There may be related opportunities you want to share beyond our monthly gatherings. This is a place to connect by sharing any workshops, meetings, lectures, services, etc. that you feel may interest the group and continue the engagement of this work beyond our time together.

To submit an opportunity, please send an email to madeline@thebtscenter.org

A Christian's Guide to Planet Earth: Author Talk w/ Betsy Painter

On Dec. 8th 2023,  this discussion with author Betsy Painter will explore connections between our planet's different ecosystems, the challenges of climate change and ecological breakdown, Scripture, and our spiritual experience of God's Creation. Click here for more information.

Submitted by Creation Justice Ministries

Holy Ground: 6-Week Creation Care Worship Series & Bible Study

Holy Ground is a six-week series meant to connect us more deeply to creation and lead us to actively claiming our call to be caretakers of the earth. This series can be used during any liturgical season but would align beautifully with the Sunday nearest Earth Day, St. Francis’ Feast Day, World Communion Sunday, or any special Sunday your community traditionally meets outdoors.

Click here to learn more information

Submitted by Rev. Corey Turnpenny 

Developing Green Congregations 

This completely online, on-demand course will equip students to engage their congregation or local organization in the areas of environmental justice, the climate crisis, eco-anxiety/eco-grief, and developing resilience and restoration for and with God’s Creation. Students will be trained to communicate with their organization about the most recent information regarding climate and environmental science, as well as how to process the reactions and responses that arise from facing the realities of our current crises. Students will use an assessment tool to determine the level of Creation-care engagement in their organization and choose a track for their final project based on the needs and possibilities of their local environmental context and organization. Along the way, we will engage in readings, presentations, discussions, and eco-spiritual practices to help us process our own emotions and sustain our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health for this vital work.

Instructors: Rev. Dr. Leah Schade and Rev. Carol Devine

Costs: $25 Application Fee, $60 for course, $30 technology fee

Lexington Theological Seminary

Feb. 27-March 25, 2023

Email Admissions Director Stephanie Moon for more information: smoon@lextheo.edu 

Submitted by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade

Survey on Ministry, Preaching, and Social Issues

All preachers, including active clergy, seminarians, lay preachers, and retired clergy are invited to participate in a research survey being conducted by the Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary. This is part of a six-year-long project begun in 2017 that informed her book, Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).  She is especially hoping for clergy who are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian to respond to the survey, since these groups are historically underrepresented in research.

Your responses will help further research about preaching and ministry at this unique time in American history.  This survey is anonymous and estimated completion time is 11-16 minutes.  The survey is open through February 28.  You are also encouraged to share this with other preachers in your network.  Respondents who complete the survey can enter a drawing to win either 5 copies of Dr. Schade’s Lenten devotional, For the Beauty of the Earth or 1 copy of Preaching in the Purple Zone (your choice). Any questions can be directed to Dr. Schade at lschade@lextheo.edu.

Click here to complete the survey

Submitted by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade

Six Week Creation Care Worship Series

Holy Ground is a six-week series meant to connect us more deeply to creation and lead us to actively claiming our call to be caretakers of the earth. This series can be used during any liturgical season but would align beautifully with the Sunday nearest Earth Day, St. Francis’ Feast Day, World Communion Sunday, or any special Sunday your community traditionally meets outdoors. This year, Earth Day Sunday is the Sunday after Easter which makes this a perfect series for Eastertide. Week one starts off celebrating the gift of Creation and is an easily lay-led Sunday.

Submitted by From Corey Turnpenny (she/her)

Is the Earth Sacred? Hearing from Young, Religious Americans on Environmental Issues

Virtual discussion hosted by the Pew Research Center on Wednesday April 26, 2023

Submitted by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade

Creation Justice’s 40th Anniversary Celebration

Submitted by Avery Davis Lamb