Creation at the Crossroads 2024 Program
Our program takes place over four days, beginning with a welcome dinner on Tuesday September 17th, and ending after lunch on Friday September 20th. (We are flexible on Friday knowing that some may need to catch flights earlier in the day.) While we have top-notch speakers and resource people, the emphasis throughout the program will be on interaction between participants.
Each day begins with a time of worship and singing, along with a brief devotional led by one of the participants.
Tuesday, September 17th
6 pm: Welcome Dinner including greetings from Dean Paul Robbins, Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin and a program overview from the project facilitators: Dekila Chungyalpa, Director of the Loka Initiative, and Ed Brown, Executive Director of Care of Creation.
Wednesday, September 18th
Morning: Creation Care Theology with presentations by Ed Brown and Dr. Ben Lowe, Executive Director of A Rocha USA.
Afternoon: The latest developments in Environmental Science with presentations by two University of Wisconsin faculty members Rick Lindroth and Michael Notaro, and Dr. Susan Davidson, board president of Midwest Environmental Advocates.
On Wednesday afternoon, we will visit Loka’s host unit on campus, the Center for Healthy Minds, and be in dialogue with scientists studying ecological emotions, including eco-anxiety and climate distress. Bring your best solutions with you on how to address these experiences within your congregations and communities! Bring some comfortable clothing if you want to venture on Lake Mendota near by.
Thursday, September 19th
Morning: Science Denial, Science Communication, and Election Emotions with Rick Lindroth and Ed Brown, followed by a session on Church and Science led by Pastor Chris Dolson of Blackhawk church.
Afternoon: Project design and planning with Dekila Chungyalpa and Brittany Michalski.
Personal and Group Integration Sessions – largely unstructured time with opportunities to ask more questions of the resource people and to work with each other on concrete action plans for our home contexts.
Friday, September 20th
Morning: A tour of Holy Wisdom’s grounds, followed by project idea presentations from participants.
Program close with sharing and prayer for each other, followed by lunch and departures.
Venue
Holy Wisdom Monastery is located across Lake Mendota from the city of Madison and the University of Wisconsin. It is an ecumenical community with Benedictine roots whose members have made creation care and the restoration of God’s creation on their campus one of their highest priorities. The monastery grounds consist of more than 130 acres of land, including Lost Lake, the restored prairie and savanna areas, woodlands, buildings, gardens, orchards and nature trails, as well as the highest-rated LEED building in the entire United States.