One faith-based experience …
“Record Drought Forces Conflict Over Water”*

In the spring of 2001, the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and northern California faced a record drought – one that was compounded by an endangered species lawsuit and historic over-allocation of water.  The drought left about 1,000 farms without water and several species of fish (and the Native American tribes who rely on them) even more compromised.  Jenny Holmes, the Program Director for the Interfaith Network for Earth Concerns (with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon), wrote the following:

“Today, faith communities play a significant role as they swirl within the center of this struggle over water.  The congregations – made up of farmers, tribal members, and environmentalists – often represent microcosms of the larger community.  Faced with this crisis, they respond to the human needs caused by the sudden loss of income to farm families by providing food, counseling, referrals to social services, and cash assistance.

“Additionally, a number of the Basin’s religious leaders are called to a broader horizon of concern for dialogue and reconciliation.

“Forums for dialogue lost ground after the water [to farmlands] was shut off.  Levels of trust plummeted, just as places for people to come together in a positive and constructive spirit were sorely needed.  Religious leaders saw opportunities for faith communities to provide a safe place, or sanctuary, for people of diverse perspectives to come together to tell their stories, learn from one another, and glimpse new possibilities for inclusive justice.

“In August, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) brought together clergy to discuss their concerns and the possibilities for dialogue.  Using the ‘Day for Moral Deliberation’ model, which provides a structure for people of differing perspectives to share and gain a better perspective on the issues that divide them, EMO and the clergy [are] plan[ning] an opportunity for people affected by the water crisis to share their feelings, thoughts, and ideas.

“By nurturing respectful dialogue, it is hoped that the process will help transform people’s vision of the region in ways that benefit the common good.  Such dialogue is essential to building a sustainable future, where humankind and nature can thrive together in the Basin.”
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* This is an excerpt from the article (by this title) that appeared in the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center’s (IPJC) A Matter Of Spirit, Fall 2001.