Exciting religious-environmental initiatives are taking place in UCC communities across the country.
The Penn Central Conference UCC, under the leadership of Rev. Marja Coons-Torn, recently held a day-long workshop in Harrisburg, PA; Growing Stronger Churches.
The workshop was created to inspire stronger community engagement with creation care and environmental-justice.
Because it was so thoughtfully designed and simple, we are sharing its full schedule here:
March 10, 2012
Colonial Park UCC
Harrisburg, PA
9:00 Registration
9:30 Community Worship - Fellowship Hall
9:45 Renewal: Stories from America’s Religious-Environmental Movement
This film, for the first time, shows stories of the emerging movement of religious environmentalism across the United States.
We will witness the inspiration of religious ideas in practice for the healing of the earth.
11:00 Roundtable Discussion (facilitated by Anita Stabile and Nathan Spivey of ICE)
What are you doing in your congregations? What would you like to do? Why are you here?
11:30 Lunch
Becoming a UCC Green Justice Congregation (Brenda Waleff, PCC Minister of Comm.)
12:15 Taking steps to make your property green
(William Thwing, UCC Pastor & Board member of PA Interfaith Power & Light)
How can we make our church greener and how do we go about having an Energy audit done?
1:30 Workshops (select one from the three options below)
#1 How to invite your members and the community into your church to learn about ecojustice
(Brenda Waleff, PCC Minister of Communications) SS Room #1
How to teach and engage your members in the study of creation care and invite the community into your church for environmental education.
#2 What churches can do to care for creation
(Rachel Mark & Susan Norris, ICE) Fellowship Hall
Is there a group in your church committed to creation care? Are they reaching out to members and your community?
Find out ways to get your church and community involved in taking care of our earth.
#3 Why and how your church can be a leader in public advocacy for our environment
(Ricky Phillips, ELCA/UCC Pastor and Member of Marcellus Shale Citizens Commission) Parlor
What environmental topics would your congregation or its members be willing to support or speak out against?
How can your church reach out to the community?
2:30 -3:00 Wrap-Up - Fellowship Hall
What have you learned today? What questions do you have? What are you taking back to your congregations?