We recently sat down with Rev. Eric Elnes, one of our incredible Board of Trustee members, to hear about how the mission and vision of The BTS Center is speaking to him.
How did you become connected with The BTS Center?
I was honored to be a featured speaker at one of the final Convocations held by Bangor Theological Seminary in 2012, before its transformation into The BTS Center. When I learned of the Seminary’s bold decision to close and reimagine itself, I was deeply impressed by its innovative and forward-thinking spirit. As Christians, we are called to embrace the faith that death leads to resurrection. Yet, many religious institutions resist closure for so long that they lack the resources to foster new life. In contrast, the Seminary’s choice to close while retaining the means to create something vital and new felt like a profoundly authentic and faithful expression of Christ’s Spirit.
Soon after reopening as The BTS Center, it partnered with my church to develop a distinctive lay ministry training program that honored the sacred nature of secular vocations. Although this project ultimately did not align with the evolving vision of The BTS Center and ended before reaching full development, I was even more inspired by the Center’s emerging mission. I resonated particularly with its focus on “cultivating and nurturing spiritual leadership for a climate-changed world.”
Having been active in the environmental movement for decades, I have grown increasingly concerned about our ability to slow or reverse climate change. There is a widening gap between the world being shaped by climate change and the world we are prepared to inhabit. The BTS Center is one of the few institutions actively addressing this gap. For this reason, I enthusiastically accepted the invitation to join its Board of Trustees.
What is one example or story of a time when you were deeply impacted by the work of The BTS Center?
I had the privilege of participating in The BTS Center’s recent online book study of Brian McLaren’s book, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart. While the book’s subject matter could seem heavy or discouraging, my experience was surprisingly joyful for two reasons.
First, we explored the challenges of a climate-changed world in community with others. Before this experience, I often felt isolated in my concerns or wondered if I was out of touch with reality. Reading McLaren’s book and engaging with a diverse group of participants affirmed that I am neither alone nor delusional. Second, I was deeply impressed by the skill and sensitivity of The BTS Center’s staff in facilitating these discussions. They created an environment where participants felt welcomed and valued, perfectly balancing the provision of enriching content with opportunities for meaningful input.
By the end of the study, my concerns about climate change remained, but I felt renewed confidence that the Holy Spirit is stirring hearts to respond creatively and faithfully to the challenges ahead.
What are your hopes for the work of The BTS Center looking forward?
I believe The BTS Center is uniquely positioned to envision a climate-changed world where faith communities — Christian and otherwise — serve as catalysts for resilience in their wider contexts. By addressing the deeply spiritual dimensions of climate change’s material effects, The BTS Center can nurture and connect like-minded communities that act as “imaginal cells” in the transformation of our society.
Much like the imaginal cells that carry the DNA of a butterfly during its metamorphosis, communities of faith may initially be seen as foreign or even threatening to the systems they challenge. Yet, as these communities come together, embracing their unique roles within a larger whole, they can become a transformative force. This process mirrors the collaborative and organic nature of a caterpillar’s transition to a butterfly, where no single cell leads, but each contributes to the collective emergence of new life.
In this sense, The BTS Center’s promotion of what Debra Rienstra calls “Refugia Faith” communities is pivotal. By nurturing these spiritually grounded and interconnected groups, The BTS Center accelerates the vital work of transformation, offering hope for a sustainable and resilient future.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The work of The BTS Center is part of a much broader evolution within Christianity. I believe the “butterfly” Christianity is becoming will fully embrace the path of Jesus while letting go of the idea that it is the only valid faith tradition on the planet. Instead, Christians will act on the understanding that God’s presence transcends human imagination and boundaries, remaining open to God’s voice within and across all faiths.
This emerging Christianity “prays well with others,” cultivating deeper partnerships with people of diverse traditions while fostering greater respect for the earth as a source of God’s ongoing revelation and collaboration. As I see it, The BTS Center’s commitment to addressing a climate-changed world as Christians while developing interfaith collaboration aligns beautifully with the movements of the Holy Spirit. I am thrilled to be part of this transformative journey and look forward to incorporating others into this vital work.