Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina
“”Democracy begins with the Habits of the Heart”- Dr. David Orr
With passion, wisdom and wit, Dr. Orr offered insights into some of the symptoms of our sickened Democracy. The interplay of his conversation included climate change, spirituality, racism and the role of government and the commons. He reflected the concern for a lack of curiosity, compassion, and connection with others as he spoke. You can see the entire talk with the questions and answers on the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel.
Here is a response to a question about faith in these times.
PANDEMICS AND PREJUDICE: HOW CAN DEMOCRACY SURVIVE IN A HOTTER TIME?- Dr. David Orr
This Friday at 7pm, CCA and Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church will host Dr. David Orr for a discussion regarding the pandemics of COVID-19, racism, climate change and how Democracy may be impacted. “Pandemics and Prejudice: How Can Democracy Survive in a Hotter Time?” will be presented by Dr. David Orr, EMERITUS Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College via Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church’s Youtube Channel (“GCPC Video”) on Friday 7/10/2020 at 7pm. It will be a lecture about the Moral Imperative to Restore our Democracy as well as the urgency of Environmental Stewardship, regardless of any particular religious persuasion.
Dr. Orr writes: “The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crisis of race in America are both an indictment and a preview of what’s coming in a hotter, more divided world with vast economic inequities. Both are symptoms of the tragic failure of democratic institutions. Dr. Orr’s democracy initiative (stateofamericandemocracy.org) is working toward the repair and strengthening of democratic institutions beginning with restoring a moral vision of democracy.” Dr. Orr will not present in person, but we will do this via livestream on Youtube. This event is sponsored by the EARTH Team at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and Creation Care Alliance. Dr. Orr will be introduced by Rev. Marcia Mount Shoop who will facilitate the question and answer period after his presentation.
Climate Ambassador Training with CCA, Blessed Tomorrow and Green Chalice
The Format
- Section 1: Introduction, Faith and Climate Change Overview, Climate Impacts on Ministry
- Section 2: Climate Solutions and Benefits (National, State, Local, Congregational, and Personal)
- Section 3: Advocacy and Engagement: Communicating on Climate in Faith (language guidance, creating a personalized climate message)
What are your next steps for Creation Care?
Discerning Next Steps in Creation Care
June 16, 12-1:30pm
Sign up Here.
This will be an opportunity to discern possible next steps in your life and congregation through the CCA Guide To Cultivating Creation Care (CCA Toolkit). You can find the CCA Guide here.
All are welcome. You will receive the link to join via email once you sign up.
Some resources to help you along the way.
- CCA Guide Discernment Workshop (1)
- Listening to Your Community Exercise
- PDF PATHWAY Half Sheet for CCA GUIDE
- Guide for Creation Care- Blue Sheet
CCA Book Study-Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common
Join Steering Team Member, Janet Mitchell and Wake Forest Intern Jessica Rowe for a conversational experience of The Pope’s landmark expression of faith, social justice and ecology that was released five years ago. In Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home Pope Francis implores all people to “dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet” (14). He continues his call saying, “We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (14). This six-week introductory study will engage participants on the importance of caring for the Earth and how this endeavor is connected to justice for the poor and interior peace. Each week we will gather on Zoom to check in, pray, and discuss a chapter of Laudato Si. This study convenes on June 3rd, and will meet weekly on Wednesdays for six consecutive weeks. Please sign up here.
Join Solar 101 For Faith Communities on May 28!
Join the Creation Care Alliance and NC Interfaith Power & Light on Thursday, May 28 to keep building momentum for solar energy in faith communities in our mountain region. This gathering will feature solar energy experts and highlight the experiences of faith communities that have already installed solar, providing guidance for congregations that are interested in starting their solar journey.
This gathering will be hosted virtually. You will receive the link to join the virtual meeting once you register. When you join, you will be muted automatically and your video with be disabled.
All are welcome. Sign up here: https://mountaintrue.org/event/solar-101-with-cca-ncipl/
Welcome CCA Intern Jessica Rowe!
Welcome to the newest CCA team member. Jessica Rowe grew up in a small town in South Central Virginia on a piece of farmland. She is currently in her first year at Wake Forest University Divinity School pursuing a Masters in Divinity with a focus in food, faith, and sustainability. Before moving to North Carolina she lived in New York City with her husband Stephen for four years. While living in New York, Jessica worked with a couple of nonprofits, ministries, and a small business serving and building communities seeking justice in response to faith commitments. Each of these workplaces connected her to the reality and daily rhythms of faith-based justice work and ministry. Her experiences serving people experiencing homelessness, college students and ministry staff, and people with barriers to employment further reinforced her passion to seek justice across racial and economic barriers. They also clarified her convictions of the unique role and supreme importance of pursuing environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in faith-based justice work and ministry spaces. She looks forward to learning more about CCA and hopes to learn important formation skills from working with congregations around caring for and preserving the Earth.
She will be growing together with CCA in these ways this summer (and a few more).
Co-Leading a Book Study on the Pope’s Encyclical on Climate Change
Offering outreach to CCA Congregation
Participating in groups and events
Climate Interactive – May 12th
Join us to experience what it’s like to negotiate a climate deal to address one of the greatest human and environmental challenges of this century. The Climate Action Simulation is a highly interactive, role-playing game. It uses the En-ROADS simulation model to engage a wide range of participants in exploring key technology and policy solutions for addressing climate change. The game is conducted as a simulated emergency summit organized by the United Nations that convenes global stakeholders. In the game, it’s our job to establish a concrete plan that limits global warming to Paris Agreement goals.
This two-hour workshop hosted by Climate Interactive allows you to do a deep dive into the decisions that have to made to create a world that meets Paris Climate Agreement goals. You’ll have the opportunity to negotiate over factors such as decreasing deforestation worldwide, improving building efficient, or increasing oil taxes and watch as the models respond to your decisions.
You may join as an individual or invite your congregation’s creation care team. If you’ve joined us previously for the Climate Interactive experience, we are using a new version that was released recently, so the experience will be different than previous ones.
