Training Workshops for the June2006 NCC Eco-Justice Conference

June 1-4, 2006
Loyola University, New Orleans, Lousiana

In order for participants to share and enhance their own gifts, skills, and knowledge within a particular area of interest, this conference offers interactive training through 5 tracks. Each track will begin with a “concurrent experience,” a hands-on activity as a group that will lay the foundation for the rest of the track. Four interactive workshops will then follow, spread over the course of the conference.

Note: Saturday afternoon, beginning at 3:30on, “open space” workshops will be offered. These workshops will not be pre-assigned or pre-registered by event planners or conference participants. “Open Space” is a way for a diversity of interesting presentations, discussions, and workshops to arise from the grassroots.

Christian Education track

• Educating for Creation Stewardship. Leader: Nicole Ardoin, Environmental Educator. Faith perspective hosts: Beth Norcross, Valerie Zahirsky. Beth Norcross combines theological education and experiences in corporate America, Congress, and the environmental field in her teaching about God’s creation. Valerie Zahirsky writes Christian Education materials, represents the Orthodox Church at ecumenical events, and speaks at retreats and programs about women, families, and the environment.
• Exploring Learning Styles. Leader: Nicole Ardoin. Faith perspective hosts: Beth Norcross, Valerie Zahirsky.
• Environmental Education Curriculum. Leader: Nicole Ardoin. Faith perspective hosts: Beth Norcross, Valerie Zahirsky.
• Theology Education and Lesson Planning. Leaders: Beth Norcross and Valerie Zahirsky.

Advocates/Network Training track

• Educating Congregants for Action. Leader: Cassandra Carmichael, Director of Eco-Justice Programs for the National Council of Churches.
• Recruiting and Engaging: Building Networks. Leader: Matthew Anderson-Stembridge, Coordinator of the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign
• Communicating the Message. Leader: TBA.
• Public Policy Advocacy. Leaders: Carolynn Race, Associate for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, and John Hill, Director of Economic and Environmental Justice for the General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church.

Church Leaders Training track

• Caring for Creation Theology 101. Leader: Greg Hitzhusen, PhD in Environmental Ethics Education at Cornell University, MDiv with focus on environmental theology from Yale Divinity School. Orthodox host: Elizabeth Theokritoff, Orthodox writer, translator, and theologian (MA and D.Phil. (in Theology) from Oxford University).
• Tracking the Eco-Justice Movement. Leader: Greg Hitzhusen. Orthodox host: Elizabeth Theokritoff, Orthodox writer, translator, and theologian (MA and D.Phil. (in Theology) from Oxford University).
• Creation Care Worship. Leader: Neddy Astudillo, MDiv McCormick Theological Seminary (IL) and NCC Eco-Justice Fellow 2004.
• Greening Your Congregation. Leader: Rebecca Barnes-Davies, Environmental Ministries Consultant and Coordinator for Presbyterians for Restoring Creation.

Eco-Justice Issues 101 track

• Climate Change. Leader: Bill McKibben, conference plenary speaker and environmental author
• Land. Leader: Neddy Astudillo, Community Supported Agriculture Learning Center at Angelic Organics
• Water. Leader: Shantilal Bhaghat, author, UN representative, and former denominational staff for Church of the Brethren, and Rebecca Barnes-Davies, Environmental Ministries Consultant and Coordinator for Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
• Creatures. Leader: TBA.

Download the registration brochure.

For more information about the confrerence, contact Cassandra Carmichael at cassandra@toad.net or Rebecca Barnes-Davies at prc@sfts.edu