The Rostered Ministers Continuing Education Team is very excited to announce that registration for its October 18, 2021 Event, “Creation Crisis Preaching and Ministering in an Enduring-Pandemic Church ,” with the Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, is now open.
While we had hoped to be able to gather in person, the update in COVID cases and the rise of the Delta variant means that we will be holding this event virtually on Monday, October 18 via the Zoom platform. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Here is the information on the event:
In an increasingly polarized society, how can the church respond to the rising crises of environmental devastation and climate disruption while continuing to navigate the fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic? The Rev. Dr. Leah Schade will share her research about pastors, preaching, and environmental issues, and suggest an approach that honestly and creatively names the reality of the “eco-crucifixion,” while proclaiming an “eco-resurrection” through Christ’s redemption of Creation. Preachers will learn strategies and skills for “green preaching” that can be adapted to their unique contexts with the goal of deepening our engagement with the life-giving gospel.
Session One: Creation-Crisis Preaching, Then and Now
In this session, the Rev. Dr. Leah Schade will draw on her surveys of preachers from 2017 and 2021 to note shifts in attitudes toward addressing environmental issues in sermons. She will then lay out basic principles for preaching that integrates eco-justice issues with biblical and theological frameworks.
Session Two: On the Horizon: Addressing Climate Migration and Eco-racism
Building on Session One, Leah will identify the eco-justice concerns that communities – including churches – are likely to face in the coming years. Using her research working with clergy in politically diverse congregations, she will offer strategies for planning sermons that address the intersections of race and ethnicity within the growing crises of climate migration and eco-racism.
Session Three: Preaching Upcoming Lectionary Texts Through a Green Lens
In this session, we will use a tool for interpreting and preaching scripture through a “dialogical lens” to examine upcoming lectionary texts with an eye for how they may offer insights for today’s environmental issues. Participants will work in small groups and then reconvene to share their insights with the larger group.
The cost of the event is $40. Registration is below. For questions, please contact Pastor Jana Howson, RMCE Planning Group Contact for this event or Deacon Cheryl Erdmann.
