David Rhoads (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago)
Winter Quarter, 1996 Time: Mondays 6:00 to 8:50 PM
STATEMENT OF GOALS:
To prepare students for "Environmental Ministry" by:
1) Providing students with the resources necessary to help make a parish a place of concern and action on behalf of the environment.
2) Offering resources for becoming a leader in the community of behalf of justice in issues related to the environment.
3) Enabling students to work together to create a resource book on the environment for parishes.
OUTLINE AND CONTENT OF COURSE:
1) Deal with the following subjects: "State of the World," "State of Urban Chicago" "Biblical Resources," "Theological Issues," Historical Development," "Eco-J ustice Issues," "Liturgical Resources," "Educational Materials," "Literary resources," "Energy Management" "Recycling, Composting, and Church-Based Gardening."
2) Each class will have the following outline:
a) Speaker and discussion
b) Speaker and discussion
c) Discussion of readings
3) There will also be two (daylong each) workshops (time to be arranged later)
a) Hands-on immersion in environmental issues in Chicago--community organizing and community development.
b) Workshop on Lifestyle Simplification
WORK TO BE REQUIRED IN THE COURSE:
1) Attendance and active participation in class discussions.
2) Written reflections on the weekly readings.
3) A journal charting learnings, personal growth, and professional plans
4) Participation in a project to create a resource guide on the environment for parishes
January 8: Introduction: Read Al Gore, Earth in the Balance
The State of the Planet: Paul Heltne
The State of Chicago: Steve Perkins
Class organization into working groups
January 15 (No Class: Martin Luther King Day)
January 22: Biblical Resources: Read Ted Hiebert MS & State of the World
Old Testament: Ted Hiebert, MTS
New Testament: Dave Rhoads, LSTC
Working Groups
January 29: Theological Resources: Read Daly, Feminist Theological Ethics
Theological Overview: Phil Hefner, LSTC
Historical Overview: Ron EngeI MLTS
Working Groups
February 5 (Reading Week: No Class)
February 12: Environmental Ethics Read Schwab, Deeper Shades of Green
Eco-Justice: Heidi Hadsel, MTS
Ethics: TBA
Working Groups
February 19: Transformation Through Worship and Education Reading TBA
Worship Resources: TBA
Educational Resources: Tina Kraus JKM
Working groups
February 26: Poetry and Literature: Read Staying Put Scott Sanders
Working Groups
March 4: Parish Buildings and Land: Read Fritsch, Eco-Church Manual
Energy and Green Buying: Job Ebenezer, ELCA
The Spirituality of Recycling: Ken Dunn, RC
Working Groups
March 11: Reports of working Groups
ECO-HANDBOOK FOR CHICAGO AREA CHURCHES
Information About Everthing Related to the Environment
1. Church Contacts: headquarters, regional, grants, packets available, statements of churches on creation. Laurel, Carol
2. Educational materials: curricula, videos and video courses, books and periodicals for the library, environmental manuals, other resources
3. Products: cleaning, paper, recycling bins, food. Bill, (Mark)
4. Public ministry issues in Chicago: List and description of issues, organizations, people to contact.
5. Managing buildings: recycling program, paper use program, energy audits, architects, alternative energy sources, lighting, insulation, waste disposal.
6. Land use: lawn care, safe products, church-based gardening, composting, plants (inside and out). Benjamin, Nancy
7. Worship resources: liturgies, prayers, celebration days, hymns and songs, sermons, devotional materials, readings. (Marty)
8. Natural environment: Chicago parks, conservatories, nature walks. (Gwen)
9. Church projects of area churches. Neddy, Deanna.
