July 2021
 
Dear General Synod Participants,
 
As a born and raised, and now ordained, UCCer, I want to extend my hand in friendship to you in this virtual exhibit space.
 
If we were meeting in person I would want to ask you what ministry looks like in your context. I would be interested in what you've heard as part of this General Synod gathering that is inspiring to you. And I would love to see if we might have any synergies around the changing religious landscape, seminary and continuing education for faith leaders, how people of faith are relating to climate change in your location, and where you feel the church is being called in this time of global ecological crisis. If you would like to talk about any of these things, I invite you to send me an email at nicole@thebtscenter.org.
 
I have been serving as Program Director at The BTS Center for a year and a half now, and I am proud to serve this scrappy, innovative organization in Portland, Maine that came to life as Bangor Theological Seminary ceased issuing degrees. Rooted in the 200-year history of the seminary, I'm honored to claim my congregationalist roots and bring forward programming that responds to The BTS Center's mission to 'catalyze spiritual imagination, with enduring wisdom, for transformative faith leadership'. Partnership and collaboration are at the core of what we do, so truly, it is a pleasure to 'meet' you virtually.
 
The BTS Center is leading (or has led, depending on when you're reading this) a special event as part of General Synod on Tuesday, July 13th focused on Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis. The event is for everyone who worries about the climate crisis and seeks spiritual practices and perspectives to renew their capacity for compassionate, purposeful, and joyful action. We'll engage the book’s editors, Rev. Dr. Leah Schade and Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, along with contributing authors. I invite you to join me there and/or access the recording.
 
With care and blessings,
Rev. Nicole Diroff
Program Director, The BTS Center
nicole@thebtscenter.org