviolent Social Change Educator for World Vision in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Dr. Byron Smith is an ecological ethicist and Christian minister. His PhD in theological ethics from the University of Edinburgh focused on emotional responses to climate change in the context of Christian identity. His time is split between pastoral ministry in the Anglican church in Sydney, and a speaking/writing ministry helping churches join the dots between ecological justice and faith.

Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Stephanie Kate Judd.

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