Down-to-Earth Advocacy and Action
Ahffh Presbyterians for Earth Care 2015 Conference Down-to-Earth Advocacy and Action September 15 - 18, 2015 Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, NC A special feature will be an evening focused on our 20th anniversary: INHERITING A SACRED TRUST FOR THE FUTURE Thursday, September 17, 6:45 p.m. Share your reflections of PEC/PRC at www.PECmemories.com Register at www.presbyearthcare.org Welcome to Down-‐to-‐Earth Advocacy and Action Presbyterians for Earth Care 2015 Conference and 20th Anniversary Celebration Dear Friends in Creation Caring, Presbyterians for Earth Care invites you to join us for an innovative and motivating conference in beautiful Montreat Conference Center, September 15-‐18th, to help empower you for advocacy and action in Earth care! We welcome the leadership of Trisha Tull, author of Inhabiting Eden, who will keynote for us on Rethinking Scripture, Humans and Creation Creating Social Movement for Change, and Shifting to a Flourishing Future! We welcome as well, J. Herbert Nelson, Director, PC(USA) Office of Public Witness, to motivate us to move forward in areas of prophetic advocacy through public witness! We are thrilled that Environmental Ministries of PC(USA) is hosting their Earth Care Summit with us and that the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) will host the Hunger Action Enablers. Both Rebecca Barnes, Associate, PHP; and Jessica Maudlin, Associate, PHP, will be providing leadership. Watch for the color orange representing Fossil Free PCUSA as they share their vital message of divestment from fossil fuels. Come for refreshment in worship and joy in "Inheriting a Sacred Trust for the Future" a celebration of our 20 years of Earth Caring with the PC (USA). Share in workshops on Christian Permaculture; Imagination, Food, Faith and Justice; and many more current and provocative environmental, economic and social justice issues of our times. We look forward to greeting you and moving forward in Action and Advocacy! Diane Waddell, Moderator Presbyterians for Earth Care Welcome to Earth Care Congregations Dear Earth Care Congregations, Presbyterian Hunger Program’s Environmental Ministries is considering this conference the 2015 Summit for Earth Care Congregations, hoping earth care teams can send representation to the Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) conference in order to learn, connect, and become inspired to take the Updated 4/24/2015 1 work back home into local congregations and communities. Earth Care Congregations will benefit greatly from a wide variety of educational, skill-‐building, and inspirational workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities throughout the PEC Conference. In addition to being active participants in the offerings of the PEC conference, there will be chances to gather during meal times just for members of certified Earth Care Congregations so that we can share success stories, best practices, challenges, and questions. If you are interested in sharing your congregation’s story during the “Earth Care Congregations 101” TED-‐style talk, please talk with me! Rebecca Barnes, Associate Environmental Ministries Welcome to Hunger Action Enablers Dear Hunger Action Enablers, The Presbyterian Hunger Program is so excited to hold the 2015 Hunger Action Enabler Training in conjunction with the Presbyterian for Earth Care (PEC) Conference. It is our hope that you will benefit greatly from a wide variety of educational, and inspirational workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities throughout the PEC Conference. In addition to being active participants in the overall PEC conference, there will be chances to gather during meal times just for Hunger Action Enablers as well as other gathering opportunities. Enough For Everyone We look forward to this time together! Jessica Maudlin, Associate Plenary Information Trisha Tull will lead three morning plenary gatherings, taking us from past to present, present to future. She will explore theological/biblical, sociological and scientific bases for our work in environmental and social justice. Join us for a profound and rich discussion each day: Day 1. Scripture, Humans, and Creation: biblical and scientific basis for environmental flourishing Day 2. Creating Social Changes: biblical and sociological basis for changing human actions Day 3. A Flourishing Future: biblical and contemporary visions for a hopeful future Trisha’s book, Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible, and the Ecological Crisis, the Leader's Guide, and A Reader's and Writer's Workbook that accompanies the book will be for sale at the conference. Updated 4/24/2015 2 Worship Information In the beginning of the week, we will ground our worship in the creation stories of Genesis. As we worship our Creator, we'll explore our relationships with each other, creation, and