THE ECO-JUSTICE CONTEXT OF MINISTRY AND EDUCATION

Meadville/Lombard Theological School

Susan Harlow and Carol Hepokoski

Fall 1998
Tuesdays 1:30-4:30
King's Chapel Classroom

Since World War II, religion in America has changed tremendously. In this course, we will take a metropolitan focus, studying the larger patterns of change in religion and culture, and the implications of these changes for religious communities, ministries and religious education. Of particular concern will be patterns of globalization and environmental crises, and creative responses to these patterns that model sustainability and enhance community.

We envision the structure of each class session as two interrelated parts. The first half will include brief presentations by the instructor/s and focus on classroom discussion of the readings. The second half of the class session will be an experiment in intentional religious community. Our "community of celebration and resistance" will be modeled upon the base communities of liberation theology. We envision this as a time of shared reflections, rituals, and eco-justice actions.

 

Course Objectives

1. A working knowledge of the changing patterns of American culture and religion.
2. Familiarity with creative and sustainable visions for an eco-just future.
3. Engagement in a community of celebration and resistance that includes concrete eco-justice action.

 

TEXTS

Nancy Tatom Ammerman, Congregation and Community. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1997.

David Batstone, Eduardo Mendieta, Lois Ann Lorentzen, and Dwight N. Hopkins,
editors, Liberation Theologies, Postmodernity, and the Americas. New York: Routledge, 1997.

Robert Gottlieb, Forcing the Spring: The Transformation of the American Environmental Movement. Washington, DC: Island Press, 1993.

Dieter T. Hessel, editor, Theology for Earth Community: A Field Guide. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1996.

Dwight N. Hopkins and Sheila Greeve Devaney, editors, Changing Conversations: Religious Reflection and Cultural Analysis. New York: Routledge, 1996.

Robert Wuthnow, The Restructuring of American Religion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1988.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Regular attendance and PARTICIPATION IN CLASS discussion that
a) engages the substance of issues at hand, and
b) contributes to the progress of the group.(20% of total grade)

2. Weekly Reflection Papers
One page of reading reflections, relaying the central argument of the text and outlining 2 or 3 points for discussion, AND One page of reflections on the eco-justice context of thereligious community with which you are involved. (20% of grade)

3. Creative PARTICIPATION IN CLASSROOM ECO-JUSTICE COMMUNITY AND ACTION.
The class as a whole will identify an eco-justice concern for reflection and action. Each student is expected to engage actively in this process and action. Each student will also be involved in the leadership of a brief worship. (30% of grade)

4. FINAL PAPER OR JOURNAL.
This project is envisioned as an in-depth exploration of a topic related to this course. Examples include a weekly journal of nature writing, journaling of volunteer eco-justice work, photo documentation of your neighborhood, research paper on selected eco-justice topics such as environmental racism, ecofeminism, eco-justice history of a congregation, etc. Consult with instructors by mid-term about your choice of project. Due Dec. 8. Approximately 3000-3750 words or equivalent. (30% of grade)

 

COURSE OUTLINE

Sept. 29 Introductions

Oct. 6 Eco-justice, Other Basic Concepts
Hessel, 155-164
Handouts:
"One Creation, One People, One Place"
Karen Warren, "The Power and Promise of Ecofeminism"
Peggy McIntosh "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack"

On Reserve:
Howard Winart, "Behind Blue Eyes: Whiteness and Contemporary U.S. Racial Politics" in Off White.
Rosemary Ruether, Gaia and God, 229-274.
Reflection Papers: Concentrate on 2 articles of your choice

Oct. 13 Changing Patterns in American Religion
Wuthnow, 3-172, 282-322
On Reserve: Ron Engel, "The Post-World War II Eco-justice Movement in Christian Theology: Patterns and Issues"
Recommended: Joan Engel, "Ecology, Justice,and Christian Faith: Comments of a Comma Consultant"
Reflection Papers on Wuthnow

Oct. 20 Congregations
Ammerman: 1-62, 161-370

Oct. 27 Religion and the Environment
Hessel: 1-30, 53-64, 77-92, 143-164, 165- 175 OR 176-185, 187-236

Nov. 3 Field Trip

Nov. 10: Theology and Changing Culture
Hopkins and Devaney: entire book

Nov. 17: Global Context of Eco-justice: Latin American Focus
Batstone et al: 1-52, 69-82, 125-127, 148-168, 188-202, 205-221, 243-252
On Reserve:
Sharon Welch, "Dreams of the Good: from the Analytics of Oppression to the Politics of Transformation" in New Visions for the Americas , 172-193

Nov. 24: No Class

Dec. 1: Eco-justice and the Environmental Movement
Gottlieb: Read 1-11, Skim 15-46, Read 48-114, Skim 117-234, Read 235-323

Dec. 8: Sharing of Projects and Closing