A “Faith Field Day” for Clergy & Other Church Leaders
🗓️ Sunday, October 6, 2024
⏰ 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 Unitarian Universalist Society (Coralville, IA)
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“Climate-informed Ministry” is a faith-based approach to congregational life and ministry that is borne out of an awareness that humanity is never separate from the environment. It acknowledges and prioritizes the current impacts of climate change on individuals and local communities and prepares for climate-related events. Some key principles include:
- Reading sacred scriptures and texts with a “green lens”
- Emphasizing connection and community
- Building and growing community partnerships, including with farms and local businesses
- Working against environmental injustice
- Telling hope-filled climate stories.
This type of ministry addresses issues like protection of the land and water, increased food prices, threats to vulnerable people, climate-induced migration, and psychological crises related to climate stress. By integrating climate awareness regularly into sermons and classes, offering counseling and other opportunities to process climate anxiety, and creating community-focused initiatives, climate-informed ministries aim to build resilience and meet the evolving needs of their communities amidst rapidly changing environmental conditions.
At this special “Faith Field Day,” you’ll have an opportunity to begin your exploration of Climate-informed Ministry and consider how it’s important for your own context. The time will include:
- 6 actionable presentations on topics such as dealing with eco-anxiety, environmental ethics, environmental justice issues in Iowa, and what resilience can look like for a congregation like yours.
- A Q&A session with the panelists
- An opportunity to tour the building and grounds of the “greenest church in Iowa.” It’s an amazing space, and you’ll definitely be inspired to think anew about your own location, building, and opportunities!
- Separate interactive, exploratory activities for children are available.
Featured Speakers
- Rob Hogg, Iowa state Senator and author of America’s Climate Century: What Climate Change Means for America in the 21st Century and What Americans Can Do about It
- Rev. Diana Smith, pastor, Unitarian Universalist Society of Coralville
- Karla Stolfus Detweiler, Climate Justice Coordinator for the Mennonite Church USA
- Robert Traer, author of several books including Doing Environmental Ethics
- Vanessa Burnett, expert on organizational resilience and founder of Shift the Country
- Karin Stein, Iowa state organizer for Mom’s Clean Air Force
- Myron Herzberg, ELCA pastor and former worship & music minister of the Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation
Children’s Activities
Interactive, exploratory, environmentally-focused activities for children in grades K-5 will be led by Nic Kaplan, Director of Lifespan Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Society. Because these activities will require extra staffing, registration for children will close on Sept. 27.
Register Today
The event is free, though donations to Iowa Interfaith Power & Light are welcome. Bring a group from your congregation and start dreaming together!