God in creative and inclusive ways that connect our whole selves to our call to care for creation. The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson will call us to confess the ways in which we've moved out of right relationships and to envision how our faith calls us to more. At the end of the week, we will be called to the flourishing of ourselves that comes from trusting the resurrection of Jesus the Christ who redeems all of creation. Conference Leadership Keynote Speaker – The Rev. Dr. Patricia (Trisha) Tull is a Presbyterian teaching elder and A. B. Rhodes Professor Emerita of Hebrew Bible at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and author of several books, including Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible, and the Ecological Crisis. She is a Climate Reality presenter, a GreenFaith fellow, and in addition to writing and teaching widely on Scripture and environmental issues, she works as affiliate developer for Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light. Special Guest Speaker – The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II is the Director of Public Witness at the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC, which implements the social justice agenda of the General Assembly through advocacy. He is a third generation Presbyterian Pastor, who, before coming to Washington, served as Founder/Pastor of Liberation Community Presbyterian Church (LCC) in Memphis. Worship and Music Coordinator -‐ Abby Mohaupt works at Puente de la Costa Sur in Pescadero, CA, where she divides her time between coordinating volunteers, meeting with faith communities, and nurturing learning in children. Abby holds a M.Div. and a Th.M. in eco-‐ feminist theology from McCormick Theological Seminary. She is an At-‐ Large Representative on the PEC Steering Committee. Updated 4/24/2015 3 Montreat Conference Center The Conference will be held at Montreat Conference Center, one of three national conference centers affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and visited annually by over 35,000 people seeking physical and spiritual renewal in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. The conference center is under the management of the Mountain Retreat Association, which formed in 1905 and is a church related institute. For over 100 years, Montreat has been a place set apart for those who journey here seeking a closer relationship with their Creator. The landmass of the Montreat community, as a whole, has 4,000 acres of property. The conference center permanently protected 2,500 acres of this, which is now a dedicated wilderness area registered in the NC Registry of National Heritage Areas, resulting in more than 40 miles of hiking trails. http://www.montreat.org Registration Information To register, visit www.presbyearthcare.org and complete the online registration form. Please note that conference fees are subject to a $1 per person, per day community service fee if not reserving housing. There are discounts for early registration, so register today! Type of registration Deadline Cost per person Early Bird July 15 $225 Regular August 30* $250 Late (if space is available) September 7* $275 Student or Young Adult August 30* $100 (18 – 30 yrs old) Half-‐day Commuter September 7 or at the conference $40 (Sept 15 or 18) Full-‐day Commuter September 7 or at the conference $80 (Sept 16 or 17) *Register by August 13, 2015 to receive best choice of housing. Housing and Meals Montreat offers a variety of housing options that include the Assembly Inn Hotel where the conference will be held and meals served. Other options are located a short walking distance to the Assembly Inn. If you plan to share a room, coordinate your registration with that person. Details can be found at http://www.montreat.org/stay/ Updated 4/24/2015 4 Housing rates are from 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 15 through 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept 18. Meals start with dinner on September 15 and end with breakfast and lunch on September 18. Estimated Lodging and Meal Costs (tax not included; currently 7%) Assembly Inn* Hotel ($89/night single or double occupancy) Housing (3 nights) Meals** ($90.00/person) Round trip Airport Transportation Town of Montreat Fees ($1/person/night) TOTAL Glen Rock Inn ($50/room/night; single or double bed) Glen Rock Apartment ($50/room/night; single or double bed) $150.00 $150.00 $90.00 $90.00 $267.00 $90.00 Reynolds Lodge* ($50/room/night; twin beds, hallway bath) $150.00 $90.