PEC Conference 2013 – Ethical Earth Care: Keeping Creation Sacred
- PEC’s 2013 Ethical Earth Care Conference brought together 100 passionate Creation caretakers to learn, share and worship together at Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas! We were blessed by the presence of many wonderful and inspiring leaders, who have shared the following resources, presentations and links from the conference. Please click on the sections below to explore these resources!
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Keynote Speaker
Worship
Workshop Session 1
Workshop Session 2
Workshop Session 3
Workshop Session 4
Workshop Session 5
Workshop Session 6
Additional Resources
Click here to view an album of the many wonderful photos that were taken at the conference!
- Earth
- Water
- Wind
- Fire
Rev. Neddy Astudillo, an eco-theologian, a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and a candidate for a D.Min. on Eco-Justice Ministries and Eco-spirituality at Drew University. Our worship reflected on the themes of Earth Care through song and prayer.
Thursday: Workshop Session 1
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Artshop! (Creating and Creation) – Abby Mohaupt
ArtShop! invited participants to think about artmaking as a way to be in solidarity with creation. Participants worked together to create the plate and chalice for communion later in the conference. - Green Ideas for Camps that Can Energize Children, Educate Adults, and Inspire Churches – David Gill
7 of 10 Presbyterian Elders report that it was at a camp or retreat that they had their most formative spiritual experience. This workshop lifted up examples we can use to encourage more camps to become centers for Creation care that inspire our churches and members to take further steps down the path of eco-sustainability.- Visit Ferncliff’s website (http://www.ferncliff.org/about/green-initiatives/) to find out more about all the green features and initiatives at Ferncliff!
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Singing a New Song: Exploring Fossil Fuel Divestment in the Presbyterian Church (USA) – Wil Howie
This workshop provided information about an upcoming fossil fuel divestment overture to General Assembly and facilitated discussion and organizing.- Visit the Fossil Free PC(USA) website (https://sites.google.com/site/fossilfreepcusa/) to learn about divestment work going on within the PC(USA).
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Speaking Truth to Power: Prophetic Witness as Ministry and Discipleship – Leslie Woods
The Office of Public Witness represents the social witness statements of the General Assembly in Washington, DC, and to Presbyterians everywhere. This workshop discussed witness in Washington, the theological basis for doing advocacy, and the Advocate’s Toolbox: best practices for individuals to become effective advocates.- Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation from this workshop.
- Click here to download information about Bristol Bay and Pebble Mine.
- Click here to download the “Holy Discontentment” advocacy resource.
- Click here to download information about Creation Justice Ministries.
- Click here to download a petition from Creation Justice Ministries on toxic chemical reform.
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Food Sovereignty: Land, Water, Seeds – Andrew Kang Bartlett
Progress in changing the power dynamic and democratizing our global food system depends on the uniting of movements and the involvement of everyone. This workshop explored how local-global alliances and grassroots organizing have brought together young adults and diverse stakeholders to begin creating change in the food system, often directly challenging corporate practices. -
Celtic Saints and Earth Care – Rev. Dr. Stan Adamson
The Celtic Christians of Ireland, Scotland and Northumbria in the 5th-7th centuries CE practiced a unique Christian faith deeply connected to the Earth. This workshop visited, through images, the “thin places” where the Celtic saints lived and worked and shared stories of Saints such as Patrick, Enda, Gobnait, Ciaran, Brigid, Brendan, Columba, and Cuthbert. In Celtic music and prayer, participants considered how worship and service and love of the land and sea provide wisdom for Earth care.
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Writing Overtures and Resolutions – Rev. Katie Preston and Diane Waddell
Participants explored the basics about how an overture or resolution gets written and brought to the floor of GA and worked on crafting legislation. - Presbyterians for Earth Care is looking toward GA 2014 and encourages your involvement in overtures related to environmental and social justice issues. There are at least four such overtures in various stages of the approval. If you have questions or comments and/or would be interested in concurring with an overture, please contact the PEC coordinator at presbyearthcare@gmail.com.
