For Faith Leaders: Navigating Energy and the Climate Crisis
POSTPONED due to COVID: On Energy and Faith: Ministry in the Time of Climate Crisis
Tuesday – Thursday, May 17 – 19, 2022
Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
The world is changing. Today’s calamities, notably the disruptions to oil and gas supplies that are compounding the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prove once again that we all must move away from our reliance on fossil fuels. Nations, communities and individuals are beginning to transition to renewable energy sources—like solar and wind—but the vast majority of the world’s energy still comes from burning fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change. How can we hasten the transition toward renewable energy sources? And, as we make than transition, how can we ensure that it is just and equitable? Shifting to renewable energy holds tremendous promise as part of a solution to the climate crisis, but we must ensure that communities are properly supported, with access to those new energy sources and to good jobs that can enhance people’s quality of life.
Faith leaders have a unique role to play in navigating these thorny practical and ethical questions. More than 80 percent of the global population belongs to a faith community. Faith leaders can educate about the climate crisis, advocate for changing how we produce energy, and help ensure that the shift to renewable energy is just and equitable.
From Tuesday, May 17 to Thursday, May 19, the Center for Earth Ethics and The Climate Reality Project will host “On Energy and Faith: Ministry in the Time of Climate Crisis,” a special interfaith climate training for faith leaders. The theme of this year’s training is energy. During this two-and-a-half-day learning experience, we’ll take a deep dive—not just into energy as a practical necessity but also our own personal energy, addressing the burnout felt by faith leaders, activists and others in local communities.
The training, which will be held at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., will include seminars, rituals, workshops and skill-building sessions. We’re limiting attendance to 35 people to create an intimate environment that allows for candid, meaningful discussion.
So, if you’re a faith leader interested in growing your understanding of energy and the climate crisis, and you can make it to Washington, D.C., in May, we hope that you’ll apply. Applications are open to leaders of any faith who are serving their congregations or communities at least half-time.
The hosts will cover most meals for participants, as well as ground transportation between training venues within Washington, D.C. Participants will be responsible for covering their own travel costs to and from Washington, though a limited number of need-based scholarships (including travel grants and registration-fee waivers) are available. In addition, a handful of low-cost accommodations at Catholic University will be available for participants who live outside of commuting distance. Housing and scholarships will be allocated on a case-by-case basis.