Merry Lea to Offer Climate Change Conference

Wolf Lake, Ind. – Earth as Ally: Facing Climate Change Together is a unique opportunity for global citizens willing to grapple with a vexing contemporary issue: the fact that the planet is warming and people in many parts of the world are already suffering catastrophic consequences. This faith-based conference will take place at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, Wolf Lake, Ind., Sept. 17-19. The registration deadline is Sept. 10.

Scientists have understood the physics and chemistry behind global climate change since the late 1800s. The awareness that carbon dioxide emissions may cause catastrophic real life problems has been with us since the 1970s. News reports of melting permafrost, warming oceans and unusual droughts surface daily. Yet the chances of discussing global climate change in the average living room, church foyer or car dealership are as unlikely as a frank discussion about sex in a Victorian parlor.

Earth as Ally: Facing Climate Change Together offers one place to begin this critical dialog. One distinctive of this gathering will be its emphasis on hope grounded in Christian faith rather than an attitude of despairing fatalism or denial that environmental problems exist.

"I believe that Christian faith is what gives us hope when we look at something like climate change," said Luke Gascho, Merry Lea's executive director. Gascho will deliver an address Friday evening titled, "The Climate Challenge: How Greenhouse Gases will Shape the Church in the 21st Century."

"Faith gives us a broader perspective than science can provide," Gascho explained. "It gives us the resurrection and the assurance that renewal can and does happen. It links us to people from thousands of years ago who also faced devastation they brought on themselves; and it gives us an awareness of the generations coming after us and our responsibility to them."

A second distinctive of the Autumn Hope Conference is its emphasis on learning from the land, not just talking about it indoors. Participants will spend much of Saturday exploring Merry Lea's 1,189 acres of wetlands, woodlands and prairies.

During one hike with Bill Minter, Merry Lea's Land Manager and a certified forester, the group will see how scientists calculate the amount of carbon sequestered in a forest. On another hike, Lisa Zinn, who teaches in Merry Lea's graduate program in environmental education, will discuss phenology — the science of plant and animal life cycles and the ways these are influenced by climate.

The weekend promises practical help as well as theology. What can we do about climate change? One answer is to manage the land under our care so that it stores as much carbon as possible. In break-out sessions, participants will have the chance to meet people skilled in keeping land healthy in different settings. Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, a city forester from Goshen, Ind., is passionate about keeping cities shaded with trees. Kathryn Mascaro, Fisher, Ind., of Wildlife Friendly Places of Worship, has experience helping churches enhance and restore wildlife habitat on their property. Nate Simons of Blue Heron Ministry in Angola, Ind., sees his work in land restoration as a vocation in healing broken relationships. Dale Hess, who teaches agroecology at Merry Lea, will examine how farming methods can curb or contribute to carbon dioxide levels.

Other sessions include an overview of the science behind global climate change; a panel discussion on bridging the gap between faith and science; worship, with a message by Janeen Bertsche Johnson, campus pastor at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Attendees at this annual event are a blend of students, environmental professionals and concerned lay people. To learn more about the schedule and presenters and to download a registration form, see www.goshen.edu/merrylea or call 260-799-5869. The cost of $95 includes meals. Dorm lodging may be available on site at an additional $15-20/night.

Editors: For more information about this release or to arrange an interview, contact Jennifer Schrock at (260) 799-5869 or jenniferhs@goshen.edu.

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Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College is a 1,189-acre nature preserve located in central Noble County, midway between Fort Wayne and Goshen. Merry Leaʼs landscape includes a diversity of forest, prairie and wetland ecosystems. The center provides environmental education to people of all ages, including over 7,000 school children each year. Merry Lea was created with the assistance of the Nature Conservancy and the generosity of Lee A. and Mary Jane Rieth. To learn more, visit their Web site at www.goshen.edu/merrylea.