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Experiencing Green in the Congregation – Rev. Mary Beene
Based in experiential education models, participants explored experiential aspects of worship, Christian Ed., fellowship, and prayer activities in their own congregations – all with an eye toward how these experiences can shape our understanding of creation care.- Rev Mary Beene recommends exploring the body prayer, meditations and music on the four CD set “The Body at Prayer” (click here to purchase).
Thursday: Workshop Session 3
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Food Sovereignty: Land, Water, Seeds – Andrew Kang Bartlett
Progress in changing the power dynamic and democratizing our global food system depends on the uniting of movements and the involvement of everyone. This workshop explored how local-global alliances and grassroots organizing have brought together young adults and diverse stakeholders to begin creating change in the food system, often directly challenging corporate practices. -
Fracking: A Stained Glass Window on the Energy Future and the Human Prospect – Rev. John Preston
Is hydro-fracking a “bridging technology” to renewable non-green gas producing energy, or a long extension of our carbon based economy? This workshop explored this technology and its social-environmental and economic impact from the perspective of our Church’s Earth-honoring criteria.- Visit the Food and Water Watch website (http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/fracking/) and the Sierra Club website (http://content.sierraclub.org/naturalgas/) for more information on fracking.
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Mountain Top Removal Mining – Rev. Katie Preston
This workshop explored the basics of MTR including sites and impacts on environment and discussed biblical perspectives for why we should support a moratorium/end to MTR from the PC(USA).- Visit I Love Mountains (http://ilovemountains.org/) to learn more about mountain top removal mining.
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A Life-Giving Approach to Clean Water and Clean Air Advocacy – Thomas A. Pakurar, Ph.D.
In this workshop, Tom used lessons from nature and the Precautionary Principle to discuss advocating for life for all of God’s Creation and “zero” pollution. Regulatory hurdles discussed included run-off from farms and new construction, uranium mining, BP Oil Spill, coal mine disasters, and regulatory standards in Europe vs. the USA.
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Contemplating Our Holy Center: Poetry and Presence Part l, Poetry by Mary Oliver – Nancy Corson Carter, Ph.D.
Participants explored poems by Mary Oliver within a context of quiet meditation, and combined listening to and reflecting upon her work with time for writing and sharing. -
Earth Care in Congregations – Rebecca Barnes
In this workshop, participants learned about the PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation certification program, explored faith-based, eco-justice resources available through PC(USA) and ecumenical partners, heard success stories and learning models from Earth Care Congregations, and learned about a new partnership to simultaneously certify some PC(USA) congregations as GreenFaith Sanctuaries -
Digging Deep Into Theology; the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, and Noah – Rev. Pat Watkins
This workshop examined in depth three Old Testament stories, the Garden of Eden story, the Cain and Abel story, and the Noah story to show that by going deep, we will uncover new wisdom in scripture.- To explore the themes of this workshop, Rev. Pat Watkins recommends reading Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture by Ellen Davis (click here to purchase) and The Paradise of God by Norman Wirzba (click here to purchase).
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Eco-Justice Advocacy: What Can We Do When Congress Isn’t Doing Anything? – Leslie Woods
Elected leaders throughout our history have urged advocates to build movements in order to achieve their ends – “make it so that I can’t NOT act,” they say. This workshop centered around strategies for advocacy and movement-building for eco-justice and care of creation. Do we focus on a strong and proactive EPA or on getting a climate bill? What can we do, as the PC(USA), to build the movement for eco-justice and care of creation?
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Contemplating Our Holy Center: Poetry and Presence Part 2, Walking the Labyrinth – Nancy Corson Carter, Ph.D.
This workshop included a brief general introduction to walking the labyrinth, walking of the Ferncliff labyrinth and period for writing and sharing.- Visit Ferncliff’s website (http://www.ferncliff.org/retreat-facilities/ramsey-chapel-and-labyrinth/) to find pictures and more information about the Ferncliff labyrinth.
