The New York City Faith & Ecology Seminary Education Conference in December 2016 engaged seminary deans and faculty to explore ways of integrating faith and ecology into their theology curriculums so that emerging clergy can speak to the ecological crisis. The full-day event took place at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan, and was co-organized by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, the Center for Earth Ethics of Union Theological Seminary; the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at Jewish Theological Seminary; and the Green Seminary Initiative.
The conference offered tools to enable administrators and faculty members from theological schools, divinity schools, and seminaries to better educate students on ecology issues from the perspective of different faith traditions.
A keynote dialogue was provided by Dr. Timothy Van Meter, a professor at Methodist Theological School in Ohio and co-organizer of the Seminary Environmental Leadership Initiative, and Dr. Laurel Kearns, co-founder of The Green Seminary Initiative and professor at Drew Theological School.
Other speakers included; Karenna Gore, director of the Center for Earth Ethics; Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development; Rabbi Dr. Burt Visotzky, Director, the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at Jewish Theological Seminary; and Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of Green faith and co-organizer of the Green Seminary Initiative. Seminary faculty and deans also learned in breakout workshops on the emerging fields of faith-based environmental education.
Topics included how seminaries can encourage faculty to include ecology teachings in their existing courses, and how they can integrate faith and ecological teaching into existing courses in theology, Bible, homiletics, ethics, counseling, and others. This significant event to engage seminaries in the New York metro area on issues of faith and ecology had 75 participants and speakers. The Christian, Jewish, indigenous, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist participants came from over fifteen seminaries and ten other organizations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
The Conference helped faculty and deans of seminaries, theological schools, and divinity schools to:
- Explore innovative ways of integrating ecological concerns into theological curricula and seminary life.
- Engage in plenary, panel discussions and breakout sessions on the emerging field of faith-based environmental education in seminaries and theological schools.
- Network and discuss topics such as how seminaries can encourage faculty to include ecology teachings in their existing courses such as Bible, homiletics, ethics, etc, as well as innovate new courses.
- Examine ideas for clinical and field education and expanding vocational options.
Rationale for the Conference
In the wake of Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, with rising sea-levels on the East Coast, the impact of ecological imbalance is hitting close to home. There is also increasing awareness of the injustice and inequity of pollution and waste. The conference offered resources to prepare seminaries to address these ecological concerns from a faith perspective.
Conference Co-organizers: The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development; the Center for Earth Ethics of Union Theological Seminary; Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at JTS; and the Green Seminary Initiative.
December 14, 2016 – 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
3041 Broadway at W 121st Street, New York, NY 10027
Updated Conference Schedule |
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|---|---|
| 10:30 am | Registration, coffee, and tea |
| 11:00 am | Welcome:Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary |
| Opening Ritual and Intention Setting: Led by Marianna Vergara, Center for Earth Ethics | |
| 11:15am | Opening Remarks from Conference Organizers |
Karenna Gore, Executive Director, Center for Earth Ethics at Union
Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Executive Director, The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development
Rabbi Dr. Burt Visotzky, director, the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at JTS Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of Greenfaith and co-organizer of the Green Seminary Initiative
| 11:30am | Opening Dialogue and Plenary Session: Integrating Religion and Ecology into Theological Education |
|---|---|
| Dr. Timothy Van Meter, Associate Professor, Methodist Theological School in Ohio and co-organizer of the Seminary Environmental Leadership Initiative | |
| Dr. Laurel Kearns, Co-founder, The Green Seminary Initiative and Professor, Drew Theological School | |
| Extending the opening dialogue through panel with conference co-organizers | |
| 1:00 pm | Extending the opening dialogue through panel with conference co-organizers |
| 2:00 pm | Breakout Sessions: Integrating Faith and Ecology into Specific Course Areas |
- Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-founder and co-director, Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology
- Dr. Rick Clugston, Director, Sustainability and Global Affairs, Center for Earth Ethics
Room 207
2:00 pm (Cont’d) Breakout Sessions: Integrating Faith and Ecology into Specific Course Areas
Engaging Religions and the Earth courses
- Dr. Laurel Kearns (listed above)
- Dr. Timothy Van Meter (listed above)
- Gregory Simpson, Mdiv, bio-chemist, Center for Earth Ethics
Room 307
Old Testament/Hebrew Bible courses
- Rabbi Yonatan Neril (listed above)
- Rabbi Dr. Burt Visotzky (listed above)
Social Hall
Talmud courses
- Dr. Eliezer Diamond, Rabbi Judah Nadich Associate Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at The Jewish Theological Seminary.
Room 305
New Testament/Christian Bible courses
- Brigitte Kahl, Professor of New Testament, Union Theological Seminary
- Cristianne Loese, Visiting Scholar, Senior Scientific Advisor, German Environment Agency
Room 205A
Ritual and Liturgy, Homiletics and Preaching courses: Reclaiming Revelation and Renewing Ritual
- Dr. Derrick McQueen, Assistant Director, Center on African American Sexual Politics and Social Justice, Columbia University
- Mariana Vergara (listed above)
- Claudio Carvalhaes, Associate Professor of Worship, Union Theological Seminary
Lampman Chapel
| 3:15 pm | Coffee and tea break |
|---|---|
| 3:45 pm | All-attendee Group Structured Conversation |
| Advancing the field of faith and ecology education in seminaries. | |
| 5:00 pm | Closing Session |
| 6:00 pm | Closing and Charge to Attendees |
| 2:00 pm | End of Event |
The Conference was generously supported by
