Kansas Senate candidates clash over pastor’s climate sermon

Hamilton’s 2020 sermon

Adam Hamilton, the Democratic Senate nominee in Kansas, urged worshippers during a January 2020 sermon to change personal behavior that contributes to climate change.

Hamilton told the Church of the Resurrection congregation that repentance required seeing an issue differently, feeling concern about its effects and acting differently afterward. He included himself, saying he had been wasteful and had not always considered how his choices affected the Earth or future generations.

Hamilton formerly led the United Methodist megachurch in Leawood. He is challenging Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in a state where cattle production is a major industry and where a Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate seat in 94 years.

Marshall and Hamilton campaigns respond

Marshall characterized Hamilton’s sermons as out of step with Kansas values. He said Hamilton’s remarks about beef, along with what Marshall described as a change of position on the Farm Bill, showed that Hamilton would align with other Democratic senators. The Fox News account did not detail Hamilton’s Farm Bill positions.

Hamilton campaign spokesperson Tyson Brody responded that Marshall has also addressed cattle emissions. Brody pointed to legislation Marshall introduced to reduce those emissions and to Marshall’s past comments about concern over methane from cattle.

Brody also argued that Marshall had not adequately supported Kansas cattle producers on tariffs, foreign imports and diesel prices. The exchange places the candidates’ past statements about agriculture and emissions into the Senate campaign, with each side challenging the other’s record.