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $3.00 $3.00 $3.00 $3.00 $410.00 $293.00 $293.00 $293.00 *Rooms can be shared and costs split ** Meals can also be purchased individually at the following rates ADULTS: Breakfast $8.00, Lunch $9.50, Dinner $12.50 CHILDREN: Breakfast $4.00, Lunch $5.00, Dinner $6. Housing and Meals for Pre-‐conference Field Trips For those registering for a pre-‐conference field trip on September 15, housing and meals are available for the evening of September 14 at the costs shown below. Estimated Lodging and Meals for overnight stay on September 14 Housing (1 night) Meals Town of Montreat Fees ($1/person/night) TOTAL Assembly Inn *Hotel ($89/night single or double occupancy) $89.00 Up to $30.00 $1.00 Glen Rock Inn ($50/room/night; double=double bed) Glen Rock Apartment ($50/room/night; double =double bed) $50.00 $50.00 Up to $30.00 Up to $30.00 $1.00 $1.00 $120.00 $81.00 Reynolds Lodge * ($50/room/night; twin beds, hallway bath) $50.00 Up to $30.00 $1.00 $81.00 $81.00 *Rooms can be shared and costs split Updated 4/24/2015 5 Refund Policy Cancellations must be received by August 4 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after August 4 but on or before September 8 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable) less $40. No refunds will be issued after September 8. All requests must be in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail. Airport Shuttles Vans from the Asheville Regional Airport will run to Montreat Conference Center every 90 minutes on September 14th and 15th. Vans from Montreat to the Asheville Regional Airport will run every 90 minutes on September 18th. Times will be scheduled based on flight times. Indicate your arrival and departure flights and times on the on-‐line registration form to reserve your space on a van. Assistance for Students and Young Adults Registration fees for students and young adults (ages 18 – 30 years old) are discounted to $100 and efforts will be made to house interested persons in private homes. If additional assistance is needed, students and young adults are encouraged to request it from their home church, presbytery, college, or seminary. Donations If you would like to make a donation to help defray the cost of the conference, including but not limited to scholarships for young adults, there will be an opportunity on the online registration form at www.presbyearthcare.org. Thank you in advance for your generosity! For More Information For questions regarding Presbyterians for Earth Care, please contact the PEC Coordinator at [email protected]. Updated 4/24/2015 6 Conference Schedule Sep 15 – Tues 7:30 – 8:30 BREAKFAST 8:45 – 10:00 Pre-‐conference Field Trips 10:00 -‐10:30 10:30 – 11:15 11:00 – 11:15 11:15 – 11:45 12:00 – 1:00 1:30 – 2:45 2:45 – 3:15 Registration 3:00 – 3:15 3:00 – 5:00 3:15 – 4:30 4:30 – 5:00 5:30 – 6:30 6:45 -‐7:30 7:30 – 8:00 8:00 – 8:15 8:00 – 8:30 8:30 -‐ end DINNER Welcome and Opening Worship BREAK Refreshments and Fellowship Sep 16 – Wed BREAKFAST Gathering Worship Keynote Break Workshop Session 1 LUNCH Workshop Session 2 BREAK Workshop Session 3 DINNER Worship and Plenary BREAK Workshop Session 4 Sep 17 – Thurs BREAKFAST Gathering Worship Keynote Break Mini-‐workshops Session 5 LUNCH Workshop Session 6 BREAK Workshop Session 7 DINNER Plenary, Worship and 20th Anniversary Celebration and Reception Sep 18 -‐ Fri BREAKFAST Gathering Keynote Break Intentional Follow-‐up & Small group reflection Closing Worship LUNCH Depart INHERITING A SACRED TRUST FOR THE FUTURE On Thursday evening, September 17, we will celebrate Presbyterians for Earth Care and Presbyterians for Restoring Creation’s twenty years as followers of Christ in restoring creation for ecology and justice. Please join us at 6:45 PM In Convocation Hall for an evening of worship, recognition, and reception focused on our 20th anniversary. We will honor the faithful contributions of the many leaders who have carried us through the years, from 1995 to where we are today. A special website www.PECmemories.com has been set up for you to share your experiences of previous conferences, General Assemblies, Steering Committees or other memories you want to share. We would be blessed by your presence at the celebration and/or your reflections on the PECmemories.com website. Updated 4/24/2015 7 Pre-‐conference Field Trips There is so much to see and do in the Montreat/Black Mountain/Asheville area that we couldn’t fit it all into one field trip, so we are offering a choice of three concurrent trips. This region of Western North Carolina is very diverse biologically, is the storage location for the world’s climate data, and is a center of sustainability efforts. Each of our three tours will focus on one of these characteristics. Field Trip 1. Mt. Mitchell and the Blue Ridge Parkway and/or Warren Wilson College -‐ $40/person plus lunch. Minimum group size: 14 This tour will start at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, a LEED certified building with a living roof. We will continue along the Blue Ridge Parkway – America’s longest linear park and the most visited of the National Park System – to the highest peak east of the Mississippi, Mt. Mitchell. We will stop at the Mt. Mitchell Restaurant where you can purchase lunch and