Ecology Day

Sacred Universe: Our Cosmic Story  Because our generation is the first generation to be able to see, via modern technology, to the beginnings of the universe, we are called to learn and share our common New Story.  It is a story of creation that unfolds within Holy Mystery in a 13.7 billion-year evolution.  Our prayer today flows from the initial flaring forth to the galaxies and stars, to the sun,  planets and the natural elements, to life on Earth, to all the creatures and into human consciousness.  It is in reverence for this Sacred Story that we affirm our kinship with all creation and undertake the great work of caring for our Earth home

Catholic Social Teaching on Creation & Earth Charter   The environmental/ecological issue is not just one more issue that we need to add to our already long list of justice issues. It is, rather, a foundational issue. The "Earth Charter" recognizes that the environment is central to the long-term security and well-bring of Earth and its human community. The "Earth Charter" takes up the challenge of taking our human adventure with all of its social issues and placing them within the larger Earth context. This is something that our Catholic social teaching needs to do.

Mountaintop Removal: Its Effects on People and the Environment In 1995 the Appalachian bishops in their pastoral letter, At Home in the Web of Life, testifies to the Culture of Life – described by John Paul II, “By contrast, the sustainable and hopeful path sees Appalachia as a community of life, in which people and land are woven together as part of Earth’s vibrant creativity, in turn revealing God’s own creativity.” During our time together we will examine threats to our efforts to promote a culture of life . . . threats to our web of life.  Mountaintop removal, cross-ridge mining, and clear-cut timbering are razing our Appalachian mountains –with increasing profits as the primary motive.  Threatened are the fragile eco-systems that dwell therein, the landscapes that hold culture and tradition, and the very people that have lived in these mountains for generations.   We will examine the economic, ecological, cultural, and human impact of these destructive practices.  Finally – we will look at ways that people of faith across this country and beyond are working for change in public policies, within the very industries themselves, and as advocates with the people of Appalachia.    

Energy and Spirit - Interfaith Power & Light: Region V In this workshop we’ll cover the energy state of the world, a theological basis for response, and practical responses by congregations including energy conservation, how congregations can support renewable energy, and other steps congregations can take to care for Creation.  Illinois Interfaith Power & Light is a program of Faith in Place, and emphasizes energy conservation, renewable energy and support for the development of Illinois wind power.

Farming as a Sacred Trust This session will contrast organic farming methods with "conventional" practices, and highlight the values of organic farming:  for our food quality and safety; for our health and that of our soils, water and other living things; and for the sustainability of family farms and the rural way of life.  It will also address some specific aspects of "agribusiness," including factory farms, environmental concerns, pressures upon family farms, and genetically modified seeds and foods.

Jubilee Houses, Living into Spirituality, Social Justice and Sustainability, at Home  Jubilee Houses is an emerging network of households which attempts to be grounded in spirituality and alternative economics.  We encourage household practices and economics as forms of transformative resistance to the domination culture in which we live.  At the same time, living simply, in earth sustaining ways we try to honor sabbath living with people having differing life histories.  Together with you, we will explore ways each one is living ecologically, sustainably, and how we are creatively caring for God's creation.

Presenters

Ann Kuhn, MA, is founder/director of a Retreat Center, Oasis Place of Prayer. Ann creates retreats and days of renewal along with being a spiritual director. Her passionate interest in Sacred Universe and in ecospirituality flows out in relationships with people and the Natural World. Co-creating and presenting Sacred Universe's Evolutionary Time-line energizes and enhances her relationship with the Sacred, with science, and with all creation.

Lynn Fleming, Wife, Mother, Grandmother. M.Ed. in Special Education Certificate of Advanced Studies in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from The Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Hyde Park, IL. Certificate in Eco-spirituality, The Well, La Grange, IL Companion of the Green Mountain Sisters, Greensboro, VT

John Surrette S.J. A member of the New England Province of the Society of Jesus. Spent thirteen years in the Dutch and English speaking territories of the Carribean working as an adult educator and community organizer. For the past sixteen years has been offering retreats and workshops on cosmological and eco-spiritual themes. Is co-founder and director of "Spiritearth: a center for contemplation, reflection, and justice-making for the Ecozoic Era." (Explanation: The Ecozoic Era will be that future time when the relation between Earth and its human community will be a mutually-enhancing one).

Sister Robbie Pentecost  is Executive Director of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia, a 35-year old organization serving the 27 Catholic dioceses within the Appalachian region.  The Catholic Committee of Appalachia (CCA), founded in 1970 by the bishops, clergy, religious and laity working in the Appalachian region, provides support, education, advocacy and collaboration among the 27 Catholic dioceses located across 13 states.  The two Appalachian pastoral letters, This Land is Home to Me: A Pastoral Letter on Powerlessness in Appalachia (1975) and At Home in the Web of Life: A Pastoral Letter on Sustainable Community in Appalachia (1995) are from the work of this committee and provide the vision for much of our work.  CCA works to prepare lay workers, volunteers as well as new bishops, clergy and religious for their ministry in the region.  In addition, CCA, using the lens of Catholic Social teaching, works in partnership to address numerous critical issues facing Appalachia and its people – often playing a mediating role.  In addition, CCA uses its broad network to disseminate critical information and encourage action.  As part of this role, Sr. Robbie serves as a collegiate staff member with the Commission on Religion in Appalachia, an ecumenical initiative promoting collaboration between church and community with a strong commitment to the work of justice. 

Rev. Clare Butterfield is the Director of Faith in Place.  She came to that organization five years ago when it was a project at the Center for Neighborhood Technology.  The original organizer on the project, she soon became its director, and has taken Faith in Place from its pre-organizing stage to an active non-profit with more than 250 regular volunteers from more than 90 congregations and many different faith traditions.  Faith in Place congregations work together to create a region that is more economically just and more ecologically sustainable.  Faith in Place programming allows religious congregations around the region to support renewable energy, conserve energy, build markets for local sustainable agriculture, support fair trade, and to make care for creation part of their regular religious practice.  Rev. Butterfield is an ordained Unitarian Universalist community minister.  Prior to entering the ministry she practiced tax and corporate law for 12 years at the IRS and in private practice.  She has an M.Div. from Meadville Lombard Theological School (2000), a J.D. (University of Illinois College of Law, 1983) and a B.A. in History (University of Illinois, 1980), and is currently enrolled in doctoral study at Chicago Theological Seminary in theology and ethics.

Mary Jeanne Lindinger-Osen

Grace Gyori. With my husband and family, I served with the Presbyterian Church in Guatemala as missioniaries for 15 years.   I have been actively engaged in solidarity work with Latin Americans in the Chicago area ever since our return in 1979.  As members of Jubilee Economics Ministries, we have become related to an indigenous community in Chiapas, Mexico.  Through them we are selling Fair Trade coffee in Chicago.   Tom, my husband, is a retired clergy person and together we have been pursuing ways we can care for God's creation more sustainably, faithfully, and responsibly.  Currently we share living space in an intentional community, Peaceweavings, in Chicago.

Sierra Club representative