Spring 2012
Recently, the Penn Central Conference UCC sponsored a special one-day workshop event, Growing Stronger Churches. [You can find the original posting for it in this same Events section of the RENEWAL Project website.] Its purpose was to help bring congregations on board for creation care action – many of them for the first time. This is just one instance of a larger thrust for environmental-justice that is currently underway nationally in the United Church of Christ denomination.
We’re pleased to share some feedback we’ve received about the Penn Central Conference workshop:
Marja Coons-Torn, Conference Minister of Penn Central Conference, writes to say:
“I think it was great!! We had about 35 people from a dozen or more churches. A number of them took copies of Renewal home with them. We had someone from Interfaith Power and Light and several people from ICE [the Interfaith Coalition on the Environment]. I think it was a great first effort. We’ve surfaced four or five names for a new ministry team. So that’s where things stand for now.”
And Brenda Waleff, Minister of Communications for Penn Central Conference, adds:
“Renewal was great. I think the group workshop after lunch with Bill Thwing was most beneficial trying to help churches take first steps within their own buildings. My workshop on different studies and curriculum went well. I used the last 25 minutes to show them how they could do a community event and invite people in to learn how to make nontoxic cleaning products which I got from NCC website.”
You may want to contact Marja Coons-Torn or Brenda Waleff to learn more about how you can easily inspire your own community to become engaged with creation care, while using very few resources. Their contacts are via the Penn Central Conference website: https://www.pccucc.org/directories/staff-directory/