enjoy the mountain views as you eat. After ascending the peak for a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we will take a short hike through a spruce-‐fir forest. If time allows we will return via Warren Wilson College and visit their eco-‐dorm and learn about the College’s institutional commitment to sustainability. Field Trip 2. National Climatic Data Center and the North Carolina Arboretum and/or Warren Wilson College -‐ $45/person plus lunch. Min. group size: 14 We will start with a tour of the National Climatic Data Center that maintains the world's largest climate data archive and learn how the data is used to draw conclusions about climate change. Our next stop will be the North Carolina Arboretum where you can purchase lunch in the café. We will then have a guided hike of the grounds and the facilities. If time allows we will return via Warren Wilson College and visit their eco-‐dorm and learn about the College’s institutional commitment to sustainability. Field Trip 3. Biltmore Sustainability Tour -‐ $125/person plus lunch. Minimum group size: 14 The Biltmore House is known as the largest privately owned home in the U.S. with 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. Completed in 1895, it is a technological marvel with flush toilets, elevators, and electric lights. Currently, the Biltmore Estate features several sustainability and clean energy practices such as a solar field, a canola field whose seeds are made into cooking oil, and used cooking oil repurposed as a biodiesel fuel for powering equipment. This field trip will include a guided sustainability tour and a self-‐guided tour of the Biltmore House and Gardens. There are several options for lunch on the Estate. Camp Grier Pre-‐ and Post-‐conference Options (Call 828-‐668-‐7793 for costs and details.) All activities require a full day to participate and include lunch and transportation from Montreat. 1. Waterfall Tour of the Eastern Blue Ridge Visit three of the most spectacular waterfalls and swimming holes in all of Pisgah National Forest: Hunt Fish, Catawba and Tom’s Creek Falls. Moderate difficulty. 2. Old Growth Hike Travel on foot to areas of the forest left untouched by the widespread commercial logging at the turn of the century. Requires some off trail hiking on very steep and uneven terrain. Strenuous. 3. French Broad Float Trip The French Broad River from the NC Arboretum to Hominy Creek Park is a beautiful float trip that offers many opportunities for viewing wildlife and scenery. Moderate. Updated 4/24/2015 8 Workshop Schedule and Descriptions Wednesday’s Theme -‐ Scripture, Humans, and Creation: biblical and scientific basis for environmental flourishing Session 1 Wednesday 10:30 -‐ 11:45 a.m. The Climate Crisis and Our Faithful Response Peru Panel: Rebecca Barnes, Trisha Tull, Colleen Earp and Sue Smith Learn about the Lima Climate Change Conference in December 2014, including theological and biblical foundations for climate change action, community organizing opportunities, current legislation, and international deliberations, as well as root causes at the intersection of hunger, poverty and environmental damage. Rebecca Barnes is the Associate for Environmental Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in that role oversees the national PC(USA) certification program for Earth Care Congregations, coordinates the volunteer local leadership network (Environmental Ministries Action Network), and works to help all Presbyterians connect their Christian discipleship to ecological, economic and global justice concerns. Patricia (Trisha) Tull is a Presbyterian teaching elder and A. B. Rhodes Professor Emerita of Hebrew Bible at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and author of several books, including Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible, and the Ecological Crisis. She is a Climate Reality presenter, a GreenFaith fellow, and in addition to writing and teaching widely on Scripture and environmental issues, she works as affiliate developer for Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light. She blogs at inhabitingeden.org, and grows vegetables in Jeffersonville, Indiana with her spouse Don Summerfield. Colleen Earp is a geographer and Young Adult Volunteer alum who is excited about natural resource conservation and education. She lives in Richmond, VA, and is serving the Presbytery of the James as Director of Youth, Environmental, and Service Ministries at Camp Hanover. A native of New Jersey, she has made research and mission trips to Mexico, Malawi, Peru, and Haiti. Sue Smith is a member of First Presbyterian of Rumson, NJ. She is the Treasurer of Presbyterians for Earth Care and a GreenFaith Fellow. She is a recent graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Updated 4/24/2015 9 Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be Also: Fossil Fuels and Church Investments Fossil