Faith Communities:

A Call to Stop Private Jet Expansion at
Hanscom or Anywhere​

Below you’ll find:

Resolutions Adopted by Faith Communities

All denominations are welcome!

First Parish in Bedford
Adopted 10/3/24

Click photos to read each Resolution

The Winchester Unitarian Society's Social Action and Outreach and Green Sanctuary Committees

Adopted Jun 26, 2025
Text coming soon!

First Parish in Concord
Adopted 12/10/24

First Parish in Lexington
Adopted 11/12/24
See news coverage of their action below

News Coverage

Parke Wilde talks about Calvary Church United Methodist’s Faith Resolution on Arlington Cable TV!

Here is the YouTube link.  

Parke talks about private jets & their climate and environmental justice impacts, the proposed Hanscom expansion, XR Boston’s Hanscom tarmac protest in April 2024 & why he got arrested, and the Faith Resolution opposing private jet expansion recently adopted by his Missions and Social Action Committee at the Calvary Church United Methodist in Arlington. 

Read how Lexington First Parish passed a Resolution!

Activists keep heat on Hanscom with
new faith-based resolutions against expansion
Lexington Observer, 11/21/24

Webinar: People of Faith: A Call to Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere

March 25th, 12-1 PM Sponsored by SPJE and UU Mass Action

On Tuesday, March 25th, nearly 60 faith community members from across Massachusetts came together in a powerful webinar to address the environmental injustice of private jet expansion, uniting voices from various religious traditions to challenge climate-damaging practices. The event, co-sponsored by UU Mass Action and the Coalition to Stop Private Jet Expansion, highlighted the crucial role of faith communities in taking decisive action against egregious private jet expansion at Hanscom or anywhere.

Access the recording here, Access the slides here.

Read more details about the event here

Sue Swanson's remarks from the March 25th Faith Webinar

Call to Action

We are calling on faith communities in Massachusetts to adopt a Resolution urging Governor Healey to stop private jet expansion at Massport-owned Hanscom airport or anywhere.  (See already adopted Resolutions below.)

Why should your Faith Community take this action? 

  • Private jets are the most polluting form of travel per passenger for their carbon footprint.

  • Private jet expansion intensifies the deep divide between the ultra-wealthy few and the underprivileged many by fueling hunger, inequality, and the climate crisis -- an intolerable environmental injustice and a deplorable use of our limited carbon budget. (See Oxfam study: Carbon Inequality Kills)

  • If the proposed private jet hangar expansion goes ahead, it will have statewide ramifications:  private jet emissions from Hanscom alone could cancel  70% of the climate gains from all solar PV installed in Massachusetts – a setback that our Commonwealth and the climate cannot afford.  

Faith communities across Massachusetts are encouraged to adopt this Faith Resolution which is anchored in the universal values of compassion and caring for all creation and the common good.  By taking this action, your faith community will help build continuing momentum and amplify our message to Governor Healey to stop this indefensible plan. For the full SPJE Call to Action, click here.

Hear powerful Calls to Action by Rev Jim Antal, Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger, and Sue Swanson.

Transcript of Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger’s remarks.

Transcript of Sue Swanson's remarks.
 

Interested in taking action? Request Faith Resolution Toolkit, which provides essential Action Steps, a Resolution Template, & other important information, or feel free to email us your questions at faith@spje.org 

Additional Information

RECENT STUDIES on private jet aviation impacts–

For more studies, click here