The 2022 Conference for Creation Care- Taking Heart in Troubled Times

324 East Main Road,Portsmouth RI 02871

17 September, 2022

Description

God calls us to care for “this fragile earth, our island home.” (BCP, p. 370). Centuries of destructive use of the earth’s natural resources has led to climate change, the suffering of marginalized and vulnerable populations, the extinction of numerous species, and a host of other human and environmental ills. In 2018, our Diocesan Convention voted by unanimous consent to create a task force of Rhode Island Episcopalians to evaluate how the diocese, our parishes, and the state might best live up to the aspirations expressed in resolutions passed by recent national Episcopal General Conventions to address environmental issues. In our Episcopal world, we call these efforts Creation Care. How do we find the will, wisdom, skills, and spirit to take on the threats to the well-being of God’s Earth caused by humanity’s self-destructive use of the resources we have been given? The 2022 Conference for Creation Care, taking place on September 17 at St. Mary’s, Portsmouth, will take on this question, led by speaker and workshop leader The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and others. An Episcopal priest, author, retreat leader and climate activist, The Rev. Dr. Bullitt-Jonas works with the Dioceses of Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts and the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ to develop resources, present programs and “to inspire and support a wave of religious activism to address the climate crisis, deepen reverence for God’s creation, and create a more just and sustainable society,” as stated on her website revivingcreation.org. The Conference, organized by the Creation Care Ministry of the Diocese of Rhode Island, will also feature Christopher Schillaci, coordinator of the diocesan Creation Care Mini-Grant program. He will discuss parish mini-grants approved to date and lead conversation on the many ways in which the diocese, parishes, and households can take action to meet the challenges of the environmental crisis. Chris Schillaci is a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and former Junior Warden at the Zabriskie Memorial Church of St. John the Evangelist in Newport. How does the work of Creation Care actually take shape? Margaret Bullitt-Jonas suggests we look at these efforts through the lens of four verbs: Pray, Learn, Act and Advocate.