Conference hosted together by Heartland Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, & Interfaith Power and Light

Featuring: Dr. William Greenway Professor of Philosophical Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, Texas.

Dates: Friday, April 22, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm; and Saturday, April 23, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Selected presentations on Friday and Saturday will be live streamed. See the Heartland Presbyterian Church website for the link to view these presentations virtually.

Free to attend!

Location:
Heartland Presbyterian Church
14300 Hickman Rd.
Clive, IA 50325

Who should attend: Individuals who care deeply about the future of our planet and want to explore the spiritual, biblical, and theological grounds for the transformation of our relationship to the environment and the challenges of climate change.

Overview

Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive, Iowa, Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Indianola, Iowa, and Iowa Interfaith Power and Light are hosting an Ecumenical Conference on Church and Climate Change. Rooted in deep concerns that the church has been culpable in its theology, biblical interpretation, and ethical behavior for the challenges of climate change in today’s world, this conference explores the call to be seized by love for all Creation. We seek the cultural and spiritual transformation needed to address the problems of climate change.

We feel deeply that the church is called to witness through its rituals, practices, education, and life as a community to the depth of God’s Love for all Creation. To this end we will gather and reflect together on how our churches can respond to this crisis for future generations. The objectives of this conference are:

  • Be seized by God’s love for creation
  • Talk about climate change and implications in our lives
  • Focus on positive solutions rather than despair
  • Be inspired to take action

Our theme presenter will be Dr. William Greenway, Professor of Philosophical Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is the author of four books including Agape Ethics: Moral Realism and Love for All of Life and For the Love of All Creatures: The Story of Grace in Genesis which was named one of the top ten books for Parish Ministry in 2015.

Participants will have an opportunity to participate in workshops covering such topics as:

  • Climate Change Issues for Rural Communities and Farmers
  • Pope Francis Encyclical
  • Churches Cross-Pollinate
  • The Science of Climate Change
  • Glasgow: Beyond Partisanship

We hope you will join us for this time of learning, inspiration, networking, and our own transformation.

“I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.”                              Gus Speth, Climate Scientist

About Dr. Greenway

Meet Dr. Greenway.

Read this post by Dr. Greenway on Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s website: Professor Greenway posits agape as moral common ground in struggle for global justice

Schedule

Friday 

6:30 to 7:00 PM  — Registration

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM   — “Agape and Creation Spirituality in Genesis”
Theme Presentation by Dr. William Greenway
Professor of Philosophical Theology at
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, Texas

Reflections upon the creation spirituality of the “Adam and Eve” and “Seven Days of Creation” narratives in Genesis in conversation with the contemporary Babylonian creation narrative, the Enuma Elish.

Opening Reception
Beverages and light appetizers will be served

Saturday

8:30 to 9:00  — Registration

9:00 to 9:15 — Opening Worship

9:15 to 10:00  — “Agape Ethics: For Love of All Creation”
Theme Presentation by Dr. William Greenway

Reflections upon the naturalistic cosmology of modern Western secular rationality and its understanding of “nature” and “animals” in conversation with Jewish and Christian creation spirituality.

10:00 to 10:15  —   Break

10:15 —  Workshops
Participants will have the opportunity to participate in one workshop in the morning and one workshop in the afternoon.

Climate Change Issues for Rural Communities and Farmers
Presenter: Deaconess Irene DeMaris, Executive Director of Interfaith Power and Light

Irene is the executive director for Iowa Interfaith Power and Light. She is a deaconess in the United Methodist Church.The session will focus on how farming and rural Iowa communities are affected by climate change.

Pope Francis and Climate Change
Presenter: Kent Ferris, Diocese of Davenport

Kent works for the Diocese of Dubuque.  He has a Master’s Degree from Minnesota State University in Mankato. The session will discuss Pope Francis encyclical on climate change, Laudato Si.

Churches Cross-Pollinate
Facilitator: Rev. David Endriss, Trinity United Presbyterian Church

Rev. Endriss will facilitate an open conversation, discussing practical ways in which churches can care for creation.

The Science of Climate Change
Presenter:  Dr. David Courad-Houri, Professor of Environmental Science

David is the Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability at Drake University. He earned his PhD at Stanford and has taught at Drake since 2000.The session will explore the science behind the theory that global warming and climate change is occurring.

11:45         Lunch
Table Displays

12:45 to 2:15       Workshops

Climate Change Issues for Rural Communities and Farmers
Presenter: Deaconess Irene DeMaris, Interfaith Power and Light

Pope Francis and Climate Change
Presenter: Kent Ferris, Diocese of Davenport

Churches Cross-Pollinate
Facilitator: Rev. David Endriss, Trinity United Presbyterian Church

The Science of Climate Change
Presenter:  Dr. David Courad-Houri, Professor of Environmental Science

Glasgow and Beyond
Presenter: Rob Hogg

Senator Hogg represents Cedar Rapids in the Iowa Legislature. He has a law degree and is an author of the book America’s Climate Century. The session will focus on the recent conference on climate change in Glasgow.

2:15            Break

2:30            Panel

  • Moderator:  Sarah Trone Garriott
  • Dr. Greenway
  • Irene De Maris, Interfaith Power and Light
  • Rob Hogg
  • Kent Ferris, Diocese of Davenport
  • Rob Johnson

3:30           Closing Worship

 

Meals

Friday: Light appetizers and beverages

Saturday: Breaks and lunch

Cost

The conference is free to all participants.

Heartland Presbyterian Church donated the funds to support this event.

A free will offering will be made available at the conference for those who wish to contribute.

Registration

Click here to register online.

Registration by April 12 is encouraged.

This event is capped at 150 participants.

Covid Precautions

Heartland Presbyterian church strives to follow CDC guidance.

Mask mandates may be in place during the conference.

Networking Organizations

St. Thomas Creation Care Team — contact Care Team
Indianola Green Team — contact Green Team
Interfaith Green Coalition (Central Iowa) — contact Lois Schultz
Plymouth Congregational Church Creation Care and Justice Coalition — contact Amy Elbert
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
Presbytery of Des Moines
Faithful Voices for Racial Justice
Iowa Interfaith Power and Light
Peace and Justice Committee of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Ankeny, IA
Indivisible Warren County: https://www.facebook.com/groups/431019277244943/
Green Sanctuary is part of First Unitarian Church: https://www.facebook.com/groups/UCDSM/https://www.ucdsm.org/
Pachamama Alliance Iowa: https://www.pachamama.org/