As storms rage around us — both literal and metaphorical — we know that the key to surviving and even thriving lies in the strength of our communities. Resilience is built through networks of people who are deeply connected both to one another and to their local watersheds — networks which can be nimble in bringing care and creativity where it is most needed in times of crisis and beyond.

In order to help to nurture these robust local communities, The BTS Center offered our second annual Green Teams Gathering June 2025 in Southern Maine. Buoyed by the passion and dedication of those who attended our inaugural gathering last year, we enjoyed deep and impactful time together at the beautiful Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and Environment in Freeport, Maine.

We were thrilled to host Rev. Katie Mears, Senior Technical Specialist, US Disaster and Climate Risk at Episcopal Relief & Development, as our guest speaker. Katie lead us into a deeper understanding of climate migration and the challenges this anticipated reality will bring to Maine. Folks then had the chance to engage in a variety of innovative breakout sessions, each designed to “widen the aperture” of our thinking around what is possible for faith-based communities amidst these climate-changed times. This special day also included moments of song, times for connecting and sharing ideas, curated farm tours at Wolfe’s Neck Farm, and other community-building activities.

The Green Teams Gathering is an annual opportunity for faith groups from across Maine to come together in a spirit of bold collaboration and vision. During this full-day offering, we engaged in dynamic dialogue and inspired workshops, created meaningful connections, and grappled with the tension of what it means to live prophetically amidst difficult times.