Free Trio: Dan Terpstra, Abby Mohaupt, Jane Laping Fossil Free PCUSA is a national grass-‐roots organization of Presbyterians challenging the denomination to take a moral and prophetic stand against climate change. As Bill McKibben said, “If it’s wrong to wreck the climate, it’s wrong to profit from that wreckage.” Hear about the group’s advocacy from fossil fuels of the nearly $10 billion in funds held by PCUSA Foundation and Board of Pensions. Dan Terpstra, moderator of Fossil Free PCUSA, is a chemist, computer scientist and ardent advocate for creation care. A Presbyterian elder in his home church in Oak Ridge TN, he is also actively involved as an educator and team leader for Living Waters for the World, working primarily in Belize. He became aware of fossil fuel divestment following the Climate March on Washington in 2013. Abby Mohaupt works at Puente de la Costa Sur in Pescadero, CA, where she divides her time between coordinating volunteers, meeting with faith communities, and nurturing learning in children. Abby holds a M.Div. and a Th.M. in eco-‐feminist theology from McCormick Theological Seminary. She is the At-‐Large Representative for the PEC Steering Committee. Jane Laping is the PEC coordinator and former Vice Moderator. She served on the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina Steering Committee and leads the Creation Care Team at First Presbyterian in Asheville, NC. She has been actively volunteering for environmental justice since the 1970s. She co-‐ authored the Earth Care Congregations program with the Environmental Ministries office. Seeking Shalom: Eco-‐justice through Lifestyle Practice Jessica Maudlin Shalom, in addition to peace, represents the idea of completeness or the state of well-‐being. This workshop will explore eco-‐justice as a path to wholeness and well-‐being. Jessica Maudlin is on staff with the Presbyterian Hunger Program Enough for Everyone program, working on issues of lifestyle simplicity and practice. She also works with the Hunger Action Enabler network and serves as the managing editor for the quarterly justice journal, PHP Post. A fluent Creole speaker, her background includes volunteer work in Zambia, Mozambique, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Haiti. Updated 4/24/2015 10 Session 2 Wednesday 1:30 -‐ 2:45 p.m. First Decolonize Your Mind: Imagination, Food & Eco Justice (Part 1) Andrew Kang Bartlett and Vickie Machado This 3-‐session, experiential workshop is designed to liberate minds, hearts and hands to develop a new consciousness and offer authentic selves in service to the world. We will explore questions of race, difference, privilege, and exclusion as we seek to decolonize ourselves from negative socialization. We will flex our muscles of hope as we envision the transformed future, and identify our contributions to the Great Turning. Food justice and eco-‐justice provide a framework for us to explore ways our gifts can be used for healing self, community and planet. Come willing to be moved by Spirit and the group field! Andrew Kang Bartlett, is the national associate for the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP). Before joining PHP in 2001, he worked with non-‐profit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area on human rights, environmental health and social justice issues. He collaborates on advocacy and justice campaigns, and funds domestic and international initiatives to build just and sustainable local/regional food economies. Vickie Machado is part of the leadership team for the Eco-‐Stewards Program, a place-‐based, weeklong gathering for young adults to combine their faith with environmental issues. She is also a Food Justice Fellow with PHP and the Florida organizer for Food & Water Watch. She received her Masters of Arts in Religion and Nature from the University of Florida. Advocacy: Making Sure Theology Gets to the Church, the Capitol and the Market Place Holly Hallman Learn about the latest PEC approaches to advocacy. What do we need to say and how do we say it to this fast-‐paced world? We are changing our approach to advocating and will tell you what we are addressing and how we are doing it—with three current examples. Holly Hallman serves as PEC’s Vice Moderator and has been the Northwest Regional Representative. A native of Colorado who now lives in Seattle, she has been an educator, a therapist, a rancher, and most recently, a board certified chaplain ordained to hospice ministry. She is now retired, allowing her more time to be an advocate for the Puget Sound ecosystem and a volunteer at a local salmon hatchery. Updated 4/24/2015 11 Lessons from the Farm: Grounding Actions in a Land Ethic Dennis Testerman and Hannah Hursey “There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.” ― Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac. Leopold Education Project and the annual Soil and Water Stewardship Week are