There is currently a USDA policy proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule and open 58.5 millions of acres of public lands to new access roads and logging. Opponents claim it will fragment wildlife habitat, among other environmental concerns and increase human induced wildfires. America’s national forests and grasslands comprise diverse ecosystems, historic landscapes and public values. They provide a broad array of public benefits that include clean water, wood products, sustenance and outdoor experiences. More info at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless
Come learn about the proposal and, if you choose, make a public comment. The event will be organized by MountainTrue, a non-partisan environmental nonprofit based in Asheville and serving 28 counties across the southern Blue Ridge.
]]>We will dig rhizomes (underground stems) from the rivercane and put them in plastic bags with potting soil. These will be delivered to nursery partners who will grow them and up into larger plants for distribution next spring. The project aims to help local nursery businesses begin to offer rivercane plants at an affordable price for local streambank and ecosystem restoration projects.
May 1-2 at Montreat Conference Center
Register Here for one or both days.
* REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 27 *
Creation Care Alliance will gather people of faith from across the southern Blue Ridge fora conference on creation care, disaster recovery, and building community resilience. Day 1 will feature creation care activities and spiritual experiences around beautiful Montreat that will inspire you and your creation care work. Day 2 will explore faithful creation care through workshops and feature a panel discussing how the work of disaster response and resilience-building is re-energizing faith communities and elevating their value to their communities.
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
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
Come with an open heart and mind. Leave with ideas, connections, and actions that strengthen creation care ministries and foster partnerships with climate-connected faith communities.
]]>“Julie Lehman wants to help your church care for creation
MountainTrue Creation Care Alliance fosters faith-based environmental stewardship
ASHEVILLE — Julie Lehman is shepherding positive change across the Southern Appalachians.
‘(Creation care) is a beautiful trend in faith communities, and kind of a new ministry in faith communities because it hasn’t been one of the staples of ministry work that churches do,’ said Lehman, engagement manager for Creation Care Alliance. ‘People are really having fun with creation care, adopting it as one of the essential callings that faith communities have to do in the world.'”
]]>Since my first email, I have received a steady and encouraging stream of responses from individuals, organizations, faith communities, and creation care teams letting me know what you’re up to and inviting me in. It’s so exciting to see how busy and active you’ve been and how ready folks are to take creation care to the next level!
The picture above is from my recent visit with the Care of Creation Team at St. Eugene Parish in Asheville. They just celebrated 10 years with solar power and couldn’t be more pleased. So far, their rooftop solar panels have generated over $58,886 of free electricity and kept 794,716 pounds of CO2 greenhouse gases out of the air – the equivalent of planting 6,005 trees! I hope you, too, have found that creation care ministry brings new energy to your congregational life with fun, creative activities that draw people in and inspire new leadership.
As I get to know each of your teams, I am hoping to share your work so you can be a resource to each other. You can help by filling out the new CCA Partner Info Form or just emailing your responses (and photos) to lehman@mountaintrue.org. I will use the information to help strengthen our mission effectiveness, improve the website, help you find partners in WNC with similar goals, and highlight the great work happening across our region. Your responses will also guide our planning of workshops and speakers for the 2026 Creation Care Symposium, May 1-2.
As we move into new forms of shared ministry, I hope you’ll bring along your passion for creation, your faith community, and a readiness for God to do new things through this alliance. In the meantime, may you enjoy the holiday season and be inspired for the work ahead.
Blessings,
Julie