Resources for Ministry in a Warming World

Duke’s Cooling Communities project works with faith leaders across the Carolinas

Four people sitting in a pew, talking to an audience

Extreme heat is one of the fastest-growing public health threats in the United States, disproportionately affecting low-income households, older adults and people with chronic health conditions. In many rural and semirural communities in North and South Carolina, congregations are among the few institutions consistently providing support, connection and trusted information.

Faith leaders in the Carolinas now have access to new resources for supporting their communities in the face of these more frequent and severe extreme heat events. Created by Duke Divinity School students in conversation with faith leaders, the suite of ministry resources includes theological reflections, worship materials and discussion guides for congregations to explore their roles in strengthening community resilience.

The Divinity students produced the suite as part of the Cooling Communities project, led by the Heat Policy Innovation Hub, based at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability.

Between fall 2024 and spring 2025, Divinity students teamed with the project to engage pastors and lay leaders to better understand how vulnerable community members are affected by extreme heat and how churches are navigating these challenges. The conversations focused on Sandhills and Coastal Plains communities along the I-95 corridor, where heat exposure and energy poverty are significant concerns.

The conversations revealed that many congregations are already responding informally by distributing water, checking on neighbors or providing access to air-conditioned spaces. At the same time, leaders said they often lack the resources and guidance needed to organize more structured responses.

“As extreme heat events become more common, churches have both a practical and pastoral responsibility to equip congregations with reliable resources, compassionate communication and community-centered care that protects our most vulnerable neighbors as partners in Christ’s service," said Rev. Dr. Elijah D. Roberts-Iverson, who is taking part in the project as a representative of Outer Banks Presbyterian Church.

Explore the Cooling Communities resource suite at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability.