Access the entire "Our Living World" series here.
Biblical Grounding
The first creation story in the Bible (Genesis 1:1-2:3) never mentions air. In the second creation story (Genesis 2:4 ff.), air appears for the first time in the form of a breath (“nishmat” in Hebrew) “puffed” into a human being formed from the dust of the earth by God. This puff of air brings the human being to life (Genesis 2:7).
The measure of whether a being is living in the Hebrew Bible is whether it breathes, whether it inhales and exhales air. Air and life are inextricably bound together. Yet, air as such is never described as something created by God. Its existence, essential though it is, is simply taken for granted in the creation stories.
Much the same is true about the existence of the air all around us in our lives. We take it for granted. We barely notice it.
Unless, that is, something about it causes us discomfort.
In recent years, heat domes, bomb blizzards, alterations in the location of the polar vortex or major ocean currents, and smoke from wildfires have caused many more of us to notice the air around us and either adapt or find ways to address our discomfort. If the air is too hot or too cold, we adapt or try to alter its temperature. If the air is too humid or too dry, we change its moisture level. If it brings bad smells, or carries too much pollen, pollution or smoke, we try to get away from it, or filter it, or reduce the production or emission of whatever is polluting it.
United Methodist statements about air and our relationship with air address both its necessity for life for all in our living world and the fact that we do not otherwise notice it or speak about it until it becomes uncomfortable or polluted.
Valuing air as part of creation
The Social Principles state the intrinsic value of air as part of our living world. “Whether human beings are conscious of it or not, we are participants in and beneficiaries of complex natural ecosystems made up of myriads of symbiotic relationships between living organisms such as animals, plants, insects and microorganisms, and the physical environs they inhabit, including air, water, and soil.”
How does an awareness of air as holy affect how you interact with air? How you breathe? How you approach the tasks of daily living? Whether or how much you will continue to use internal combustion engines for driving, lawn care or generating power, even in emergencies? Whether or how much you will continue to support and tolerate industries that pollute the air more than they preserve it?
Clean air: a basic right for all
Resolution 1033 (Caring for Creation: A Call to Stewardship and Justice) sets a positive platform for United Methodist advocacy and action to protect air quality across our living world. “We believe clean air is a basic right and necessity for all life.” For that reason, air must be understood to be “outside the control of different nations” and, instead, “must be developed and preserved for the benefit of all.”
Second, United Methodists are to do all in our power, as individuals, churches and agencies, to reduce our impacts on polluting the air and compromising the atmosphere in ways that contribute to the acceleration of global climate change. The resolution specifically calls upon Wespath to oversee this work at the denominational level.
The ongoing development of net-zero carbon emission plans by the general agencies are one part of this initiative. The Earthkeepers program of Global Ministries is another. A training event to help launch new Earthkeepers groups in local communities worldwide and connect them to the Global Ministries Creation Care Network is scheduled for Oct. 1-4,2026, in Atlanta.
How are United Women in Faith units in your congregation, district and conference involved in advocacy for international protocols to protect air and our atmosphere for the good of all in our living world? How are plans to reduce air pollution and climate impacts proceeding in your conference, local church and community?
Reducing air pollution
The Book of Resolutions includes a variety of calls to reduce air pollution.
Resolution 1100, Environmental Health, notes that air pollution "[m]ay contribute to intellectual delays, anxiety, depression, and attention problems." It does on to say, "To fulfill God’s commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, we should support action that protects each individual’s health and preserves the health of the community."
Resolution 4106, “United States-Mexico Border,” notes that air pollution levels on both sides of the border are continuing to increase. This exacerbates the already-challenging social, political, health and economic situation of people and all living things near the border. United Methodists “recommend and urge the Mexican and U.S. governments to… develop binational and multilateral agreements that… prevent the contamination of air, water, and land of both sides of the border.” Advocacy from United Methodists and others resulted in the Border 2020 framework that, in turn, has led to a Border 2025 framework. Under these frameworks, air quality is regularly on both sides of the border by the Environmental Protection Agency (United States) and the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Mexico). Despite cuts to EPA funding in the United States under the second Trump administration, both governmental organizations are still taking steps to improve the quality of air, water and land in this region.
Resolution 5106, Call to the Churches for the Renewal of Rural Ministries, notes that both the market model of capitalism and international trade agreements fostered by both national and transnational entities (such as the World Trade Organization) have led to the "violation of the integrity of God’s creation as typified by the pollution of the air, land, and water and disruption of the ecology and climate on a global scale." Systemic issues, such as economic systems and international agreements, require systemic approaches to solutions. The resolution calls United Methodists to be part of advocating for such solutions as well as working with other denominations to help create support systems for farmers seeking to employ sustainable practices that reduce pollution of all kinds, including air pollution.
The United Methodist Church remains a worldwide denomination. The air, part of God’s good creation, is shared by all humans and living things, worldwide. Especially if you are outside the United States, your voice can help our General Conference take actions to advocate and work for the good of all of us in our living world. You may submit your own resolutions to the 2028 General Conference when the window for submission opens in late spring 2027.
Burton Edwards serves as Lead for Ask The UMC, the information service of United Methodist Communications.
