GINI Earth Day 2016 Symposium

Six Faiths, Six Voices, One Earth

Faith and Environment: An Interfaith Panel Discussion (view video presentation)

Purpose: Can our religious beliefs help our environment? Come listen and participate in a discussion to foster an increased desire and action to protect the creation. A panel of six faith leaders will explore our common understandings of how congregations can address environmental stewardship. Invited speakers come from the Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Jewish, Tao and Unitarian faith traditions. This second meeting in a discussion series highlights the upcoming Earth Day celebration on April 22. It is sponsored by the Green Interfaith Network and United Religions Initiative, who are working collaboratively in the Tri-Cities area.

Invited Speakers: Moderated by Green Interfaith Network, Incorporated

• Dr. Shahram Malik (Islamic), Muslim Center of Northeast Tennessee
• Gary Daught (Taoist), Appalachian Dharma and Meditation Center
• Father Peter Iorio (Catholic), Saint Mary’s Catholic Church
• Reverend Jacqueline Luck (Unitarian), Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
• Rabbi Arthur Rutberg (Jewish), B’nai Sholom Congregation
•  Reverend Ed Wolff (Lutheran, retired), Cross of Grace Lutheran Church

Date: Sunday evening April 17, 2016. Starting time at 7 PM and ending time anticipated for 8:30 PM.

Agenda:

• Ingathering (Great Hall)
• Introduction of Panelists and Purpose for Panel Discussion – Moderator
• Invocation – Reverend Jacqueline Luck, Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
• Questions for responses by each Faith Leader – Moderator
  • In brief, what does your faith say to its adherents about the care of the earth and creation?  [a 2-3 minute overview may be enough from each panel member.]
  • Are there specific writings and teachings that point out how the faithful should be considerate and protective of our environment? [the panel members can explore specifics from their earlier overview statements, lasting up to about 10 minutes.]
  • How have the faithful strayed from those writings and teachings? [a 2-3 minute response from each panel member may suffice.]
  • What can individuals do to be more cognizant and responsive to caring for the creation? [a 2-3 minute response from each panel member may suffice.]
  • Are there actions that the Tri-Cities faith community do together to engender greater efforts toward protecting our environment? [open discussion from all panel members.]
  • Open up the floor for questions from those in attendance.
  • Closing Prayer – Reverend Jacqueline Luck, Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
  • Reception (Great Hall)

Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 500 North Roan Street, (downtown) Johnson City, Tennessee. Panel Discussion and Reception following to be held in the Great Hall.

Audience: This Interfaith event is open to the public. Donations are welcomed.

Media Contact: Green Interfaith Network, Incorporated (http://greeninterfaith.org)

Ted Jackson, e-mail: greeninterfaith@gmail.com, phone: (423) 291-0964