redefining conservation as serving and preserving Creation. Leopold pioneered the concept of land ethic and workshop participants will explore their personal land ethic. Dennis Testerman is the first generation to be born off a Tennessee mountain farm with an old-‐growth forest and an heirloom apple orchard that has been in his family since 1789. He serves as the Stewardship of Creation Enabler for the Presbytery of Charlotte. Hannah Hursey serves with Dennis Testerman at the Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District outside Charlotte in the Piedmont Eco-‐region. She loves the land and has roots in farming and in the mountains of northwest North Carolina. Session 3 Wednesday 3:15 -‐ 4:30 p.m. First Decolonize Your Mind: Imagination, Food & Eco Justice (Part 2) Andrew Kang Bartlett and Vickie Machado See description for Wednesday 1:30 -‐ 2:45 p.m. Speaking Truth to Power: What We Can Do When Congress Isn't Doing Anything Leslie Woods and/or J. Herbert Nelson, Office of Public Witness The Office of Public Witness represents the social witness statements of the General Assembly in Washington, DC, and to Presbyterians everywhere. Together, we will discuss witness in Washington, the theological basis for doing advocacy, and the Advocate’s Toolbox: best practices for individuals to become effective advocates. Leslie Woods is the associate for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues for PC (USA) Advocacy and Office of Public Witness in Washington DC. She also coordinates the OPW Internship and Fellowship service learning programs for young adults. She served previously in the United Church of Christ Public Life and Social Policy Office, and she holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School. J. Herbert Nelson is the Director of Public Witness at the PC (USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC, which implements the social justice agenda of the General Assembly through advocacy. He is a third generation Presbyterian Pastor, who, before coming to Washington, served as Founder/Pastor of Liberation Community Presbyterian Church (LCC) in Memphis. Updated 4/24/2015 12 Contemplative Resources for Earth-‐Caring: Poetry, Meditation, and Silence Nancy Corson Carter We will explore practices, scriptures, and arts that can help us rest, renew, and heal our lives of passionate activism. Creating a flourishing future for the Earth includes loving and caring for ourselves. Join in making a gently attentive space. Nancy Corson Carter is a writer, photographer and workshop leader who spent 30 years as professor of humanities at Eckerd College. She has been the moderator for PEC /PRC, facilitator of an ECC church in Chapel Hill, and she belongs to the Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership. She has been a Poet in the Schools, lectured on “whole Earth interconnections,” and is working on “eldering blessings.” Session 4 Wednesday Evening 8:00 p.m. Compression Thinking and Vigorous Learning Robert W. “Doc” Hall Compression is the art and science of improving quality of life while greatly reducing the use of resources and eliminating all toxins: doing better with less. Humanity and its demands for material well-‐ being are expanding rapidly. Considering much more with every decision depends on vigorous learning about new phenomena. Robert W. “Doc” Hall is professor emeritus of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He is the co-‐founder of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, and for 22 years edited its magazine, Target. He is the author of Zero Inventories, The Soul of the Enterprise, and his most recent book is Compression. Before becoming a pioneer in lean operations, his interest was in R&D, innovation and “next-‐generation” business practices. He now chairs the Compression Institute. Singing and S'mores: Luring the Next Generation Abby Mohaupt and Linda Mohaupt Mother and daughter, Linda and Abby, will facilitate a discussion on how to nurture caring for creation in the next generation. Join them outdoors by the firepit for a fun and joyful time of learning. Abby Mohaupt works at Puente de la Costa Sur in Pescadero, CA, where she divides her time between coordinating volunteers, meeting with faith communities, and nurturing learning in children. Abby holds a M.Div. and a Th.M. in eco-‐feminist theology from McCormick Theological Seminary. She is the At-‐Large Representative for the PEC Steering Committee. Linda Mohaupt is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and has been a pain management nurse for more than 30 years in northern Illinois. She loves bike riding and taking annual trips to the North Woods of Wisconsin. An avid gardener, she and her husband Terry have replanted their yard with native prairie plants. She is also Abby’s mom! Updated 4/24/2015 13 Documentary and Discussion: Dirt! the Movie (and Dirt! the Cake) Colleen Earp This 86-‐minute