by Lella Lowe
Over the weekend of May 5-7, 23 people from all over Provinces IV and V of The Episcopal Church gathered at the beautiful Nazareth Retreat Center, south of Louisville, Kentucky, for the “Rooted in Soil and Grounded in Faith” event, offered to Episcopalians who were looking for ways to sustain their ministries of caring for creation. The weekend was coordinated by the Rev. Heather Barta, Province V coordinator, with sessions led by the Rev. Jerry Cappel, Province IV environmental network coordinator, and the Rev. John Elliott Lein, from Province I.
In addition to being responsible for logistics of the weekend, Heather also helped the participants get to know one another, facilitating the exchange of ideas and resources for our ministries of creation care. John and Jerry led us through theological reflections on the book of Genesis, exploring how our understanding of these writings has informed, and misinformed, our understanding of our place in and responsibility toward creation care.
We spent some time learning about the programs and curricula that are available through The Episcopal Church for work we want to do in our own parishes and dioceses. We were joined via Zoom by the Rev. Melanie Mullen and Sarah Nolan from the presiding bishop’s creation care team, who described a new 9-session, film-based, small-group curriculum that will engage Episcopalians around faith, creation care, and eco-justice, due for release this summer. John introduced the group to a resource that he is developing entitled “Bending Towards Justice: An Episcopal Path to Creation Justice.” He also mentioned that an updated version of the liturgical guide for the Season of Creation will be soon available for all three years and encouraged others to approach their bishops about endorsing use of the liturgy.
We worshipped throughout the weekend, using alternate liturgies that focused on care of creation. Jerry introduced us (all too briefly) to “Living in an Icon,” a technique for meditating in nature. Throughout the workshop participants shared, learned, worshiped, and celebrated together, building bonds that will serve to support us in our ongoing creation care ministries.
For me personally, promoting creation care as a critical ministry of the church can sometimes feel like a lonely job. However, getting to meet and discuss and commiserate and learn with a group of like-minded Episcopalians was invaluable in helping to renew my dedication to the work I do in my own faith community and beyond. By the time I left for home, I felt renewed and inspired to expand our creation care ministry even further, including at the diocesan level, and perhaps even helping within the larger province.
Learn more about the Province V Creation Care Network, visit its webpage, and the Province IV Environmental Ministries here.
Lella Lowe is part of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Mobile, Alabama, the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, and the Episcopal Church Province IV Creation Care Network.