Rooted & Rising

In the summer of 2020 we convened a cohort of our community members to read and discuss Rooted & Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis. We explored the seven sections of the book together over the course of seven sessions, with each session including a presentation by an author, small group conversation, and an invitation into spiritual practice.

Rooted & Rising is designed and published in a way that lends itself to easy adaptation for book groups and learning circles, with essays, practices, and discussion questions throughout.

Here are video recordings of the seven author presentations from our book cohort, that you can use independently or as a supplement to your own cohort of engagement with the ideas and practices of rooting and rising in a time of climate crisis.

Rooted and Rising 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. Leah Schade and Margaret Bullitt-Jonas gather twenty-one faith leaders, scientists, community organizers, theologians, and grassroots climate activists to offer wisdom for fellow pilgrims grappling with the weight of climate change.

You can review and purchase the book here.

We offer this guide for facilitators to use in leading the workshop for their groups and communities. The guide includes a detailed outline and can be adapted as needed. It is intended for use in congregational and/or community settings.

In the summer of 2021 at the General Synod of the United Church of Christ we hosted a live conversation, circling back to reconnect with Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Dr. Natasha DeJarnett and Rev. Dr. Jim Antal. We continued our ongoing exploration of how best to live and lead in a climate-changed world. You can watch that full conversation here.


Thank you for visiting our Leadership Commons. As you use these materials we welcome your feedback, learnings, challenges, and success stories. We are also available if you want support in imaging how to facilitate an experience in your context using resources from the Leadership Commons. Fill out this form to share your experience or request support.






We will never sell your information or spam you, this is simply for our own internal tracking purposes.