documentary highlights the environmental, economic, social, and political implications of soil conservation, highlighting stories from stewards around the world. After the film, we will continue the conversation over dirt cake (hint: it involves chocolate pudding, Oreos, and gummy worms!), sharing ideas for how to foster the “beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with the soil.” Colleen Earp is a geographer and Young Adult Volunteer alum who is excited about natural resource conservation and education. She lives in Richmond, VA, and is serving the Presbytery of the James as Director of Youth, Environmental, and Service Ministries at Camp Hanover. A native of New Jersey, she has made research and mission trips to Mexico, Malawi, Haiti and Peru. First Decolonize Your Mind: Imagination, Food & Eco Justice (Part 3) Andrew Kang Bartlett and Vickie Machado See description for Wednesday 1:30 -‐ 2:45 p.m. Thursday’s Theme: Creating Social Changes: biblical and sociological basis for changing human actions Session 5 Thursday 11:15 -‐ 11:45 a.m. Mini-‐workshops -‐-‐ PCUSA/PEC Advocacy and Action Opportunities Earth Care Congregations 101: What it is, What examples exist, and How do we apply? Rebecca Barnes This workshop will highlight already certified PC(USA) Earth Care Congregations as well as some simple “how to become certified” tips. We will share success stories, best practices, challenges, and questions…from community gardens to solar panels, from interfaith organizing to biking to worship. Come to learn more! Rebecca Barnes is the Associate for Environmental Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in that role oversees the national PC(USA) certification program for Earth Care Congregations, coordinates the volunteer local leadership network (Environmental Ministries Action Network), and works to help all Presbyterians connect their Christian discipleship to ecological, economic and global justice concerns. Updated 4/24/2015 14 Moving Forward in Advocacy: Overtures and Resolutions Leslie Woods and Diane Waddell The PC(USA) is truly an important voice in the nation and world and you can add your voice and your passion for advocacy in social, environmental, and economic justice. Come to learn about overtures and resolutions; bring one you are working on. Join Diane Waddell and hear from Leslie Woods as we seek to affect policy in the denomination ... and make life on this planet more equitable and just. Leslie Woods is the associate for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues for PC (USA) Advocacy and Office of Public Witness in Washington DC. She also coordinates the OPW Internship and Fellowship service learning programs for young adults. She served previously in the United Church of Christ Public Life and Social Policy Office, and she holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School. Diane Waddell serves as Moderator of PEC as well as the eco-‐justice team of Heartland Presbytery, Earthkeepers. That team has written seven overtures, and Diane has served as Overture Advocate for six of those overtures. Precautionary Principle: Practical Examples of Application Robin Blakeman The Precautionary Principle is defined as “the precept that an action should not be taken if the consequences are uncertain and potentially dangerous.” This presentation will highlight examples of how applying this principle to the entire life-‐cycle of products, including energy generation, could have a positive impact on human health. Examples of harm to humanity from the lack of precautionary principle implementation will also be given. Robin Blakeman works with the West Virginia-‐based Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and an 8th generation southern West Virginia resident. A PC(USA) teaching elder, she feels a strong commitment to care for creation. She is an active member of Fossil Free PCUSA, which seeks to get the denomination to divest from fossil fuel holdings within a five-‐year period. Updated 4/24/2015 15 Session 6 Thursday 1:30 -‐ 2:45 p.m. Christian Permaculture (Part 1) Curtis and Cindee Karns So often we are overwhelmed by the problems we see on our planet, but we already have changed all our light bulbs. What can we, as a Christian community, do to help get us out of the pickle we are in? The answer lies in localizing. Learn ways in which your church community can join the movement. Curtis Karns is the Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of the Yukon and the Northwest regional representative for PEC. He and his wife Cindee live in Alaska’s only bioshelter, where their family hunts, fishes, gathers and gardens. They are teachers and hosts for the Alaska Permaculture Learning Center, and the primary founders of the Yukon Presbyterians for Earth Care. Cindee Karns is a permaculture designer and instructor in Alaska and the owner and operator of Alaska’s only bioshelter. A