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Organizing Partners:
· Drew Theological School
· GreenFaith

Co-sponsors:
· Genesis Farm
· Interweave

Workshops

Session 1 (Friday, 2:00-3:15pm):

"Digging in" to Earth Stewardship: Eco-theology considered more deeply, led by Prof. Catherine Keller, Drew Theological School, and Rabbi Larry Troster, GreenFaith.

The development of ecologically-minded theologies - from a wide range of perspectives and traditions - has been afoot for the past several decades. This workshop will explore different approaches to various eco-theologies, introducing participants to both traditional and cutting-edge theologies for the earth.

SPLENDOR (GreenFaith's educational program), led by Nancy Stanley, GreenFaith.

Most people of faith have never learned about their relationship to the earth from a religious perspective. Participants in this workshop will learn how they can lead SPLENDOR - GreenFaith's 3-week introduction to the religion-environment relationship - in their community of faith. SPLENDOR, which stands for "Spiritual Life, Ethics and Nature, Deepening our Respect" is available in adult and teen versions.

Sustainable Sanctuaries and Engaging the Faithful: Tips on mobilizing congregational members to engage eco-stewardship & justice, led by the Rev. Fletcher Harper and Dawn Rivers, GreenFaith.

Environmental concerns are new to the vast majority of houses of worship; it is easy for members of faith communities to feel uncertain about how to engage them. This workshop will provide participants with proven strategies for mobilizing members of religious institutions to become leaders in efforts to promote environmental stewardship and justice.

A dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker.

A conversation with the coordinator of the Harvard Forum on Religion and Ecology, a member of the international drafting committee of the Earth Charter, and an expert in Confucian thought. She is a professor of religion at Bucknell University, a co-editor of several volumes in the recent Religions of the World and Ecology series published by Harvard University, and the author of Worldly Wonder: Religions Enter Their Ecological Phase (2003).

Indigenous Traditions and Ways of Knowing, with John Grim, Forum for Religion and Ecology.

It is taken for granted that there is no one indigenous way of knowing. Rather, the many small-scale societies often named native, first peoples, adivasi, orang asli, aboriginal, or indigenous share certain family resemblances. Among these shared characteristics are ways of knowing related to kinship, oral narratives, intimacy with bioregions, and a sense of indeterminacy regarding time, place, authority, and spiritual presences. Opening with a brief discussion of terms used to refer to native peoples and their religions, this workshop briefly explores indigenous ways of knowing the world as contemporary and vital.

Session 2 (Friday, 3:30-4:45pm):

The Biblical bases for Earth Stewardship: An Introduction, led by Rabbi Lawrence Troster and Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith.

The Jewish and Christian Biblical texts provide a powerful foundation for an ethic of care for the earth. This workshop will provide an overview of Biblical themes and texts that support a just, sustainable, and compassionate relationship with the non-human world.

Green is the season of life and liturgy: designing creation-conscious worship, led by Heather Elkins, Drew Theological School.

Numerous resources exist for integrating ecological themes into Jewish and Christian liturgies. This workshop will provide participants information about these resources and provide opportunities for sharing eco-worship experiences with others.

A dialogue with Rosemary Radford Ruether.

A conversation with Thursday evening's keynote speaker, a leading ecofeminist theologian, author and activist. Rosemary Radford Ruether is Carpenter Professor of Feminist Theology at the Pacific School of Religion. Among her publications are Gaia and God (1994) and Integrating Ecofeminism, Globalization, and World Religions (2005).

A dialogue with Jay McDaniel.

A conversation with a leading ecological author and process theologian. Jay McDaniel is Professor of Religion at Hendrix College and the author of several books, including Living from the Center (2000) and With Roots and Wings (1995).

Environmental Justice, led by Jeremee Johnson, NJ Dept. of Env. Protection Environmental Justice Coordinator, and Laurel Kearns, Drew Theological School.

People of color and the poor suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation, experiencing greater impacts on their health and well-being. This workshop will discuss major issues of environmental racism and justice in New Jersey, and will offer participants an introduction to the state's Environmental Justice Executive Order and the NJ Environmental Justice Alliance, two resources to help fight for a healthy, clean environment for all people.

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© 2005, Drew University
Drew Transdisciplinary Theology Colloquium Series
For more information, contact GreenFaith.