Creation Care Alliance Symposium 2026: “Building Resilience: Congregations in a Climate-Changed World”
Creation Care Alliance WNC Presents
Symposium 2026
“Building Resilience: Congregations in a Climate-Changed World”
Friday, May 1 – Saturday, May 2 at Montreat Conference Center
Hurricane Helene gave the people of WNC a common experience of the unpredictable and devastating effects of climate change, even on places once considered “climate havens.” In its aftermath, faith communities were among the most effective first responders, quickly transforming into food and resource storage and distribution centers, communication hubs, and gathering places for neighbors helping each other through unimaginable times.
This spring, Creation Care Alliance of WNC will gather people of faith from 28 counties across WNC for Symposium 2026 at Montreat Conference Center and explore how communities of faith have been changed by their response to these challenges and how the work of disaster recovery and climate resilience-building in their communities has re-energized their ministry and elevated their value in the wider community.The goal for Symposium 2026 is for participants to return home with ideas, connections, and activities that strengthen your creation care ministry and encourage partnering with other climate-connected communities of faith.
Friday, May 1: Creation Care Experiences to Inspire and to Try at Home
- Interfaith Creation Care Service w/Susannah Tuttle of NC Council of Churches’ Eco-Justice Connection preaching
- Awe Walk led by Rev. David Carter Florence of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church
- Nature Hike with Jason Nance, Montreat’s Wilderness Director
- Reclaim-the-River Ritual led by Sarah Skinner, Montreat Program Director and Associate with the Kaleidoscope Institute
- Writing Workshop – Lauren Graeber, Author and writing coach
- Lectio Terra activity led by Rev. Derrick Weston
Saturday, May 2: Workshops and Conversations
- Disaster Recovery, Resilience-Building, and Their Impact on Congregations, A Conversation/Panel Discussion
- Writing Workshop – Lauren Graeber, Author and writing coach
- Green Burial w/Mallory McDuff, Environmental Studies professor at Warren Wilson College and author of “Natural Saints,” “Sacred Acts,” “Love Your Mother,” and “Our Last Best Act”
- Beyond Activism: Why We Need Community Organizing and What It Can Do.” w/Professors Dan Rhodes and Tim Conder of the Black Mountain School for Theology and Community
- Housing & Faith Communities: The Creation Care Connection w/Susan Bean, Housing and Transportation Director at MountainTrue
- Disaster, Climate, and Mission: Preparing the Church for What’s Next w/Brian Mateer and/or Maggie Armstrong at WNC Conference of the United Methodist Church’s Disaster Ministries
- Going Solar – Best practices and benefits
- Creation Justice and the “Why” of Creation Care with Rev. Derrick Weston
CCA WNC
With natural disasters increasing in frequency, faith communities are attending more to the natural world and to finding our true place within it. As a union of climate connected congregations, MountainTrue’s Creation Care Alliance is working to strengthen and expand its network of Covenant Partner Congregations, helping them become lifelines of resilience, compassion, and mutual aid in the face of future climate challenges.
Ticketing information:
*Please note that Friday registration does NOT include lunch (lunch will be on your own. You can check out the Huckleberry Cafe at Montreat, visit on of the tasty restaurants in Black Mountain, or bring your lunch from home.)
*Saturday registration DOES include lunch at the Galax Dining Room of Montreat’s Assembly Inn
*You can register for just one day, or both!