retired 8th grade teacher, she enjoys visiting her grandchildren in Fairbanks and the family's cabin near Chena Hot Springs when she is not teaching or planning the next projects for the summer. PC(USA) Energy Tithe: Faithful Caring for Church Resources Panel: Rebecca Barnes, Jo Randolph, Dorothy Grimes and Jerry Lawson This workshop will help congregations register and track energy through the EPA Portfolio Manager program. Congregations can learn how to register on the Portfolio site and identify their energy usage and steps to improve it. Rebecca Barnes is the Associate for Environmental Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in that role oversees the national PC(USA) certification program for Earth Care Congregations, coordinates the volunteer local leadership network (Environmental Ministries Action Network), and works to help all Presbyterians connect their Christian discipleship to ecological, economic and global justice concerns. Jo Randolph leads the work of KAIROS at Grace Covenant Presbyterian in Overland Park, KS, recognized by PC (USA) as an Earth Care Congregation, one of the first 20 congregations to be certified. An educator by training, she teaches at Johnson County Community College, and recently earned a certificate in Environmental Ministry and Leadership from McCormick Theological Seminary. Dorothy Grimes is a member of the Green Team at Montevallo (AL) Presbyterian Church. She is retired from the University of Montevallo where she was a professor of English. Her church renovated using EPA’s ENERGY STAR guidelines, including programmable thermostats, energy efficient bulbs, double pane windows and insulation, resulting in a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2010. Jerry Lawson is the national manager of ENERGY STAR® Small Business & Congregations Network of the U.S. EPA. Prior to joining EPA, Lawson served as executive director for Conservation, Customer Service, Rates & Forecasting at the Lower Colorado River Authority, a central Texas regional electricity and water utility. He has served as deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Energy. Updated 4/24/2015 16 Participatory Action Research in Grassroots Climate Change Issues Kristina Peterson Participatory Action Research (PAR) or Collaborative Research is a great way to engage citizen science and activism to solve problems. This workshop will help participants learn how to develop a PAR project and how to do gap analysis to determine the first steps in the problem solving process. Based on the work of Paulo Freire’. Kristina Peterson is the cofounder and facilitator of The Lowlander Center, a nonprofit organization that helps create solutions through education, research, and advocacy, for the bayous of Louisiana. She has 30 years of post-‐disaster community redevelopment experience, and is an anthropologist with a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from UNO, and Masters of Sacred Theology and Divinity. Session 7 Thursday 3:15 -‐ 4:30 p.m. Christian Permaculture (Part 2) Curt and Cindee-‐ Karns See description for Thursday 1:30 -‐ 2:45 p.m. Just Resilience and the Religious Community's Role Richard Krajeski Climate change affects the poor disproportionally. Even more will suffer from attempts to fix the problems unless the justice issues are forcefully and uncomfortably raised. Resilience must be dynamic and contextual, and interrelationships of people, places, systems, and values must be considered. Richard Krajeski and his wife Kristina Peterson, pastors of Bayou Blue Presbyterian (LA), are active in environmental and social justice ministries. They write in areas of sustainable development and ethics derived from their long pastorates in the mountains of Appalachia. They helped develop the Wetlands Theological Education Project, and he is a fellow in the Society for Applied Anthropology. Try This at Home (and Everywhere Else): Teaching Practical Ways to Reduce Fossil Fuel Consumption, Shrink Global Footprints, and Do Justice Trisha Tull You may already be on board with energy reduction at home, but you can take that to the next level by considering tools and practical know-‐how for leveraging changes in whole churches and institutions. Patricia (Trisha) Tull is a Presbyterian teaching elder and A. B. Rhodes Professor Emerita of Hebrew Bible at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and author of several books, including Inhabiting Eden: Christians, the Bible, and the Ecological Crisis. She is a Climate Reality presenter, a GreenFaith fellow, and in addition to writing and teaching widely on Scripture and environmental issues, she works as affiliate developer for Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light. She blogs at inhabitingeden.org, and grows vegetables in Jeffersonville, Indiana with her spouse Don Summerfield. Updated 4/24/2015 17
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