Humans, and the Church in particular, have been uniquely called to care for the health and welfare of all creation, especially the most vulnerable. How does theology and science help us understand that call in the face of Global Warming? What are hopeful things the church is doing, particularly in our own denomination? What is Seattle doing? What’s the most helpful, impactful thing everyone can do? Emma Markwardt will also join us to give us input from a teenager's perspective.
Eric has a PhD in Ecology and is a professor of Biology at Seattle Pacific University, where he has taught ecology, evolution, forest ecology, and conservation biology for 15 years. His wife (Carina), son (Torin – 5), and daughter (Bria – 3) have been worshipping at Bethany for approximately 3 years.
Janette has been a Bethany member for 30+ years, a Green Team leader and advocate who feels a calling to address Global Warming. She is the Sustainability Lead at Expeditors, a Seattle based Fortune 500 company.
Emma Markwardt is a junior at Shorecrest High School and an active member of Bethany and Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Youth Groups. She is passionate about climate justice and finding ways to combat global warming through youth empowerment, equitable and sustainable political action, and personal connection. She is a member of Sunrise, a national youth-led movement focused on promoting the Green New Deal and creating eco-conscious jobs for all.
Theology, Science and Hopeful, Practical Responses to Address Global Warming
August 1, 2021 • Eric Long, Janette Plunkett, Emma Markwardt
Listening, Learning, Loving: Empathy as a Practice
January 28, 2024 • Lynne Baab
Empathy is a listening skill that can be learned. Lynne Baab will draw on communication research about empathy to give an overview of what empathy is and how to grow in empathy. Lynne is a former Bethany associate pastor with a Ph.D. in communication.
Ecotheology
May 7, 2023 • Eric Long
In Genesis, we're told repeatedly that creation is good. But by the time we get to Paul's writings in Romans, we find that creation is groaning. What's gone wrong? And what's our role in God's plan for creation? In this forum, we'll explore the idea creation was intended as God's temple, and humans were (and are!) called to be priests of God's good creation. Registration will be required for this class, so we can plan numbers for lunch (look for more details and link to register coming in a dedicated E-News next week).
Acts 15: Living as Christians in a Pagan Society
June 4, 2023 • Bob Drovdahl • Acts 15
Seattle is a great city, but also a pagan one (or at least not very religious!). How do we live out our Christian faith in such an environment? That's a tough question, but not the first time Christians have faced such a challenge. This class will examine how Christians in Antioch answered this question 2000+ years ago... and what we might learn from their effort.