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Are We Doomed? – Andrew Kang Bartlett
Taking the local-global food system as our case study, this workshop explored personal and collective approaches to resolving daunting threats to the rights of living beings and the planet. So many questions–What lessons might plants, animals and life itself offer us? Did Christ change everything?
- Eco-Justice Worship, Ritual, and Spiritual Formation – Rebecca Barnes, Rev. Neddy Astudillo, Abby Mohaupt
How does liturgy, ritual, and theology shape communities to care for the Earth? This liturgical workshop included ritual, conversation, and hands-on experiences of how care for the Earth is a central component of spiritual formation and Christian worship.- Click here to download the Body Prayer that Rebecca Barnes led during this workshop.
- For additional Eco-Justice worship resources, visit the websites of Creation Justice Ministries (http://creationjustice.org/resources/), Eco-Justice Ministries (http://www.eco-justice.org/Worship.asp), Earth Ministry (http://earthministry.org/resources/worship-aids) and Web of Creation (http://www.webofcreation.org/worship).
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Environmental Justice Through Indigenous Eyes – Dr. Dan Wildcat, Ph.D.
Dr. Dan Wildcat, Ph.D., shared how indigenous knowledge systems are different from human-centered knowledge systems and what the water, the birds, and the plants are telling us. Interpreting how the parts of the landscape and seascape react to climate change has been key to the survival of indigenous peoples.
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Chemicals and Our Health – Tricia Smith
Research shows that pregnant women, developing babies, and young children are routinely exposed to chemicals that harm developing brains. The information presented in this workshop educated participants on the current state of affairs regarding toxins our children are exposed to on a daily basis and some things to do about it.- Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation from this workshop.
- Visit the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families website (http://saferchemicals.org/) for more information about chemical exposure.
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Solar Energy in the Developing World – Chris McRae
Participants learned about forming mission teams to bring sustainable solar power to the developing world, including descriptions of solar training and a power point review of actual installations in Haiti and Kenya.- Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation from this workshop.
- Visit Solar Under the Sun’s website (http://www.solarunderthesun.org/default/) to learn more.
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Putting the Community in Community Gardens – Rev. Anne Russ
The workshop offered several models for gardens that encourage participation in the wider community.- Visit the website of People Tree (http://thepeopletree.us/), a community action and food security organization based in Central Arkansas.
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Tour of Heifer Ranch
Heifer Ranch is the 1200 acre educational and demonstration center of Heifer International. Participants toured the ranch includes and received a general orientation to Heifer’s work in international livestock development, a hayride tour of the ranch, and a walk through their global village hillside.-
Visit the Heifer Ranch’s website (http://www.heifer.org/what-you-can-do/experience-heifer/heifer-ranch/index.html) to learn more about the Ranch.
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Visit the Heifer Ranch’s website (http://www.heifer.org/what-you-can-do/experience-heifer/heifer-ranch/index.html) to learn more about the Ranch.
- Invocation
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Gasland: Gasland is filmaker Josh Fox’s urgent, cautionary and sometimes darkly comic look at the largest domestic natural gas drilling campaign in history, which is currently sweeping the country and promising landowners a quick payoff. Part verité road trip, part exposé, part mystery and part showdown, Gasland follows director Fox on a 24-state investigation of the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing. What he uncovers is mind-boggling: tap water so contaminated it can be set on fire right out of the tap; chronically ill residents with similar symptoms in drilling areas across the country; and huge pools of toxic waste that kill livestock and vegetation.
- Visit the Gasland website (http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/) for more information about the original film and the sequel, Gasland 2.
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A Sea Change: A Sea Change follows the journey of retired history teacher Sven Huseby on his quest to discover what is happening to the world’s oceans. After reading Elizabeth Kolbert’s “The Darkening Sea,” Sven becomes obsessed with the rising acidity of the oceans and what this “sea change” bodes for mankind. His quest takes him to Alaska, California, Washington, and Norway as he uncovers a worldwide crisis that most people are unaware of.
- Click here to view a clip from A Sea Change.
- Visit the Sea Change website (http://www.aseachange.net/) for more information and to purchase the movie.