As the climate crisis deepens, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But faith communities remind us that despair is not the only option—hope, action, and solidarity are also possible. Faith leaders, through their trusted roles in their communities, are educating, mobilizing, and inspiring people to action, helping communities see climate change as both a moral crisis and a solvable one. From congregations going green to chaplains helping people navigate climate grief, spiritual traditions offer both courage and wisdom for this moment. 

It’s an incredibly dynamic time for the faith sector. From the pandemic abruptly shaking up existing models and strategies, to religious nationalism planting a flag on the political stage, to the Israel/Gaza war straining interfaith relationships globally, to a range of longer-term dynamics in the sector, including the continued growth of the religiously unaffiliated demographic in the U.S., the first half of the 2020s have seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in-between. 

Continue reading to explore a few faith sector trends we’re watching as we head into the second half of the decade. They give us great optimism for the future of faith.

Meet Brother Lawrence Whitney, priest in the Lindisfarne community, former university chaplain, and innovator working on de-institutionalizing chaplaincy so that all people and communities have access to spiritual health resources. Larry envisions chaplaincy tapping into a variety of religious traditions to help individuals and communities connect to meaning and purpose. He’s piloting this vision in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, MA.